Pearson EdexcelBTEC47 resources
Pearson Edexcel BTEC Animal Care Past Papers & Mark Schemes
Free BTEC Animal Care past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Units 1 and 4 covering animal biology, welfare, and care practice. 47 resources.
📅January and June series📄47 resources available✅Free to download
Download Past Papers
Type
Year
47 of 47 resources — page 1 of 2
June 2022
3 filesJanuary 2022
1 file✅
BTEC Animal Care – Mark Scheme – Unit 1 – January 2022
Mark Scheme
January 2021
2 filesMarch 2020
3 filesJanuary 2020
1 file📄
BTEC Animal Care – Question Paper – Unit 1 – January 2020
Question Paper
June 2019
3 filesMarch 2019
3 filesJune 2018
3 filesMarch 2018
2 filesJanuary 2018
3 filesJanuary 2017
1 file📊
BTEC Animal Care – Examiner Report – Unit 1 – January 2017
Examiner Report
Animal Biology, Welfare, and Professional Care: BTEC Animal Care
Pearson Edexcel BTEC Animal Care prepares students for careers in veterinary nursing, animal behaviourism, zoology, wildlife conservation, and pet care industries. The qualification develops practical animal husbandry skills alongside the biological and welfare knowledge required for responsible professional care.
Unit 1 — Animal Biology — is the core external examination, covering animal cell biology, body systems (digestive, circulatory, reproductive, nervous, and musculoskeletal), animal behaviour, and the ecological relationships between species. Questions are framed around realistic animal care scenarios.
Unit 4 — Animal Health and Welfare — explores legislation governing animal welfare (Animal Welfare Act 2006), the five domains of animal welfare, common diseases and parasites, nutritional requirements across species, and the recognition and management of pain and stress in animals.
Forty-seven resources include papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports for both units.
Exam Paper Structure
Unit 1No calculator
Animal Biology
⏱ 1 hour 30 minutes🎯 70 marks📊 Varies% of grade
Cell biology and body systemsComparative anatomy across speciesAnimal behaviour and ecology
Unit 4No calculator
Animal Health and Welfare
⏱ External🎯 Varies marks📊 Varies% of grade
Five domains of animal welfareDisease, parasites, and nutritionPain and stress recognition
Key Information
| Exam Board | Pearson Edexcel |
| Specification Code | Pearson BTEC Animal Care |
| Qualification | BTEC |
| Grading Scale | P / M / D / D* |
| Assessment Type | External exams + internal portfolio |
| Tiers | No tiers |
| Number Of Papers | 2 external units |
| Exam Duration | Unit 1: 1.5 hours; Unit 4: varies |
| Total Marks | Varies |
| Calculator Status | Not required |
| Available Sessions | January and June series |
| Total Resources | 47 |
Key Topics in Animal Care
Topics you need to know
Comparative digestive systems across speciesCardiovascular and reproductive anatomyAnimal behaviour: natural and abnormalThe five domains of animal welfareAnimal Welfare Act 2006 and related legislationCommon diseases and parasite life cyclesNutritional requirements by species and life stageEnrichment and housing design
Exam Command Words
| Command word | What the examiner expects |
|---|---|
| Identify | Name a species, structure, or disease from given information |
| Describe | Give an account of a biological process or welfare assessment |
| Explain | Give biological or welfare-based reasons for an observation |
| Evaluate | Assess the adequacy of a care routine or housing system |
Typical Grade Boundaries
| Grade | Approximate mark needed |
|---|---|
| D* | 84–100% |
| D | 69–83% |
| M | 54–68% |
| P | 40–53% |
⚠️ BTEC Animal Care unit boundaries vary by session.
Species Knowledge and Welfare Assessment for BTEC Animal Care
Unit 1 biology questions expect accurate anatomical and physiological terminology. When describing the digestive system, distinguish between monogastric (dog, cat), hindgut fermentor (horse, rabbit), and ruminant (cow, sheep) digestive systems, explaining how each is adapted to the animal's natural diet. Diagram questions appear regularly — practise labelling heart chambers, reproductive organs, and nephron structure.
Animal behaviour questions test understanding of both natural behaviour (ethogram, daily activity patterns, social structure) and abnormal behaviour (stereotypies, aggression, fear responses). Explain how poor welfare conditions cause stereotypies: an animal performing repetitive abnormal behaviours is attempting to cope with an environment that fails to meet its behavioural needs.
For welfare legislation in Unit 4, know the five domains (nutrition, environment, health, behaviour, mental state) and how they differ from the older five freedoms. Apply these frameworks to specific animal housing systems: explain what enrichment is required to meet the behavioural domain for a captive parrot, a kennelled dog, or a stabled horse.
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