Please check the examination details below before entering your candidate information
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Tuesday 16 June 2026
Mark Scheme (Results)
Morning (Time: 2 hours 30 minutes) Paper
reference 9BI0/03
Biology B
Summer 2026
Advanced
PAPER 3: General and Practical Principles in Biology
You must have: Total Marks
Scientific calculator, HB pencil, ruler
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name, 9BI0/03
Edexcel Advanced Level In Biology B
centre number and candidate number.
•• Answer all questions.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 120.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• Instructure
question(s) marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability to
your answer logically, showing how the points that you make are related or
follow on from each other where appropriate.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
• Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79064APearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P79064A0144*
, Answer ALL questions.
Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
1 Cells near the root tip divide by mitosis and can be viewed using a light microscope. Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by the UK’s
largest awarding body. We provide a wide range of qualifications
(a) The photograph shows a root cell undergoing mitosis, as seen with a including academic, vocational, occupational and specific
light microscope.
programmes for employers. For further information visit our
qualifications websites at or .
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our
contact us page at
helping people progress, everywhere
aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help
(Source: DR. JUAN F. GIMENEZ-ABIAN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)
everyone progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of
(i) Identify the stage of mitosis shown. learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been involved in
(1) education for over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in 100 languages,
we have built an international reputation for our commitment to high standards and
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
raising achievement through innovation in education. Find out more about how we can
(ii) Draw this cell. help you and your students at:
Labels are not required.
(2)
Summer 2026
Question Paper Log Number P79064A
Publication Code 9BI0_03_2606_MS
All the material in this publication is
2
*P79064A0244*
, General Marking Guidance
(iii) The actual length of this cell is 45 µm at its longest part.
Calculate the magnification of the photograph. • All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the first
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Give your answer to the nearest whole number. candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
(2) • Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for
what they have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their
perception of where the grade boundaries may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be used
appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners should
always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the mark scheme.
Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s
response is not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
Answer........................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles by
(b) Describe the method you would use to find the actual length of a cell from the which marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
root tip of a plant which had already been prepared and stained. • When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to a
(2)
candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted.
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with an
alternative response.
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Total for Question 1 = 7 marks)
3
*P79064A0344* Turn over
, Question
es
Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
2 Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) is a single‑celled organism widely used in brewing
and baking. 1(a) (i) • metaphase (1) Accept phonetic spelling
(1)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Under anaerobic conditions, yeast respires to produce carbon dioxide and ethanol.
Question
The rate of respiration can be measured by recording the volume of carbon dioxide Answer Additional Guidance Mark
produced per unit time. Number
1(a) (ii) An answer that includes the following: Ignore labels
A student used the following method to compare the rate of anaerobic respiration of
yeast with different concentrations of glucose. • shape and proportions of the cell drawn Accept double or single line around outside of cell
correctly (1)
• Add 1 g of yeast, 0.5 g of glucose and 10 cm3 of water to a boiling tube. Stir to
ad
make a suspension.
• Add a thin layer of oil to the top of the suspension in the tube.
• Leave for 5 minutes, then attach a gas syringe.
• Measure the volume of carbon dioxide produced after 10 minutes.
• Repeat to find the mean.
• Repeat the investigation using 0.2 g of glucose.
The diagram shows the apparatus used in this investigation. • chromatids drawn in correct position with Do not accept chromatids drawn in diagrammatic form
no shading (1)
gas syringe
gr
(2)
thin layer of oil
yeast suspension
(a) Explain why a layer of oil was added to the top of the yeast mixture.
(2)
t
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
es
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
*P79064A0444*
Candidate surname Other names
Centre Number Candidate Number
Pearson Edexcel Level 3 GCE
Tuesday 16 June 2026
Mark Scheme (Results)
Morning (Time: 2 hours 30 minutes) Paper
reference 9BI0/03
Biology B
Summer 2026
Advanced
PAPER 3: General and Practical Principles in Biology
You must have: Total Marks
Scientific calculator, HB pencil, ruler
Instructions
•• Use black ink or ball-point pen.
Fill in the boxes at the top of this page with your name, 9BI0/03
Edexcel Advanced Level In Biology B
centre number and candidate number.
•• Answer all questions.
Answer the questions in the spaces provided
– there may be more space than you need.
Information
•• The total mark for this paper is 120.
The marks for each question are shown in brackets
– use this as a guide as to how much time to spend on each question.
• Instructure
question(s) marked with an asterisk (*), marks will be awarded for your ability to
your answer logically, showing how the points that you make are related or
follow on from each other where appropriate.
Advice
•• Read each question carefully before you start to answer it.
Try to answer every question.
• Check your answers if you have time at the end.
Turn over
P79064APearson Education Ltd.
P:1/1/1/1/1/1/1/1/
*P79064A0144*
, Answer ALL questions.
Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications
Write your answers in the spaces provided.
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
1 Cells near the root tip divide by mitosis and can be viewed using a light microscope. Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by the UK’s
largest awarding body. We provide a wide range of qualifications
(a) The photograph shows a root cell undergoing mitosis, as seen with a including academic, vocational, occupational and specific
light microscope.
programmes for employers. For further information visit our
qualifications websites at or .
Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details on our
contact us page at
helping people progress, everywhere
aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help
(Source: DR. JUAN F. GIMENEZ-ABIAN / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)
everyone progress in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of
(i) Identify the stage of mitosis shown. learning, for all kinds of people, wherever they are in the world. We’ve been involved in
(1) education for over 150 years, and by working across 70 countries, in 100 languages,
we have built an international reputation for our commitment to high standards and
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
raising achievement through innovation in education. Find out more about how we can
(ii) Draw this cell. help you and your students at:
Labels are not required.
(2)
Summer 2026
Question Paper Log Number P79064A
Publication Code 9BI0_03_2606_MS
All the material in this publication is
2
*P79064A0244*
, General Marking Guidance
(iii) The actual length of this cell is 45 µm at its longest part.
Calculate the magnification of the photograph. • All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the first
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Give your answer to the nearest whole number. candidate in exactly the same way as they mark the last.
(2) • Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for
what they have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
• Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their
perception of where the grade boundaries may lie.
• There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be used
appropriately.
• All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners should
always award full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the mark scheme.
Examiners should also be prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s
response is not worthy of credit according to the mark scheme.
Answer........................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles by
(b) Describe the method you would use to find the actual length of a cell from the which marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
root tip of a plant which had already been prepared and stained. • When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to a
(2)
candidate’s response, the team leader must be consulted.
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with an
alternative response.
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(Total for Question 1 = 7 marks)
3
*P79064A0344* Turn over
, Question
es
Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
2 Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) is a single‑celled organism widely used in brewing
and baking. 1(a) (i) • metaphase (1) Accept phonetic spelling
(1)
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA DO NOT WRITE IN THIS AREA
Under anaerobic conditions, yeast respires to produce carbon dioxide and ethanol.
Question
The rate of respiration can be measured by recording the volume of carbon dioxide Answer Additional Guidance Mark
produced per unit time. Number
1(a) (ii) An answer that includes the following: Ignore labels
A student used the following method to compare the rate of anaerobic respiration of
yeast with different concentrations of glucose. • shape and proportions of the cell drawn Accept double or single line around outside of cell
correctly (1)
• Add 1 g of yeast, 0.5 g of glucose and 10 cm3 of water to a boiling tube. Stir to
ad
make a suspension.
• Add a thin layer of oil to the top of the suspension in the tube.
• Leave for 5 minutes, then attach a gas syringe.
• Measure the volume of carbon dioxide produced after 10 minutes.
• Repeat to find the mean.
• Repeat the investigation using 0.2 g of glucose.
The diagram shows the apparatus used in this investigation. • chromatids drawn in correct position with Do not accept chromatids drawn in diagrammatic form
no shading (1)
gas syringe
gr
(2)
thin layer of oil
yeast suspension
(a) Explain why a layer of oil was added to the top of the yeast mixture.
(2)
t
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
es
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................................................................................................................................ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
*P79064A0444*
