CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education

MARK SCHEME for the March 2016 series

0610 BIOLOGY
0610/62 Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical), maximum raw mark 40

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of
the examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not
indicate the details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began,
which would have considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner
Report for Teachers.

Cambridge will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge is publishing the mark schemes for the March 2016 series for most Cambridge IGCSE®
and Cambridge International A and AS Level components.

® IGCSE is the registered trademark of Cambridge International Examinations.

 Page 2 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – March 2016 0610 62

Abbreviations used in the Mark Scheme

• ; separates marking points

• / alternatives
• I ignore
• R reject
• A accept (for answers correctly cued by the question, or guidance for examiners)
• AW alternative wording (where responses vary more than usual)
• AVP any valid point
• ecf credit a correct statement / calculation that follows a previous wrong response
• ora or reverse argument
• () the word / phrase in brackets is not required, but sets the context
• underline actual word given must be used by candidate (grammatical variants excepted)
• max indicates the maximum number of marks that can be given

© Cambridge International Examinations 2016

 Page 3 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – March 2016 0610 62

Question Mark scheme Mark Guidance

1 (a) idea of withdrawing a sample to test ;

aspect of appropriate method described ; [2]

(b) 1 one table with ruled lines for at least 6 rows and 3 columns ; R units in any data cell / m for min
2 a column / row, with header: time / min ; R if colour and letter not both a ‘header’
3 two, columns / rows headings as, colour / observation, W / C ;
4 correct completion of information into table ; [4]

(c) (i) idea of equilibration ; [1]

(ii) idea of minimising contamination ;

idea of allowing simultaneous measurement ; [max 1]

(d) (blue-black shows) starch present at, 0 min / start ;

(dark brown shows) some starch present at 2 min ;
(orange-brown shows) no starch present, after 2 min / from 4 min ; [3]

(e) yes :
C stayed blue-black for longer / slower colour change ; ORA
OR
no :
there is not a large enough range of temperatures ; [max 1]

(f) (i) drop / dropping pipettes, are imprecise / volume of amylase may I miscounting (of drops)
vary ;
shaking can, cause spillage / inconsistent mixing ; [max 1]

(ii) appropriate apparatus to measure precise volume ; e.g. syringe /

burette / graduated pipette / measuring cylinder ;
appropriate apparatus to stir carefully / consistently; e.g. (magnetic)
stirrer / glass rod / bung / test-tube shaker ; [max 1]

© Cambridge International Examinations 2016

 Page 4 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – March 2016 0610 62

Question Mark scheme Mark Guidance

(g) Source of error Improvement R improvement if it contradicts error

experiment was done only repeat entire experiment (at A errors and improvements 2 and 3 if not already
once ; least 3 times in total) to awarded in 1(f)
calculate an average ;
shaking, can cause spillage / (magnetic) stirrer / glass rod
inconsistent mixing ; bung / flask to swirl;
drops / dropping pipettes, are use syringe / burette /
imprecise / volume of amylase graduated pipette / measuring
may not be the same ; cylinder ;
(long) intervals between test, more often / every
testing / AW ; A reaction minute / 30 seconds;
finishes between points
colour changes are colour chart / standards /
subjective ; A endpoint hard control with no starch /
to judge colorimeter ;
trying to do, W and C do W and C separately /
simultaneously ; second person to do second
tube ;
(water) temperature insulate beakers / use
changes ; (thermostatically controlled)
water-bath ;
AVP ; e.g. contents in pipette AVP ; e.g. use clean pipettes
might contaminate spotting each time
tests
[max 2]

© Cambridge International Examinations 2016

 Page 5 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – March 2016 0610 62

Question Mark scheme Mark Guidance

(h) 1 test at 40 °C ; Units must be stated correctly once

2 test at least one temperature below 40 °C and one above ;
3 use of water-bath (to maintain different temperatures) / AW ;
4&5 named controlled variables ;; 4&5 – e.g. equilibration time ; pH ; volume /
6 measure time taken until iodine becomes orange brown / no concentration, iodine / amylase / starch ; I
longer changes colour ; amount / quantity
7 by repeated sampling at interval of less than 2 mins ; I regular
8 repeat entire experiment / replicates ;
9 relevant stated safety procedure ; [max 6]

(i) Benedict’s solution turns (brick) red ; A orange / yellow / green

with heat ; [2]

[Total: 24]

2 (a) (i) A axes labelled with units, in correct orientation ; A x: distance / cm

S linear scale for plotted points to cover half or more in both y: bubbles per min OR bubbles / min
dimensions ; R m for min
P all plotted points accurate to ± half small square ; S origin must be stated at least once
L smoothed line passing through all points ; P R bar chart / histogram
L line with no extrapolation ; [5] L R feathering / thick line

(ii) line drawn from 6 bubbles to trend line, and then to the distance ecf for wrong trend line in 2(a)(i)
axis ;
correct reading from their graph ; [2] R if wrong units

(iii) 1 at higher light (intensity) rate of oxygen production is higher ; A faster photosynthesis for higher rate of oxygen
ora produced.
2 at shorter distance from lamp rate of oxygen production is
higher ; ora
3 comparative data quote with units stated at least once ;
4 idea that there is a non-linear relationship / not (directly)
proportional ; [max 2]

© Cambridge International Examinations 2016

 Page 6 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – March 2016 0610 62

Question Mark scheme Mark Guidance

(iv) prevents (lamp) heating up, plant / water ; I maintain / control, temperature
A stops temperature rise / water absorbs
heat / lamp releases heat
[1] I cooling

(b) (i) O – clear outline ; O – R any cell detail drawn / feathering / shading /
S – size larger than Fig. 2.2 ; drawn with a compass
D – detail (3 or 4 layers shown) S – R if smaller than 8 cm diameter
proportions must be: thin → thick → medium
moving inwards ; [3]

(ii) L – stele labelled and label line touches or enters the stele [1]

(iii) 69 ±0.5 (mm) ; A 6.9 cm

(=69 / 7.5) ecf correct calculation to nearest whole number
9 (times / x) ; from wrong measurement
[2] R if wrong units stated

[Total: 16]

© Cambridge International Examinations 2016