A-Level 9700 2022 · Oct-Nov

Cambridge A-Level Biology (9700) Oct-Nov 2022 Past Papers

This page hosts the full 35-file bundle for the Cambridge A-Level Biology (9700) Oct-Nov 2022 examination — question papers, mark schemes, examiner report, grade thresholds document , and Paper 3 confidential instructions. This session covers 4 time-zone variants (papers numbered X0, X1, X2, X3 — e.g. Paper 10 for variant 0).

The Oct-Nov 2022 sitting is the October-November series — the Northern-Hemisphere winter sitting used by centres on an autumn-start academic year. All files are sourced from Cambridge International and free to download.

Grade Thresholds Examiner Report
35 files • 40.8 MB

9700 Oct-Nov 2022 Papers

Paper 1

AS-Level

Multiple Choice (AS)

1h 15min 40 marks
Variant 1
Question Paper Mark Scheme
Variant 2
Question Paper Mark Scheme
Variant 3
Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 2

AS-Level

AS Level Structured Questions

1h 15min 60 marks
Variant 1
Question Paper Mark Scheme
Variant 2
Question Paper Mark Scheme
Variant 3
Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 3

A2

Advanced Practical Skills

2h 40 marks
Variant 1
Question Paper Mark Scheme
Variant 2
Question Paper Mark Scheme
Variant 3
Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 4

A2

A Level Structured Questions

2h 100 marks
Variant 1
Question Paper Mark Scheme
Variant 2
Question Paper Mark Scheme
Variant 3
Question Paper Mark Scheme

Paper 5

A2

Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

1h 30min 30 marks
Variant 1
Question Paper Mark Scheme CI
Variant 2
Question Paper Mark Scheme CI
Variant 3
Question Paper Mark Scheme CI
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March 2023

Related 9700 sessions

Other 2022 sessions

Oct-Nov 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 Oct-Nov 2022 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 Oct-Nov 2022 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 Oct-Nov 2022 bundle below contains 35 files across 6 paper components and 4 time-zone variants. Mark schemes are included for every question paper. The examiner report is also published — use it to see which questions caused most candidates difficulty. 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 Oct-Nov 2022 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

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 Oct-Nov 2022 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 Oct-Nov 2022 — Frequently asked questions

What's in the Cambridge A-Level Biology Oct-Nov 2022 paper bundle?
This page hosts 35 files for the Cambridge A-Level Biology (9700) Oct-Nov 2022 session: question papers, mark schemes, the examiner report, 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, 1, 2, 3?
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 11) 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 Oct-Nov 2022 mark schemes and examiner reports?
Cambridge typically publishes mark schemes for the October-November 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 is also linked at the top of this page.
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 Oct-Nov 2022 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, then read the examiner report for the same paper to see where most candidates lost marks. For weak topics, cross-reference the A-Level Biology hub.

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