CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS

Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level

MARK SCHEME for the May/June 2015 series

9700 BIOLOGY
9700/51 Paper 5 (Planning, Analysis and Evaluation),
maximum raw mark 30

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 May/June 2015 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE®, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some
Cambridge O Level components.

® IGCSE is the registered trademark of Cambridge International Examinations.

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Cambridge International AS/A Level – May/June 2015 9700 51

Mark scheme abbreviations:

; separates marking points
/ alternatives answers for the same point
R reject
A accept (for answers correctly cued by the question, or extra guidance)
AW alternative wording (where responses vary more than usual)
underline actual word given must be used by candidate (grammatical variants accepted)
max indicates the maximum number of marks that can be given
ora or reverse argument
ecf error carried forward
I ignore
mp marking point (with relevant number)

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Question Expected answer Extra guidance Mark

1 (a) any 2 from: accept ref. to contact lenses as opposed to simulated ones

1 idea of difficult to identify the end point / AW ; 1 A in context of when all gelatin digested away / plastic
becomes transparent / AW ;

2 (because) gel, disappears / falls off / is digested / AW, 2 A idea that colour fades gradually
gradually / AW ; A idea of non-uniform removal of gelatin

3 (because) the dye colours the solution / solution 3 A ref. to needing to lift out the plastic (because the
becomes, cloudy / murky / AW dye colours the water)
or solution might not be, clear enough / AW ; [max 2]

(b) (i) any 3 from: max 2 if no conversion from mg to µg

1 dilution of, stock solution / 1mg / cm3 solution, ×10 to 1 A other methods of achieving the conversion see
give 100µg / cm3 solution ; hand out

2 ref. to, method of dilution / serial dilution / series 2 A use C1 V1 = C2 V2 to make... or M1 V1 = M2 V2

dilution / proportional dilution ; A simple dilution
A description of methods written or diagrammatic

3 ref. to correct volume of saline (containing EDTA) and 3 A if correct volume (50 cm3) achieved once
of stock solution to give stated subtilisin concentration A if correct volume achieved by removal after dilution
and a volume of 50 cm3 ; I type of concentration units given
R dilution with water alone

4 range of 5 concentrations or more stated between 4 range must cover 20 µg / cm3 and 100 µg / cm3 but
20 µg / cm3 and 100 µg / cm3 (allow 0.02 mg / cm3- could extend below / above
0.1 mg / cm3) ; A in mg / cm3 ( below 0.02 mg / cm3 and 0.1 mg / cm3) [max 3]

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Question Expected answer Extra guidance Mark

(ii) solution:
boiled (cleaning) solution / (cleaning / saline) solution I water alone / immobilised enzyme
without, enzyme / subtilisin A / protease ; A denatured / inactive, enzyme
A sodium chloride / NaCl (solution) / saline (and EDTA)

reason:
idea that other components of the (cleaning) solution do not, I film alone
digest / remove / break down the, gelatin / protein / layer I ref. to removal of colour
A ref. to, other substances / saline / EDTA, having no effect
or
If water is given as the solution
it is the, enzyme / subtilisin A, that, digest / remove / break A to show that enzyme, digests gelatin / AW
down the, gelatin / protein / layer ; I ref. to the enzyme having an effect – needs digests, etc.
or
‘lacks the enzyme that digest gelatin’ / AW
R ‘it shows the other components do not digest [2]
gelatin’ / AW

(c) (i) independent: concentration of, subtilisin / enzyme (solution) ;

I rate / time, of breakdown unqualified
I film alone
dependent: time for, disappearance / breakdown / removal / A time (for simulated lens) to go transparent
AW, of, gelatin / protein / layer / colour (change)

or

rate of, disappearance / breakdown / removal / AW, of,

gelatin / protein / layer / colour ; [2]

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Question Expected answer Extra guidance Mark

(ii) any 6 from:

independent variable
1 ref. to using 10 cm3 of each, enzyme / cleaning solution / 1 A other stated volumes between 7 cm3–12 cm3
AW, concentration in, each pot / all pots ; A fixed / same, volume of each concentration
used / AW

2 method of measuring volume ; 2 e.g. graduated pipette / syringe / measuring

cylinder / burette
filled to line (on the pot) = mp 1 & 2
dependent variable
3 incubate the, subtilisin / enzyme, solutions to, 3 if incubation time stated minimum value of 2 minutes
equilibrate / reach the test temperature (before adding
the simulated contact lens) ;

4 use, stopwatch / timer, to record end point / AW ; 4 I timing the rate

standardising variables (max 3):

5 ref. to method of keeping incubation temperature, 5 e.g. incubator, water-bath, temperature-controlled
constant / controlled ; room.
I air conditioning
if temperature given must be 35 °C
6 idea of standardising the (coloured) gelatin (thickness / 6 I concentration / amount / volume
mass / coverage / distribution) ;

7 use of, buffer / named buffer, to keep pH constant / to 7 If pH stated must be a single value between 7.0–7.5
control pH ; or the range 7.0–7.5

8 ref. to using same, size / area, of (simulated) contact 8 A 10 mm × 10 mm pieces or any other sensible size
lens / plastic ;

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Question Expected answer Extra guidance Mark

safety:
9 ref. to, low risk investigation / hazard and suitable safety 9 e.g. allergy / sensitivity / to, enzyme / chemical and
precaution ; wearing, goggles / gloves / mask
e.g. (chemical) irritant / toxic (chemical) and wearing,
goggles / gloves / mask
R no risk/ no safety implications
reliability
10 ref. to minimum number of replicates and mean ; 10 A 3 (original plus 2) / several / many, replicates and
mean.
or 3 replicates to, identify / remove, anomalies /
outliers [max 6]

(d) (i) 1 axes correctly orientated with labels ; 1 x-axis, concentration of subtilisin A and y-axis, time
for / rate of, gelatin / protein / layer / colour / AW,
removal / digestion / breakdown

2 axes have units ; 2 x-axis µg / cm3

A x-axis mg / cm3 and y axis s or min
or if rate mm2 s–1 / AW
A x-axis mol / dm3
I figures on axes

3 line shows decrease as subtilisin A increases ; 3 A linear curve

A rate plotted against concentration

time for gelatin / AW to

become removed / min rate for gelatin /AW
to become removed
/ 1/min or 1/s or
0 min-1 or s-1 or AU
concentration of subtilisin A 0
µg/cm3 or µg cm-3 concentration of subtilisin A
µg/cm3 or µg cm-3 [3]

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Question Expected answer Extra guidance Mark

(ii) idea of: find the time for the gelatin to disappear (using the
cleaning solution) on the y-axis and read the concentration
from the x-axis ; [1]

[Total: 19]

2 (a) exposure (and non-exposure) to alcohol, before birth / during A in context of baby or mother.
pregnancy / prenatal ; R concentration / volume of alcohol
I alcohol unqualified [1]

(b) (i) sensory conduction: max 1 from for faster / slower accept AW throughout
1 pre-natal alcohol exposure / group 1 / first group, is 1 specific days need to be given not just ‘earlier / later’
faster at 20 days (than no pre-natal exposure) / AW ora
or
pre-natal alcohol exposure / group 1 / first group, is
slower at 400 days (than no pre-natal exposure) / AW ;
ora

2 increase in conduction speed for group 1 between 20 2 stated raw speed figures alone are not enough
and 400 days is less (than that for group 2) ; ora A ‘increase over the time period is less...’

3 In both groups 1 and 2 sensory neurone conduction 3 A in terms of increases over, the time period / the age
speed increases with age ; period / from 20 days to 400 days / with the days /
growth / AW

motor conduction: max 1 from

4 pre-natal alcohol exposure / group 1 / first group, is 4 A pre-natal alcohol exposure / group 1, is slower (than
slower at 20 days (than no pre-natal exposure) / AW no pre-natal alcohol exposure / group 2) ora
ora
or
pre-natal alcohol exposure / group 1 / first group, is
slower at 400 days (than no pre-natal exposure) / AW ;
ora

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Question Expected answer Extra guidance Mark

5 increase in conduction speed between 20 and 400 5 raw speed figures must be qualified
days is similar for group 1 and group 2 ;

6 In both groups 1 and 2 motor neurone conduction 6 A in terms of increases over, the time period / the age
speed increases with age ; period / from 20 days to 400 days / with the days /
growth / AW [max 2]

(b) (ii) max 1 from: must be idea of the whole nerve / motor and sensory
neurones
1 motor conduction is faster than sensory at 20 days, in 1 and 2 specific days needed not earlier / later
group 2 / with no pre-natal alcohol exposure ora
or
motor conduction slower than sensory at 400 days, in
group 2 / with no pre-natal alcohol exposure ; ora

2 sensory conduction is faster than motor at 20 days, in

group 1 / for pre-natal alcohol exposure ora
or
sensory conduction is slower than motor at 400 days,
in group 1 / for pre-natal alcohol exposure ; ora

3 (conduction speed) increases with age (of the infant) ; 3 mp not awarded if mp3 or mp6 given in b (i)
A increases over, the time period / the age
period / from 20 days to 400 days / with the days /
growth / AW

[1]

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Question Expected answer Extra guidance Mark

(c) most reliable: mp not awarded if more than one group selected
group 2 / no pre-natal alcohol exposure, at 400 days, motor
(velocity) ;

reason: A standard deviation, less than 1 / 0.38

the standard deviation is, the smallest / (very) A less / lower if qualified
small / least / lowest ; I standard error [2]

(d) (i) there is no overlap in the standard deviations ; I error bars / data / results
A descriptions of no overlap, e.g. ‘ranges of the standard
deviations don’t have anything in common’
[1]

(ii) the data, is continuous / has a normal distribution / are R continuous variable / change is continuous
comparing (two) means ; [1]

(iii) there is no significant difference between the sensory A the difference in the sensory conduction velocity / speed
conduction, velocity / speed (of the median nerve), in, (of the median nerve), between, group 1 (babies) / babies
group 1 (babies) / babies with pre-natal exposure to alcohol, with pre-natal exposure to alcohol, and, group 2
and, group 2 (babies) / babies with no pre-natal exposure to (babies) / babies with no pre-natal exposure / between the
alcohol ; two groups (of babies), to alcohol is not significant

A there is no significant difference between the, sensory

conduction velocity / speed (of the median nerve),
between the two groups (of babies)

I ref. to just nerve conduction – must mention sensory [1]

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Question Expected answer Extra guidance Mark

(e) max 2 from: I ref. to ‘some babies not affected’

1 small sample size ;
1 I replicate / repeats unqualified, but A if explained in
terms of sample size.
quoted numbers must be qualified

2 groups 1 and 2 of different sizes ;

3 different numbers of males and females in each group ; 3 A more females than males ora
I stated figures unqualified
4 does not include mothers, who drink less than 32 mg of
alcohol / who drink alcohol occasionally ;

5 does not include the full age range of mothers / AW ; 5 A only has mothers of age 23–25 years / small age
range of mothers
6 body mass / weight, of the, mothers / babies ;

7 medication / illegal drugs , taken by mother during 7 A smoking qualified

pregnancy ;

8 ethnicity of the, mother / baby ; [max 2]

[Total: 11]

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