Mark Scheme (Results)

October 2023

Pearson Edexcel International Advanced

Subsidiary Level In Biology (WBI11)
Paper 01
Unit 1: Molecules, Diet, Transportation
and Health
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October 2023
Question Paper Log Number P75615A
Publications Code WBI11_01_MS_2310
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 guidance Mark
number
1(a) An answer that includes the following points (in order):

ACCEPT covalent
• phosphodiester (1)

• condensation (1) ACCEPT polymerisation

• water (1) ACCEPT H2O

• hydrogen (1) ACCEPT H

DO NOT ACCEPT H2
(5)
• double helix (1) DO NOT ACCEPT chromosome
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
1(b) A drawing that includes the following points:

• one base, one phosphate, one sugar, two bonds (1)

• all joined together correctly (1)

• the base is thymine and the sugar is deoxyribose (1)

ACCEPT

for the bond joining phosphate to

sugar

ACCEPT phosphate and base the

other way round
sugar shape + T and P (3)
 Question Answer Mark
number
2(a)(i)
The only correct answer is B

A is incorrect as the arrow labelled Q is the activation energy

C is incorrect as the arrow labelled Q is the activation energy
D is incorrect as the arrow labelled Q is the activation energy

(1)

Question Answer Mark

number
2(a)(ii)
The only correct answer is C

A is incorrect as monophenol is the reactant and is located at Y

B is incorrect as monophenol is the reactant and is located at Y
D is incorrect as monophenol is the reactant and is located at Y
(1)
Question Answer Mark
number
2(a)(iii)
The only correct answer is C

A is incorrect as P will stay the same and Q will get shorter as the activation energy decreases
B is incorrect as P will stay the same and Q will get shorter as the activation energy decreases
D is incorrect as P will stay the same and Q will get shorter as the activation energy decreases
(1)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
2(b)(i)
• tangent drawn at 3 minutes on the outside of the curve (1)

• value between 6.5 and 12.6 to max one decimal place (1) ACCEPT with or without a minus sign

Bald correct answer = 2 marks

(answer / bald answer} in range but
with too many decimal places = 1
mark (2)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
2(b)(ii) An explanation that includes two of the following points:

• {curve / gradient / graph / fall} will be steeper and

{plateau / reach zero sooner} (1)

• (optimum temperature results in) more {energy /

collisions / enzyme-substrate complexes} (1)

• (levels off sooner) substrate will run out (1) (2)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
3(a)
• 98 (g of protein per person) (1)

• 686 (g) (1) Bald answer of 686 = 2 marks

Bald answer of {98 / number with the
adjacent numbers 686} = 1 mark (2)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
3(b)(i)

• transcription and translation (1) (1)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
3(b)(ii) A description that includes four of the following points:

mRNA

• is a copy of the (genetic) {code / information / sequence /

DNA / gene} (1)

• mRNA {moves / carries code} {out of the nucleus / to the

ribosomes} (1)

tRNA
• {binds to / carries} its specific amino acid (1) ACCEPT appropriate / particular / a
certain

• (tRNA) anticodon {binds / pairs} with (mRNA) codon (1)

• holds the amino acid {in place / until the peptide bonds
have formed} (1) (4)
 Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
4(a)
• (India) 71.76 (million) (1)

• (Malaysia) 3.2 (1) (2)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
4(b)(i)
• {16.75 / 16.8 / 17} : 1 (1)
(1)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
4(b)(ii) An explanation that includes the following points:

• because colour blindness is {sex-linked / sex-linkage} (1) ACCEPT X-linked

ACCEPT {genetic information /

• which means the {gene for colour vision / colour blind allele} for {colour vision / this
gene} is located on the X chromosome (1) disorder}
if dominant and
recessive alleles shown on X
chromosomes in a diagram

• therefore males with {faulty / recessive / colour blind}

allele will be colour blind (1)

• whereas females need to {be homozygous recessive /

have two faulty alleles} to be colour blind (1)
(4)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
5(a)(i)
• all the {components / molecules / substances} ACCEPT
(of the blood) flow (through the vessels) together • when blood flows from high pressure to low
(1) pressure

• movement of fluids down a pressure gradient

IGNORE temperature

• {bulk transport of substances /all substances}

move in same {direction / speed}

• movement of all substances from one exchange

surface to another (1)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
5(a)(ii) An explanation that includes the following points:

• diffusion is too slow (to supply the cells with glucose) (1)

ONE FROM THE FOLLOWING :

• cells are too far away from the {gut / small intestine /
digestive system} / diffusion distance is too great

OR

• because the concentration gradients (between cells and

blood) are too low

OR

• glucose cannot enter without a carrier protein (1) ACCEPT because glucose is {large /
polar}
glucose cannot enter
without {facilitated diffusion /
active transport / co transport} (2)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
5(b) A drawing that includes the following points:

• arrows drawn on the RHS of heart only (1)

• arrows through a vein, passing into ventricles and leaving

through an artery (1)

(2)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
5(c) An explanation that includes four of the following points:

ACCEPT high pressure in large

• pressure decreases the {further away from the blood gets
arteries / low pressure in small
from the heart / closer the blood gets to the cells / as the
arteries
arteries decrease in size} (1)

AND THREE OF THE FOLLOWING:

• collagen needed for strength in large arteries (1)

• elastin needed in large arteries for (elastic) recoil (1) ACCEPT elastic fibres

• {elastin / (elastic) recoil / collagen} is needed to prevent

{rupturing / damaging} arteries (1)

• smooth muscle needed in small arteries to {maintain

blood pressure / control blood flow / vasoconstriction} (1) (4)
Question Answer Mark
number
5(d)(i)
The only correct answer is B

A is incorrect as arteries decrease in diameter as they get smaller and veins increase in diameter as they get
larger
C is incorrect as arteries decrease in diameter as they get smaller and veins increase in diameter as they get
larger
D is incorrect as arteries decrease in diameter as they get smaller and veins increase in diameter as they get
larger (1)

Question Answer Mark

number
5(d)(ii)
The only correct answer is B

A is incorrect as only capillaries are permeable

C is incorrect as only capillaries are permeable
D is incorrect as only capillaries are permeable (1)
Question Answer Mark
number
6(a)
Structure found in

Structure both amylose neither

amylose amylopectin
and amylose nor
only only
amylopectin amylopectin
glycosidic bonds [x] [x] [x] [x]

1-6 α bonds [x] [x] [x] [x]

(3)
hydrogen bonds [x] [x] [x] [x]

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
6(b) A description that includes the following points:

• as temperature increases the loss of amylose increases (in

all four sources) (1)

• {most amylose is lost from cassava / least amylose lost

from potato} (at all three temperatures) (1) (2)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
6(c)(i) An answer that includes three of the following with at least one similarity
and one difference:

Similarities:

• (an increase in temperature causes an) increase in ACCEPT positive correlation

amylose and amylopectin loss (up to 85 and then a (up to 85 (°C))
decrease) (1)

• {the same temperature / a temperature of 85 (°C)

causes highest loss of amylose and amylopectin (1)

• both lose same quantity at {47 / 64 (°C)} (1)

Differences:

• amylopectin starts to be lost at lower temperatures (1) ACCEPT amylopectin starts to

be lost at 20 (°C) and amylose
at {40 / just above 40 (°C)}
amylopectin lost at
greater range of temperatures
a temperature of {40 /
just above 40 (°C)} causes a
loss of amylose but a
temperature of 20 °C causes a
loss of amylopectin
• more amylopectin is lost than amylose (overall / above
64°C / except between 47°C and 64°C) (1) (3)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
6(c)(ii) An answer that includes three of the following points:

• (water containing) amylose had the higher hardness and

(water containing) amylopectin had the higher stickiness
OR
• (water containing) amylose and amylopectin has the
higher (overall) hardness and stickiness (1)

• (water containing) amylose contributes to hardness (1) ACCEPT increases

• (water containing) amylopectin contributes to stickiness ACCEPT increases

(1)

• no {error bars / standard deviation} so data may not be

repeatable (1) (3)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
6(c)(iii) An answer that includes the following points:

• (lid on) so that {cooking fluid / water} is not lost / so more

water will be absorbed by rice (1)

• so that the {hardness / stickiness} is {desired / correct} (1)

OR

• (all liquid absorbed) no loss of amylose (1)

• so that the {desired / correct} hardness is achieved (1)

OR

• (all liquid absorbed) no loss of amylopectin (1)

• so that the {desired / correct} stickiness is achieved (1) (2)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
7(a) A description that includes the following points:

ACCEPT at (very) high cholesterol

• (for) as blood cholesterol levels increase (up to a point)
levels there are {only people with heart
the number of people developing heart disease increases /
disease / no people who do not have
at high cholesterol levels more people have heart disease
heart disease}
(1)

• (against) people with low levels of cholesterol are ACCEPT {as cholesterol levels increase
developing heart disease (1) / at high levels of cholesterol} there
are people without heart disease
not enough information on the
design of the study (2)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
7(b) A description that includes the following points:

• (LDL increases so does the incidence of heart disease) the

height of the bars increase at all HDL concentrations (1)

• (HDL increases the incidence of heart disease decreases)

the bars get smaller at all LDL concentrations (1)

• (higher the ratio of HDL to LDL the lower the incidence of ACCEPT CVD is high when LDL high
heart disease) the bars are highest in the back left corner and HDL low and CVD is low when
and get smaller towards the front right corner (1) HDL is high and LDL is low (3)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
7(c)(i) An explanation that includes three of the following points:

ACCEPT they are complementary

• because the LDL-R will {bind / fit} to the LDL (1)

• and hold it on the {membrane / cell} (1)

• membrane forms a vesicle (around the LDL) (1) ACCEPT description e.g. membrane
surrounds the LDL

• due to the fluidity of the membrane (1) ACCEPT because phospholipids can
move (within membrane) (3)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
7(c)(ii) An explanation that includes two of the following points:

• because the change in pH will change the ionisation of ACCEPT charges of R groups
the R groups (1)

• so the {binding site / receptor / protein / LDL} will ACCEPT active site
{change shape / denatures} (1) {H bonds / ionic bonds}
{break / form} within {LDL / LDL-R}

• therefore bonds holding LDL and LDL-R break (1) (2)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
7(c)(iii) An explanation that includes three of the following points:

ACCEPT {fewer / no} receptors

• because mutation results in a change the (tertiary)
different protein formed
structure of the {receptor / protein / LDL-R} (1)
active site

• therefore the LDL-R will no longer {fit / bind} to LDL / ACCEPT no longer complementary
endocytosis will not occur (1)

• so less LDL is taken into the {cells / liver} / so LDL ACCEPT LDL increases in blood
remains in the blood (1)

• and therefore there will be more {cholesterol / LDL} (in ACCEPT to form {plaque / atheroma}
the blood) to {bind to any damaged endothelial cells / (in the walls of the arteries)
build up in the walls of the arteries} (1) (3)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
8(a)(i)
7
• total number of deaths in one year calculated 57.74193548387 million / 5.774193548387 × 10
(correctly rounded) (1)

7
• {6 / 5.8 / 5.77} × 10 (1) Bald correct answer = 2 marks
Bald answer of total number of deaths in one
year correctly rounded = 1 mark
(2)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
8(a)(ii) An answer that includes the following points:

ACCEPT using a graph of the data

• by plotting the {CVD deaths per year / data (available)}

OR

• inputting {CVD deaths per year / (available) data} into a

computer

OR

• by {looking at / calculating} the {percentage / rate of}

increase / current trends (1)

• and extrapolating (the data) (1) ACCEPT a description of

extrapolation e.g. draw a line of
best fit through data (2)

Released first on EDEXCEL AP DISCORD

https://sites.google.com/view/ap-edexcel/
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
8(b)(i) An explanation that includes the following points:

ACCEPT neutralise / donate

• because the antioxidants will reduce free radicals (1)
electrons to / break down / stabilise

• therefore {cell damage / damage to lining of blood vessels

/ oxidative stress} will be {reduced / prevented} (1)

• (less cell damage / antioxidants) {reduce/ prevent} ACCEPT reduces cholesterol build up
{plaque / atheroma} formation (1) (3)

Question Answer Additional guidance Mark

number
8(b)(ii)
(1)
• not harmful / food source / already in diet (1)
Question Answer Additional guidance Mark
number
*8(b)(iii) Indicative content:
Level 1: Description of study design
For repeatable data:
1 mark = one appropriate description
• a large group of people (500 minimum) should be selected (D)
• study could be repeated (D) 2 marks = three appropriate
• uses same methods for all {groups / trials} (D) descriptions
For valid data:
Level 2: Description of study
• people should be selected who have no underlying health risks (D) design (that will work) with some
• other CVD risk factors should be controlled (D) explanations
• use of medication should be controlled (D)
• as they should all have similar risk profiles (E) 3 marks = three appropriate
• e.g. shouldn’t smoke as this would increase blood pressure (E) descriptions plus an indication that the
study needs to be long term
• diet should be controlled (D) OR
• so that they are consuming the same number of free radicals (E) one description explained or
• so that they are consuming the same number of antioxidants (E) linked correctly to either validity or
• so that they are consuming the same {cholesterol / HDL / LDL} repeatability

• the ginger should be administered in a palatable and regular way (D) 4 marks = two descriptions explained or
• so that everyone is getting the same mass of ginger (E) linked correctly to both validity and
repeatability
• one group of people should be given a placebo / known antioxidant (D)
• to {act as a comparison to / to determine} the effect of the ginger (E)
Level 3: Descriptions with detailed
• people should be monitored for the development of CVD over a number explanations
(5 minimum) of years (D)
• because CVD takes a period of time to develop (E) 5 marks = three descriptions explained

• use of statistical analysis / t-test / other relevant named stats test (D) 6 marks = at least three descriptions
• to check repeatability (E) explained, including an indication that
the study needs to be long-term with a
reason (6)
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