DP Biology (first assessment 2025)

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Question 20N.2.SL.TZ0.a

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Date November 2020 Marks available [Maximum mark: 2] Reference code 20N.2.SL.TZ0.a
Level SL Paper 2 Time zone TZ0
Command term Distinguish Question number a Adapted from N/A
a.
[Maximum mark: 2]
20N.2.SL.TZ0.a

Distinguish between the transfers of energy and inorganic nutrients in ecosystems.

[2]

Markscheme

energy is lost (between trophic levels) / not all passed on / not reused / must be supplied;

nutrients are recycled/reused;

Examiners report

A sizeable number of candidates seemed to miss the point here, in what was intended to be an easy question. The command term ‘distinguish’ is an instruction to give the key differences. In this case, the distinction was that energy flows through an ecosystem and is ultimately lost whereas inorganic nutrients can be recycled.

Syllabus sections