Pearson
Edexcel
Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel A Level GCE
In Biology A Salters - Nuffield (9BN0)
Paper 03: General and Practical
Applications in Biology
,Summer 2025
,General Marking Guidance
All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must
mark the first candidate in exactly the same way as they mark
the last.
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.
Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide
the principles by which marks will be awarded and
exemplification may be limited.
When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the
mark scheme to a candidate’s response, the team leader must
be consulted.
Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has
, Questio Answer Additional guidance Mark
n
number
1(a)(i) answer that makes reference to two of the following:
change in species (of plants and animals) ALLOW change in community
(1) IGNORE organisms
taking place over time (1)
leading to a climax community (1)
Questio Answer Additional guidance Mark
n
number
1(a)(ii) answer that makes reference to the following: Example of calculation
correct values taken from the graph (1) 2 = 14
1995 – 1986 = 9
(ALLOW 14.2 and 9)
correct answer given to two significant figures 9 = 1.6 (species) year-1
with an appropriate unit (1)
of acceptable unit (species) per
year / (species) per y
One mark can be given for 1.6 with
no units
Edexcel
Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2025
Pearson Edexcel A Level GCE
In Biology A Salters - Nuffield (9BN0)
Paper 03: General and Practical
Applications in Biology
,Summer 2025
,General Marking Guidance
All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must
mark the first candidate in exactly the same way as they mark
the last.
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.
Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide
the principles by which marks will be awarded and
exemplification may be limited.
When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the
mark scheme to a candidate’s response, the team leader must
be consulted.
Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has
, Questio Answer Additional guidance Mark
n
number
1(a)(i) answer that makes reference to two of the following:
change in species (of plants and animals) ALLOW change in community
(1) IGNORE organisms
taking place over time (1)
leading to a climax community (1)
Questio Answer Additional guidance Mark
n
number
1(a)(ii) answer that makes reference to the following: Example of calculation
correct values taken from the graph (1) 2 = 14
1995 – 1986 = 9
(ALLOW 14.2 and 9)
correct answer given to two significant figures 9 = 1.6 (species) year-1
with an appropriate unit (1)
of acceptable unit (species) per
year / (species) per y
One mark can be given for 1.6 with
no units
