What is the Paper 3 CI document?

The Confidential Instructions document accompanies Paper 3 practical. It is given to the supervising teacher with apparatus and preparation details for the exam. Reading past CIs helps anticipate experimental setups.

How should I practise these past papers effectively?

Use LumiExams Exam Hub to view the question paper and mark scheme side-by-side. Time yourself for one full paper, self-mark with the MS, then read the examiner report to see where most candidates lost marks.

A-Level 9700 2020 · March

Cambridge A-Level Biology (9700) March 2020 Past Papers

Q: What's the difference between AS and A2 papers for 9700?

Papers 1-2 are AS-Level papers (sat at end of year 1 or standalone). Papers 3-5 are A2 papers for the full A-Level. Paper 3 is the practical, Paper 4 is advanced theory, Paper 5 is planning/analysis/evaluation.

Q: Why does this session have variants 0, 2?

Cambridge issues different variants so the exam can be sat safely across world time zones. All variants test the same syllabus at equivalent difficulty, with grade thresholds calibrated to even out any small variation. Practising any variant is equally valuable.

Q: When does Cambridge release March 2020 mark schemes and examiner reports?

Cambridge typically publishes mark schemes around 6-8 weeks after results day, with the examiner report following roughly three months later.

This page hosts the full 12-file bundle for the Cambridge A-Level Biology (9700) March 2020 examination — question papers, mark schemes, grade thresholds document , and Paper 3 confidential instructions. This session covers 2 time-zone variants (papers numbered X0, X2 — e.g. Paper 10 for variant 0).

The March 2020 sitting is the March 2020 session. All files are sourced from Cambridge International and free to download.

Grade Thresholds

12 files • 3.1 MB

9700 March 2020 Papers

Paper 1

AS-Level

Multiple Choice (AS)

1h 15min 40 marks

Variant 2

Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 2

AS-Level

AS Level Structured Questions

1h 15min 60 marks

Variant 2

Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 3

Advanced Practical Skills

2h 40 marks

Variant 2

Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 4

A Level Structured Questions

2h 100 marks

Variant 2

Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 5

Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

1h 30min 30 marks

Variant 2

Question Paper Mark Scheme CI

All 9700 papers

May-June 2020

Related 9700 sessions

Other 2020 sessions

March across other years

View all 9700 past papers →

Paper components in this session

The Biology 9700 qualification is built from 5 paper components totalling 270 marks. The grid below shows each paper appearing in the March 2020 bundle on this page.

Paper 1 AS

Multiple Choice (AS)

1h 15min · 40 marks

Paper 2 AS

AS Level Structured Questions

1h 15min · 60 marks

Paper 3 A2

Advanced Practical Skills

2h · 40 marks

Paper 4 A2

A Level Structured Questions

2h · 100 marks

Paper 5 A2

Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

1h 30min · 30 marks

About the March 2020 9700 session

Biology 9700 has five components: Paper 1 (AS multiple choice), Paper 2 (AS structured), Paper 3 (AS advanced practical skills with CI), Paper 4 (A2 structured theory), and Paper 5 (A2 planning, analysis & evaluation). Most centres complete AS in year 1 (Papers 1-3) and A2 in year 2 (Papers 4-5).

The March 2020 bundle below contains 12 files across 6 paper components and 2 time-zone variants. Mark schemes are included for every question paper. The examiner report has not yet been released for this session. Grade thresholds are linked at the top of this page.

How to use these A-Level Biology past papers

Timed practice under exam conditions

Sit each paper at the exact duration listed in the components grid. The A-Level pacing problem on Paper 4 is famously tight, so finishing on time is itself a skill worth practising.

Mark with the March 2020 MS

Cambridge mark schemes show acceptable wording and method marks for each step. After self-marking, log which questions cost you method marks vs accuracy marks — they need different fixes.

Read the examiner report (when released)

The ER for this session flags the specific questions where most candidates struggled and what the examiners wanted to see instead. It's the single highest-leverage document in the bundle for targeted revision.

Use grade thresholds to set a target

A-Level thresholds shift each session with paper difficulty. The March 2020 thresholds (linked above) tell you exactly what raw mark you'd need on this paper for an A* — usually 85-90% on the easier sessions and as low as 75% when papers are tougher.

A-Level 9700 March 2020 — Frequently asked questions

What's in the Cambridge A-Level Biology March 2020 paper bundle?

This page hosts 12 files for the Cambridge A-Level Biology (9700) March 2020 session: question papers, mark schemes, and the grade thresholds document, plus Paper 3 confidential instructions for the practical exam. All files come directly from Cambridge International and are free to download.

What's the difference between AS and A2 papers for 9700?

Papers 1-2 are AS-Level papers, sat at the end of year 1 of a two-year course or standalone for the AS qualification. Papers 3-5 are A2 papers, sat in year 2 for the full A-Level. Paper 3 is the practical exam (CI required). Paper 4 is the advanced theory paper, the most heavily weighted. Paper 5 covers planning, analysis & evaluation.

Why does this session have variants 0, 2?

Cambridge issues different variants of each paper so the exam can be sat safely across the world's time zones without leaks. Variant 1 (papers numbered X1, e.g. Paper 10) is typically for Zone 1 (Americas); Variant 2 (e.g. Paper 12) for Zone 2 (Europe, Africa, Middle East); Variant 3 (where present) for Zone 3 (Asia, Oceania). All variants test the same syllabus content at equivalent difficulty — Cambridge calibrates the grade thresholds afterwards to even out any small variation. Practising any variant is equally valuable.

When does Cambridge release March 2020 mark schemes and examiner reports?

Cambridge typically publishes mark schemes for the February-March series around 6-8 weeks after results day, and the examiner report follows roughly three months later. The mark schemes for this session are available above. The examiner report has not been published yet.

What is the Paper 3 CI (Confidential Instructions) document?

The Confidential Instructions document accompanies the Biology Paper 3 practical exam. It is given to the supervising teacher before the exam and lists the apparatus, chemicals or specimens required, plus the precise quantities and any preparatory work the centre must do. Students don't see the CI — but reading the CIs from past papers is a useful way to anticipate what kind of experimental setups Paper 3 favours each session.

How should I practise 9700 March 2020 papers most effectively?

Use our free Exam Hub to view the question paper and mark scheme side-by-side. Time yourself for one full paper (the duration is in the components grid above), self-mark with the MS. For weak topics, cross-reference the A-Level Biology hub.

Get A-Level Biology Tips

Join students preparing for 9700. Get weekly study tips, new past papers alerts, and exam reminders.

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