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Mark Scheme (Results)

Summer 2024

Pearson Edexcel International GCSE

In Biology (4BI1) Paper 2B
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Summer 2024
Question Paper Log Number P75815A
Publications Code 4BI1_2B_2406_MS
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2024
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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
replaced it with an alternative response.
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Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
1(a) The only correct answer is B (1 and 3) 1

A is incorrect as yeast has no nervous system

C is incorrect as yeast has no nervous system

D is incorrect as yeast has no nervous system

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
1(b) An explanation that makes reference to 3
three of the following:

• competition (between megalodon

and whales) (1)

• whales ate more food / eq (1) Accept less food left

for megalodon / no
food / megalodon
starve

Accept megalodon
• whales better adapted / swam
less well adapted
faster / better at feeding / better
at hunting / eq (1)

• whales survived / eq (1)

Accept megalodon
did not survive
Accept megalodon
died (out)
Ignore extinct

• whales reproduced more / had Accept megalodon

more offspring / eq (1) did not reproduce
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
1(c)(i) A description that makes reference to two 2
of the following:

• acid rain (1) Accept sulphuric acid

• deforestation / death of trees / Accept damages plants

death of plants / eq (1) / trees / eq

• death of fish / death of animals Accept loss of food

in lakes / loss of species in lakes chains / loss of
or rivers / eq (1) biodiversity
Accept harms fish / eq

Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
1(c)(ii) An explanation that makes reference to three of 3
the following:

• (less) photosynthesis (1)

Ignore cannot
• so less glucose / sugar / starch / eq (1)
produce food
for mp2
• fewer producers / fewer plants / less mass of
producers / producers die / plants do not
grow as much / eq (1)

• less food for consumers / less energy for Accept fewer

consumers / eq (1) consumers
Accept fewer
herbivores /
carnivores
Accept less
food for animals
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
1(d)(i) An answer that makes reference to two of 2
the following:

• prevents osmosis / less osmosis (1) Accept osmosis

would occur if in
water

• so water will not enter cells / eq (1) Accept water will

enter if in (pure)
water

• so cells do not burst / eq (1) Accept cells burst if

in water
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
1(d)(ii) A description that makes reference to four of 4
the following:

• place diploid nucleus into Accept fuse body

enucleated egg cell / place body cell with enucleated
cell nucleus into enucleated egg egg
cell / eq (1) Accept empty egg
cell for enucleated
egg cell

• electric shock / eq (1) Accept shock

• mitosis / cell division / eq (1) Reject meiosis

• place embryo into uterus /

womb (1)

• of surrogate (mother) (1)

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Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
1(e) A description that makes reference to three of 3
the following:

max two of

• mammoth population increases / Accept high

over-population occurs / eq (1) mammoth
reproduction rate
/ population not
controlled

• mammoth eats too much food / Accept overeats

mammoth eats lots of food / less prey / animals /
food for other species / mammoth prey could go
competes with other species / eq extinct
(1)

and max two of

• less global warming / less greenhouse Accept less

effect / climate change / less ice cap greenhouse gas
melting / eq (1)

• decomposition of faeces / decay of Accept decay of

faeces / eq (1) dead mammoths

• more amino acid / protein / DNA /

chlorophyll, synthesis in plants /
producers / eq (1)

• (soil nutrients means) more plants /

Accept better
increased plant growth / more
plant growth
producers / eq (1)

(Total for Question 1 = 18 marks)

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Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
2(a)(i) A description that makes reference to four of: 4
1. cut shoot underwater / cut shoot
diagonally / eq (1)

2. dry leaves / check seals / make sure

sealed / use petroleum jelly / bung is Accept Vaseline
in / eq (1)

3. measure distance bubble moves / Accept time

distance water moves / how many mm taken to move
bubble moves / eq (1) set distance =
mp3 and mp4

4. in set time / stated time / eq (1)

5. place lamp different distances from

Ignore use
shoot / move lamp / eq (1)
different
intensities

6. stated control variable e.g.

temperature / humidity / wind speed /
eq (1)

7. repeats / use reservoir to reset / eq (1) Ignore repeat

at different
intensities
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Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
2(a)(ii) 1
• water loss / distance moved by Accept water
bubble / volume of water taken up / uptake /
time taken to move bubble / rate of transpiration
bubble movement / eq speed

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
2(b)(i) An explanation that makes reference to 2
two of the following:

• more water loss as light intensity Accept more

increases / eq (1) transpiration /
evaporation, as light
intensity increases
Accept converse

• because (more) stomata open / Accept fewer stomata

stomata open wider / eq (1) open in dark

• until all stomata are open Accept until stomata are

(completely) / (1) fully open
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
2(b)(ii) An explanation that makes reference to Accept less transpiration 3
three of the following: / evaporation / diffusion
as eq to less water loss
for all mps

• desert plant loses less water (in Accept retains water /

total) / eq (1) conserves water / eq

• (desert plant) water is lost in low Accept water loss

light / water is not lost in high increases as light intensity
light / eq (1) decreases / water loss
decreases as light
intensity increases

Accept less water loss in

high(er) light = mp1 and
mp2

• stomata close in light / day / Accept stomata close in

stomata open in dark / night / eq high light intensities /
(1) open in low light
intensities

• (desert plants) have fewer

stomata / eq (1)

• reduces wilting / stops plant going

flaccid / eq (1)

(Total for Question 2 = 10 marks)

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Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
3(a) An explanation that makes reference to two of the 2
following:

• exercise increase body temperature / eq (1) Accept

exercise heats
up body / eq

• (more) sweat / eq (1)

• cool down / lose heat / eq (1)

• by evaporation (1)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
3(b)(i) An explanation that makes reference to 3
three of the following:

Accept water
• blood concentration increases / less
concentration
water in blood / eq (1)

• (detected by) hypothalamus / Accept

pituitary gland (1) osmoreceptors

• releases ADH (1)

• collecting duct becomes permeable /

eq (1)

• increased water reabsorption (so less Accept water

urine produced) (1) absorbed into blood
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
3(b)(ii) An explanation that makes reference to 2
two of the following:

• with (pure water) blood becomes more Accept with isotonic

dilute / less concentrated / has high drink, blood is less
water concentration / eq (1) dilute / more
concentrated (than
drinking water) /
correct concentration
/ lower water
concentration (than
with water)

• less / no ADH released when drinking Accept more / some

water / eq (1) ADH released when
drinking isotonic / eq

• less water reabsorbed (by kidney) when Accept more water

water drunk / eq (1) reabsorbed when
drinking isotonic drink
/ eq
Accept water
absorbed into blood
when drinking isotonic
drink

• salt / sugar absorbed into blood (in Ignore absorption of

intestine) (from isotonic drink) / eq (1) sugar in kidney

(Total for Question 3 = 7 marks)

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Question Answer Mark

Number
4(a)(i) The only correct answer is A W (pituitary gland) 1

B is incorrect as X the pancreas does not release LH

C is incorrect as Y the adrenal does not release LH

D is incorrect as Z the ovary does not release LH

Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
4(a)(ii) A description that makes reference to the 2
following:

• ovulation / release egg / eq (1) Accept release

oocyte / eq

• (stimulates) progesterone release (1) Accept oestrogen

release
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Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
4(b) An explanation that makes reference to the 3
following:

• (amniotic fluid) prevents physical damage / Accept shock

bumps / equalize pressure / eq (1) absorber /
cushioning
and two from:

• (placenta) allows diffusion / active transport

/ eq (1)

• gives the fetus amino acids / glucose /

Accept named
oxygen / antibodies / vitamins / minerals /
vitamins /
eq (1)
minerals

• removes from the fetus urea / carbon dioxide

/ eq (1)

• makes sure mother’s and baby’s blood do

not mix / eq (1)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
4(c)(i) • 27% (3) Correct answer gains all three marks 3

27.27…. = two marks

One mark for:-

(2800 – 2200)

OR

600

OR

division by 2200
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Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
4(c)(ii) An answer that makes reference to four of the 4
following points:

1. smoking results in slower growth / less Accept

mass / grow less / eq (1) converse

2. taking minerals results in faster growth /

higher mass / grow more / eq (1) Accept converse

3. biggest increase in mass / fastest growth Accept smallest

is non-smokers with minerals (1) increase /
slowest growth is
smokers without
minerals

4. smoking has a bigger impact than not Accept smoking

taking mineral supplements / eq (1) reduces mass
more than
minerals increase
mass
5. carbon monoxide (in smoke) (1)

6. (carbon monoxide) binds to haemoglobin Accept reduces

/ produces carboxyhaemoglobin / eq (1) oxygen
(transport)

7. less respiration / energy release / eq (1)

8. less iron so less haemoglobin made / Accept other

fewer red blood cells made / eq (1) correct minerals
linked to function

9. less calcium so less bone growth / eq (1)

(Total for Question 4 = 13 marks)

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Question Answer Mark

Number
5(a)(i) The only correct answer is 1
A ATG GCA TTA ATA

B is incorrect because DNA does not have U

C is incorrect because the pairing is wrong

D is incorrect because DNA does not have U

Question Answer Mark

Number
5(a)(ii) The only correct answer is 1
A DNA, transcription, RNA, translation, protein

B is incorrect because translation is in the wrong place

C is incorrect because RNA is in the wrong place

D is incorrect because RNA is in the wrong place

Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
5(b)(i) • 3 1
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Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
5(b)(ii) An explanation that makes reference to 3
three of the following points:

1. some sequences / codons / different Accept (amino acid)

codes / different bases / may code W has two codes /
for same amino acid /eq (1) (amino acid) Y has
two codes / eq

2. (same amino acid so) no change in Accept same

protein / no change in enzyme / polypeptide
protein has same function / eq (1)

3. may not affect bonding / (3D) shape

/ active site of enzyme / still binds to
substrate / eq (1)

4. mutation / allele / gene, may be

recessive / not expressed / eq (1)

5. non-coding DNA / eq (1)

Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
5(b)(iii) 1
• (ionising) radiation / UV light / tar / Do not accept
tobacco / mutagen / carcinogen / infra-red radiation
gamma rays / X-rays / radioactivity /
eq (1) Accept smoking

Accept other
correct mutagens

(Total for Question 5 = 7 marks)

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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
6(a)(i) • 1 : 2.4 : 1 Accept 1: 2.375: 1 1
Accept 1: 2.38 : 1
Accept 1: 2 : 1

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
6(a)(ii) A description that makes reference to the 2
following points:

• ethanol / alcohol and add water (1)

• goes white / cloudy / white emulsion
forms / milky / eq (1)

OR

• add Sudan III (1) Accept

• rub on paper / eq
• red colour (in top layer) (1) (1)

• paper goes
transparent / clear
/ eq (1)

Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
6(a)(iii) • growth / repair / enzymes / build muscle / 1
antibodies / eq (1)
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
6(b)(i) • 357 (2) Correct answer gains both marks 2

357 = two marks

Accept one mark for:

2500

or

division by 7

or

(3750-1250)

or

357.14…

Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
6(b)(ii) • 3002 / 3000 (g) (1) 1
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
6(b)(iii) An answer that makes reference to the 2
following points:

• (GM fish) grow more / bigger / Accept converse

faster / eq (1)

• produce less faeces / can Accept have more /

digest more efficiently / absorb different enzymes
more / eq (1) Accept less
undigested waste

• less respiration / lower Accept more energy

metabolic rate / eq (1) used in growth /
biomass / waste less
energy / eq
• move less / slower swimming /
eq (1)

• eat more food / less food Accept pellets or

wasted / eq (1) protein for food

Question Answer Additional Mark

Number guidance
6(b)(iv) 1
• temperature / light (intensity) / oxygen /
salinity / pH / eq (1)
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Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

Number
6(b)(v) An answer that makes reference to the Accept converse 5
following points: throughout

1. GM-fish grow bigger / faster / harvest Accept don’t need

sooner / eq (1) to keep as long / eq

2. less food wasted / more food eaten / eq Accept fish feed

(1) more efficiently /
don’t need to give
as much food
3. less faeces / urea / excretion / ammonia
/ eq (1)

4. less decomposition / fewer decomposers

/ eq (1)

5. less nitrification / fewer nitrifying

bacteria / eq (1)

6. less eutrophication / algal growth /

plant growth / eq (1)

7. less oxygen loss / more oxygen in water /

eq (1)

8. due to less (bacterial) respiration /

(more oxygen for) respiration of animals
/ eq (1)

9. no information about disease spread / Accept GM fish are

pathogen spread / eq (1) also kept in nets so
disease would
spread

10. GM fish are (genetically) similar so may Accept GM are

be more likely to catch / spread disease / genetically weaker
infection / eq (1) so likely to get
disease

11. not repeated / need more experiments Accept no idea of

/ no idea of sample size / eq (1) age / sex of fish

12.(GM) fish that escape may harm food

chains / outcompete wild fish / may
breed with wild fish / eq (1)

13. did not measure nitrates / eq (1)

(Total for Question 6 = 15 mark

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