Cambridge International AS & A Level Cambridge International AS & A Level
BIOLOGY 9700/12 BIOLOGY 9700/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice February/March 2026 Paper 1 Multiple Choice February/March 2026
1 hour 15 minutes MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 40
You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.
*
You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet
Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended) Published
INSTRUCTIONS
• There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
• For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet. examination.
*
• Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
• Write in soft pencil. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.
• Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
• Do not use correction fluid or tape.
• Do not write on any bar codes. Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the February/March 2026 series for most
• You may use a calculator. Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 40.
• Each correct answer will score one mark.
• Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
This document has 20 pages.
IB26 03_9700_12/6RP
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
This document consists of 3 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, 9700/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
2 PUBLISHED
1 The eyepiece graticule for a light microscope at ×100 magnification was calibrated using a stage Question Answer Marks
micrometer scale, as shown in the diagram.
1 C 1
Each small division on the stage micrometer scale measured exactly 0.01 mm.
2 D 1
stage micrometer scale
3 B 1
0 90 100 4 B 1
eyepiece graticule 5 C 1
6 B 1
A single-celled organism was viewed with the light microscope at ×100 magnification. The length
of the organism measured 47 units on the eyepiece graticule. 7 C 1
What is the actual length of the organism? 8 C 1
A 1.6 × 10–1 µm 9 D 1
B 2.9 × 10–1 µm 10 D 1
C 1.6 × 102 µm 11 A 1
D 2.9 × 102 µm 12 B 1
13 A 1
2 One of the electron micrographs shows a eukaryotic cell. The other shows a prokaryotic cell.
14 A 1
15 D 1
16 C 1
17 A 1
18 C 1
19 A 1
20 A 1
21 B 1
22 B 1
23 B 1
24 C 1
×91 000 ×4000 25 B 1
What is the approximate distance across the eukaryotic cell at its widest point? 26 D 1
A 0.7 µm B 2.1 µm C 7 µm D 21 µm 27 B 1
28 D 1
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9700/12/F/M/26 Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 3
, 9700/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
3 PUBLISHED
3 Which polymer is a major component of the cell walls of typical prokaryotes?
Question Answer Marks
A cellulose
29 D 1
B peptidoglycan
30 B 1
C glycogen
31 D 1
D suberin
32 C 1
4 Which features are shown by prokaryotic cells and also by eukaryotic cells? 33 A 1
1 cell surface membrane 34 A 1
2 lysosomes 35 D 1
3 cytoplasm
36 D 1
4 70S ribosomes
37 C 1
A 1, 2, 3 and 4
38 D 1
B 1, 3 and 4 only
39 C 1
C 1 and 3 only
40 B 1
D 2 and 4 only
5 Some proteins synthesised in plant cells are modified before they are secreted.
Which cell structure in plants is responsible for modifying proteins before they are secreted?
A plasmodesmata
B tonoplast
C Golgi body
D lysosomes
6 Which row shows the types of membrane that surround the mitochondria and the nuclei?
mitochondria nuclei
A single double
B double double
C double single
D single single
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9700/12/F/M/26 [Turn over Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 3 of 3
BIOLOGY 9700/12 BIOLOGY 9700/12
Paper 1 Multiple Choice February/March 2026 Paper 1 Multiple Choice February/March 2026
1 hour 15 minutes MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 40
You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.
*
You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet
Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended) Published
INSTRUCTIONS
• There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
• For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet. examination.
*
• Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
• Write in soft pencil. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.
• Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
• Do not use correction fluid or tape.
• Do not write on any bar codes. Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the February/March 2026 series for most
• You may use a calculator. Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 40.
• Each correct answer will score one mark.
• Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
This document has 20 pages.
IB26 03_9700_12/6RP
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
This document consists of 3 printed pages.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 [Turn over
, 9700/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
2 PUBLISHED
1 The eyepiece graticule for a light microscope at ×100 magnification was calibrated using a stage Question Answer Marks
micrometer scale, as shown in the diagram.
1 C 1
Each small division on the stage micrometer scale measured exactly 0.01 mm.
2 D 1
stage micrometer scale
3 B 1
0 90 100 4 B 1
eyepiece graticule 5 C 1
6 B 1
A single-celled organism was viewed with the light microscope at ×100 magnification. The length
of the organism measured 47 units on the eyepiece graticule. 7 C 1
What is the actual length of the organism? 8 C 1
A 1.6 × 10–1 µm 9 D 1
B 2.9 × 10–1 µm 10 D 1
C 1.6 × 102 µm 11 A 1
D 2.9 × 102 µm 12 B 1
13 A 1
2 One of the electron micrographs shows a eukaryotic cell. The other shows a prokaryotic cell.
14 A 1
15 D 1
16 C 1
17 A 1
18 C 1
19 A 1
20 A 1
21 B 1
22 B 1
23 B 1
24 C 1
×91 000 ×4000 25 B 1
What is the approximate distance across the eukaryotic cell at its widest point? 26 D 1
A 0.7 µm B 2.1 µm C 7 µm D 21 µm 27 B 1
28 D 1
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9700/12/F/M/26 Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 2 of 3
, 9700/12 Cambridge International AS & A Level – Mark Scheme February/March 2026
3 PUBLISHED
3 Which polymer is a major component of the cell walls of typical prokaryotes?
Question Answer Marks
A cellulose
29 D 1
B peptidoglycan
30 B 1
C glycogen
31 D 1
D suberin
32 C 1
4 Which features are shown by prokaryotic cells and also by eukaryotic cells? 33 A 1
1 cell surface membrane 34 A 1
2 lysosomes 35 D 1
3 cytoplasm
36 D 1
4 70S ribosomes
37 C 1
A 1, 2, 3 and 4
38 D 1
B 1, 3 and 4 only
39 C 1
C 1 and 3 only
40 B 1
D 2 and 4 only
5 Some proteins synthesised in plant cells are modified before they are secreted.
Which cell structure in plants is responsible for modifying proteins before they are secreted?
A plasmodesmata
B tonoplast
C Golgi body
D lysosomes
6 Which row shows the types of membrane that surround the mitochondria and the nuclei?
mitochondria nuclei
A single double
B double double
C double single
D single single
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 9700/12/F/M/26 [Turn over Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026 Page 3 of 3
