9700 · Cambridge International A Level
9700/23
AS Level Structured Questions
Biology · June 2024 · Variant 3
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education
3.8 / 5
270
465 min
Control, Homeostasis, and Coordination in Plants and Mammals
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
270
Duration
465 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The May/June 2024 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology (9700) series presented a balanced but challenging set of papers.
It heavily tested Control and Coordination, Transport systems, and Enzymes across structured and practical components, requiring precise terminology, strong quantitative skills, and a clear distinction between molecular and cellular levels of biological structures.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Theoretical Recall
Weight: 6100%Application of
Weight: 467%Analysis and
Weight: 350%Practical
Weight: 233%Skills
Weight: 117%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards
Level A*
Approx. 77% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 69% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 61% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 53% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 45% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 37% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Outline” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 2.5
Min per mark: 1.9
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Control and coordination (Biology (A Level))
42 marks this session
Transport in mammals (Biology (AS Level))
35 marks this session
Enzymes (Biology (AS Level))
31 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Transport in plants (Biology (AS Level))
Cell membranes and transport (Biology (AS Level))
Homeostasis in mammals (Homeostasis)
Selection and evolution (Biology (A Level))
Enzymes
Classification, biodiversity and conservation
Cells as the basic units of living organisms (Cell structure)
Enzymes (Biology (AS Level))
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 Multiple Choice:
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions:
Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills 1:
Paper 4 A Level Structured Questions:
Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Control and coordination (Biology (A Level))
42 marks this session
Practise in RevuiTransport in mammals (Biology (AS Level))
35 marks this session
Practise in RevuiEnzymes (Biology (AS Level))
31 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The May/June 2024 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology (9700) series presented a balanced but challenging set of papers.
- 2Message
It heavily tested Control and Coordination, Transport systems, and Enzymes across structured and practical components, requiring precise terminology, strong quantitative skills, and a clear distinction between molecular and cellular levels of biological structures.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Biology
The May/June 2024 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology (9700) series presented a balanced but challenging set of papers. It heavily tested Control and Coordination, Transport systems, and Enzymes across structured and practical components, requiring precise terminology, s
The May/June 2024 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology (9700) series presented a balanced but challenging set of papers.
It heavily tested Control and Coordination, Transport systems, and Enzymes across structured and practical components, requiring precise terminology, strong quantitative skills, and a clear distinction between molecular and cellular levels of biological structures.
- Total marks
- 270
- Duration
- 465 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The May/June 2024 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology (9700) series presented a balanced but challenging set of papers. It heavily tested Control and Coordination, Transport systems, and Enzymes across structured and practical components, requiring precise terminology, strong quantitative skills, and a clear distinction between molecular and cellular levels of biological structures.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 Multiple Choice:
Paper 2 AS Level Structured Questions:
Paper 3 Advanced Practical Skills 1:
Paper 4 A Level Structured Questions:
Paper 5 Planning, Analysis and Evaluation:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
80% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Structured Questions
(A2)
100·10·37%
Structured Questions
(AS)
60·6·22%
Multiple Choice
40·40·15%
Practical Investigations
40·2·15%
Planning, Analysis & Evaluation
30·2·11%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 (Multiple C
0.53 m/minPaper 2 (AS Structu
0.80 m/minPaper 5 (Planning &
0.40 m/minTotal marks
130
Total time
225 min
Avg pace
0.58
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Infectious Diseases and Monoclonal Antibodies
90%90%
Dihybrid Crosses and Chi-Squared test
85%85%
Energy Transfers and Limiting Factors in Photosynthesis
80%80%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Terminological imprecision: In Paper 2, candidates struggled to keep their descriptions of a single collagen molecule (triple helix of polypeptides) separate from a collagen fibre (staggered, cross-linked molecules arranged in parallel).
- Mechanistic inaccuracies: On the stomatal opening question, many candidates confused the active transport of hydrogen ions out of the guard cells with the passive diffusion of potassium ions into them, or forgot to state that water enters down a water potential gradient.
- Lack of mathematical precision: Across Paper 3 and Paper 5, simple decimal calculations, standard errors, and dilution factors (such as 1 in 150) were frequently miscalculated, or student tables in Paper 3 failed to record all measurements as whole millimetres.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 15min
- Total marks
- 60
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.