Mark Scheme (Results)

January 2023

Pearson Edexcel International GCSE

In Biology (4BI1) Paper 2BR
Edexcel and BTEC Qualifications

Edexcel and BTEC qualifications are awarded by Pearson, the UK’s largest awarding body. We
provide a wide range of qualifications including academic, vocational, occupational and specific
programmes for employers. For further information visit our qualifications websites at
www.edexcel.com or www.btec.co.uk. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us using the details
on our contact us page at www.edexcel.com/contactus.

Pearson: helping people progress, everywhere

Pearson aspires to be the world’s leading learning company. Our aim is to help everyone progress
in their lives through education. We believe in every kind of learning, for all kinds of people,
wherever they are in the world. We’ve been involved in 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 help you and your students at: www.pearson.com/uk

January 2023
Question Paper Log Number P72475A
Publications Code 4BI1_2BR_MS_2301
All the material in this publication is copyright
© Pearson Education Ltd 2023
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.
Question Answer additional Mark
Number guidance
1(a) An explanation that makes reference to the 2
following points:

 roots (hair cells) damaged / roots not in soil

/ roots exposed / eq (1) don’t get water
mp 2 from soil
 water not absorbed / taken up /eq (1) mp1

 water lost by transpiration / evaporation / eq

(1)

Question Answer additional guidance Mark

Number
1(b) 3
number of stomata in photo=3

area of photo = 100 µm x 100 µm

conversion of µm to mm allow 1 mark for 3

= 0.1 x 0.1 mm
allow 1 mark for
= 0.01mm 2

1 ÷ 0.01
3 stomata in 0.01 mm2
or 3 ÷0.01
answer in stomata per mm2
or number of stomata
= 3 × 1/0.01 ÷0.01

= 300 (3) or number of

stomata×100

allow full marks for 300

with no working

Question Answer Mark

Number
1(c) An explanation that makes reference to two of the following 2
points:

 stomata closed / shut / less open / smaller / eq (1)

 less carbon dioxide absorbed / eq (1)

Question Answer Additional Mark
Number guidance
1(d)(i) An explanation that makes reference to two of the 2
following points:

 stomata mainly / only on lower surface / upper

surface has no/ fewer stomata / eq (1)

 so stomata not blocked / stomata not covered

by reflective compound / eq (1)

 carbon dioxide can still be absorbed / gas

exchange can still take place / eq (1) allow
converse
 more /most light falls on upper surface / eq (1) for if
covered

Question Answer Mark

Number
1(d)(ii) An explanation that makes reference to two of the following 2
points:

 lower temperature reduces (kinetic) energy (1)

 water molecules move less / eq (1)
 less diffusion / evaporation / eq (1)

Question Answer additional guidance Mark

Number
1(e) A description that makes reference to must be ions 2
two of the following points:

eg nitrate (1)
 named mineral ion (1) ignore nitrogen

for amino acids / protein

(1)
ignore growth

 correct matched function (1) magnesium for

chlorophyll / chloroplasts
(1)

allow other correct

mineral ions and correct
function
Question Answer additional Mark
Number guidance
1(f) A description that makes reference to four of the 4
following points:

 root hair cells (1)

 (absorb water by) osmosis / eq (1)

 from dilute solution to more concentrated / eq

(1)

 water moves up xylem / xylem carries water to

leaves /eq (1)

 transpiration pull /stream /eq (1)

 due to water loss from stomata / transpiration

from stomata / evaporation from stomata /eq
(1)

Total = 17 marks

Question Answer Mark

Number
2(a) (i) 1
The only correct answer is B nephron

A is not correct as it is not the bladder

C is not correct as it is not the ureter

D is not correct as it is not the urethra

Question Answer Mark

Number
2(a) (ii) 1
The only correct answer is B blood

A is not correct as it not bile

C is not correct as it not filtrate

D is not correct as it not urine

Question Answer Mark
Number
2(a) (iii) 1
The only correct answer is C ureter

A is not correct as it not the renal artery

C is not correct as it not the renal vein

D is not correct as it not the urethra

Question Answer additional Mark

Number guidance
2(b)(i) 5
An answer that makes reference to five of the
following points:

1. Process W (ultra) filtration (1) glomerular

2. Location from glomerulus / into filtration =
Bowman’s capsule (1) mp 1 and
3. Effect protein passes (through basement mp 2
membrane) out of blood / into nephron /
eq (1)

4. Process X (selective) reabsorption (1)

5. Location in convoluted tubule (1)
6. Effect glucose not taken back into blood /
stays in tubule / eq (1)

7. Process Y reabsorption of water / ADH

release / osmoregulation/ eq (1)
8. Location in collecting duct (1)
9. Effect stays impermeable / less
permeable / doesn’t allow water (back)
into blood / eq (1)

Question Answer additional Mark

Number guidance
2(b)(ii) A description that makes reference to two of the allow 2
following alternative
test
Fehlings
 Benedict’s added / eq (1) or CuSO4
and
Na2CO3

allow
 heated / eq (1) Benedict’s
 test for
 red / green / yellow / orange / eq (1) mp 1

allow
clinistix /
ursitix /
glucose
testing
strip for
mp 1

and
correct
colour
change for
mp 3 /
brown

Total = 10 marks

Question Answer Mark

Number
3(a)(i)  23 (1) 1

Question Answer additional Mark

Number guidance
3(a)(ii) A description that that makes reference to the 3
following points:

 use quadrat (1)

 random (number generator) / use random

coordinates / eq (1)

 count number of each species in quadrat(1)

not just
count
plants

 divide number by area of quadrat/s (1) no credit

for
repeat
Question Answer additional Mark
Number guidance
3(b) An answer that that makes reference to four of 4
the following points:

1. Field X has 3 species / more species / all 3 Y has 2 / fewer /

species / greater richness / eq (1) no species A

2. Field X shows little variation in numbers/

even distribution of species A eq (1)

3. Field X shows little variation in numbers/

even distribution of species C / eq (1) Y shows more
variation in
numbers/ uneven
distribution of
species C eq (1)

4. Field X shows more variation in numbers/

Y shows little
uneven distribution of species B eq (1)
variation in
numbers / even
distribution of
species B / eq (1)

5. Field X has more ‘eveness’ of species Y less even /

number dominated by
species B

6. Field X has greater biodiversity / eq (1) Y less biodiversity

7. Only 3 counts of each / limited data set /

more repeats needed /eq (1)

Question Answer Mark

Number
3(c) 1
 temperature / water / sunlight / wind speed / mineral
ions/ eq

Total = 9 marks
Question Answer Mark
Number
4(a) 1
 all of the genes / all of DNA in an organism / the entire DNA /
entire genetic make up / eq (1)

Question Answer additional Mark

Number guidance
4(b) A description that that makes reference to three of the 3
following points:

 DNA double (strand(ed)) (helix) / / eq (1) RNA single

stand

 DNA contains deoxyribose / (1) RNA ribose

 DNA contains thymine / T / eq (1) RNA

contains
uracil / U
 DNA longer (molecule) / eq (1)
RNA shorter

Question Answer Mark

Number
4(c) A description that makes reference to four of the following points: 4

1. transcription produces mRNA / eq (1)

2. mRNA copies code of DNA strand / DNA code copied / carried

by mRNA / eq (1)

3. mRNA moves out of nucleus / into cytoplasm / eq (1)

4. binds with ribosome / eq (1)

5. tRNA brings amino acids to ribosome /eq (1)

6. anticodon binds with codons /eq (1)

7. translation produces polypeptide / protein / amino acid chain

(1)

Total = 8 marks

Question Answer Mark

Number
5(a) 3
A oviduct / Fallopian tube (1)
B ovary (1)
C cervix (1)

Question Answer additional Mark

Number guidance
5(b) A description that makes reference to two of the 2
following points:

 site of implantation of embryo / eq (1) allow

zygote
fertilised
 placenta grows (in uterus) / eq (1) egg
implants

 provides nutrition / removes waste from

embryo/ / allow named substances/ eq (1)

Question Answer additional Mark

Number guidance
5(c)(i) An explanation that makes reference to four of the 4
following points:

1. M is oestrogen / N is progesterone (1) allow from

graph
2. M / oestrogen increases and peaks before
ovulation / eq (1)

3. M / oestrogen repairs uterine lining (following

menstruation) / inhibits FSH / stimulates
release of LH / eq (1)

4. (ready) for implantation (of fertilised egg) / eq

(1)

5. N / progesterone increases after ovulation /eq

(1)

6. N maintains uterine lining / prevents

menstruation / inhibits / prevents release of
FSH and LH / eq (1)

7. drop in N / progesterone causes menstruation /

uterine lining/ endometrium to break down/ eq
(1)
Question Answer Mark
Number
5(c)(ii) A description that makes reference to the following points: 2

 FSH / eq (1)
 FSH causes growth of follicle (in ovary) / egg to
mature / release of oestrogen / eq (1)

OR

 LH /eq (1)
 causes ovulation/ release of egg / formation of Corpus
Luteum /eq (1)

Total = 11 marks
Question Answer additional Mark
Number guidance
6(a) 3
1950 =400 - 420 1965 = 510 - 520

percentage change ((520-400)÷400 ) ×100 = +

30%

520-420 ÷420 x 100 = + 24%

range for 1950 to 1965 = 21 to 30

allow 1 for 21
1968 = 480-490 1983=120-130 to 30

percentage change ((120-490)÷490 ) ×100 = - and

75.5%
1 for 73 to 76
((130-480) )÷480) X 100 = -72.9%

range for 1968 to 1983 = -73 to - 76 if one of these

figs is wrong
allow one for
subtraction -75.5% – 30% = 105.5 subtraction of (-
max 30 + 76 74 to + 30)
min 21 + 73 being correct eq
even if using
allow range 94 to 106 (3) incorrect values

so if incorrect
final answer
can get up to 2
for working

allow full marks

for 94 to 106
with no working
Question Answer additional Mark
Number guidance
6(b) An explanation that makes reference to four of the following 4
points:

1. cases higher before vaccine introduced / lower after

vaccination introduced/ eq (1)

2. cases more variable before vaccine introduced/ less

variable after vaccine introduced / eq (1)

3. as no immunity / antibodies to measles / takes time to

produce antibodies / eq (1)

4. as percentage / more of population vaccinated cases

decrease/ eq (1)

5. as virus no longer reproducing in children / virus herd

destroyed in children / no longer spreading / can no immunity
longer find a suitable host / eq (1)

6. as vaccinated children have antibodies / memory cells reject

/eq (1) antibiotics

7. quoting early data (eg up to 1974) (cases and

percent vaccinated) 125 cases 52% vaccinated /eq mp 7 mp 8
(1) allow
range /
8. quoting later data: (cases and percent vaccinated) leeway on
(eg 1990 onwards) later data eg 80% vaccinated 20 cases and
cases / no cases (by 1998) when 90% vaccinated / eq percentage
(1)

Question Answer Mark

Number
6(c) An explanation that makes reference to two of the following points: 2

 cannot produce antibodies /fewer antibodies produced / eq (1)

 no / fewer memory cells produced / no / less secondary

immune response / eq (1)

 could develop disease / give child disease / give child illness /

give child measles / eq (1)

Total = 9 marks
Question Answer Mark
Number
7 6
 explants
 microorganisms / microbes / fungi /
bacteria /pathogens / eq
ignore
 sugar / named sugar / glucose / sucrose / carbohydrate
starch / eq
 clones
 sexual
 all / throughout/ during / through /
anytime

Total = 6 marks
Pearson Education Limited. Registered company number 872828
with its registered office at 80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL, United Kingdom