Cambridge IGCSE™

BIOLOGY 0610/62
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical October/November 2024
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 40

Published

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 International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2024 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.

This document consists of 8 printed pages.

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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptions for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond
the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.

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GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.

Science-Specific Marking Principles

1 Examiners should consider the context and scientific use of any keywords when awarding marks. Although keywords may be present, marks
should not be awarded if the keywords are used incorrectly.

2 The examiner should not choose between contradictory statements given in the same question part, and credit should not be awarded for
any correct statement that is contradicted within the same question part. Wrong science that is irrelevant to the question should be ignored.

3 Although spellings do not have to be correct, spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation from other
syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. ethane / ethene, glucagon / glycogen, refraction / reflection).

4 The error carried forward (ecf) principle should be applied, where appropriate. If an incorrect answer is subsequently used in a scientifically
correct way, the candidate should be awarded these subsequent marking points. Further guidance will be included in the mark scheme
where necessary and any exceptions to this general principle will be noted.

5 ‘List rule’ guidance

For questions that require n responses (e.g. State two reasons …):

• The response should be read as continuous prose, even when numbered answer spaces are provided.
• Any response marked ignore in the mark scheme should not count towards n.
• Incorrect responses should not be awarded credit but will still count towards n.
• Read the entire response to check for any responses that contradict those that would otherwise be credited. Credit should not be
awarded for any responses that are contradicted within the rest of the response. Where two responses contradict one another, this
should be treated as a single incorrect response.
• Non-contradictory responses after the first n responses may be ignored even if they include incorrect science.

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6 Calculation specific guidance

Correct answers to calculations should be given full credit even if there is no working or incorrect working, unless the question states ‘show
your working’.

For questions in which the number of significant figures required is not stated, credit should be awarded for correct answers when rounded
by the examiner to the number of significant figures given in the mark scheme. This may not apply to measured values.

For answers given in standard form (e.g. a  10n) in which the convention of restricting the value of the coefficient (a) to a value between 1
and 10 is not followed, credit may still be awarded if the answer can be converted to the answer given in the mark scheme.

Unless a separate mark is given for a unit, a missing or incorrect unit will normally mean that the final calculation mark is not awarded.
Exceptions to this general principle will be noted in the mark scheme.

7 Guidance for chemical equations

Multiples / fractions of coefficients used in chemical equations are acceptable unless stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

State symbols given in an equation should be ignored unless asked for in the question or stated otherwise in the mark scheme.

Mark scheme abbreviations

• ; separates marking points

• / alternative responses for the same marking point
• R reject the response
• A accept the response
• I ignore the response
• ecf error carried forward
• AVP any valid point
• ora or reverse argument
• AW alternative wording
• underline actual word given must be used by candidate (grammatical variants excepted)
• () the word / phrase in brackets is not required but sets the context

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

1(a)(i) table drawn with minimum of two columns and a header line ; 4
appropriate column / row headings, with units for time and
distance (if given) ;
recording two numbers for time in a table ;
recording of 97 for, test-tube A / 10 cm and 343 for, test-tube
B / 30 cm ;

1(a)(ii) any one from: 1

as light (intensity) increases, (rate of) photosynthesis increases ;
(rate of) photosynthesis is, faster / AW, at a high(er)
light (intensity) ;

1(a)(iii) time (for colour change) ; 1

1(a)(iv) error: 2
difficult to judge the end point / AW ;

improvement:
use a, colorimeter / colour standard / colour chart / compare the
colour to a test-tube of chloroplast suspension with no DCPIP
present ;

1(b) vitamin C ; 1

1(c)(i) outline: single clear line for beak and achene ; 4

size: drawing at least 90 mm long ;
detail 1: pappus, beak (stalk) drawn as a double line and achene
(seed) with spikes clearly shown ;
detail 2: ridge down the achene shown as a double line ;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

1(c)(ii) PQ is 19 ±1 mm ; 3 MP1 correct measurement of line PQ

1.3 ;; MP2 dividing their measurement by 15
MP3 answer correctly rounded to two significant
figures

ecf from previous step if workings shown

PQ of 18 mm gives 1.2
PQ of 20 mm gives 1.3

1(d) 3 correct terminology is not expected for description

of the parts

similarity max one from:

both have a parachute / AW ;
both have an achene / AW ;
both have, an achene / a seed, that is longer than it is wide ;

differences max two from:

dandelion has a, stem / stalk / AW (and milk thistle, does not / is
shorter) ;

dandelion (achene) has, spikes / ridges / AW

or
milk thistle (achene), is smooth ;

dandelion (achene shape) is square-ended / blunt-ended

or
milk thistle (achene shape) is round(ed) ;

milk thistle, parachute / AW, is, thicker / more hairs / AW / ora ;

dandelion (achene) is light

or
milk thistle (achene) is dark / mottled ;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

1(e)(i) yellow-brown / orange-brown / brown ; 1 A red-brown

1(e)(ii) add Benedict’s (reagent / solution) ; 2

heat ;

1(f) independent variable 6

1 (at least) 2 different concentrations of weedkiller ;

dependent variable ;
2 counting, number / percentage, seeds germinated
or
time taken for, seed / seeds, to germinate

3 and 4 detail of method ;;

max two from:
• growing medium e.g. cotton wool, filter paper, soil
• description of how they can tell the seed has germinated e.g.
appearance of plumule
• idea of, watering / providing water / maintaining humidity
• method to create different concentrations of weedkiller

5, 6 and 7constant variables ;;;

max three from:
• same time (unless time is the DV)
• same temperature
• same, species / type / age, of seed / named plant seeds
• same pH
• same volume of weedkiller
• same (type of) weedkiller
• same concentration / amount, of oxygen

8 relevant safety precaution ; e.g. gloves / goggles / mask

9 two or more repeats / idea of at least 3 seeds at each
concentration if measuring time for germination ;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(a)(i) any one from: 1

heat shield drawn and labelled between the lamp and the syringe ;
syringe in a beaker (filled with water) drawn and labelled ;

2(a)(ii) any two from: 2

volume of sodium hydrogencarbonate (solution) ;
distance from the lamp / light intensity / wattage of light bulb ;
type / species, of, plant / leaf ;
number / amount, of (leaf) discs (in the syringe) ;
size / surface area, of (leaf) discs ;

2(a)(iii) carbon dioxide concentration / sodium hydrogencarbonate 1

concentration ;

2(b)(i) axes labelled with units ; 4

suitable linear scale and data that occupies at least half the grid in
both directions ;
five points plotted accurately ± half a small square ;
suitable line drawn ;

2(b)(ii) correct estimate from the candidate’s graph at 12 minutes ; 2

any indication annotated on the candidate’s graph at 12 minutes
or an indication that matches the candidate’s estimate ;

2(b)(iii) (-)15 (%) ;; 2 MP1 evidence of correct data selection (20 and 17,
or 3)
MP2 correct percentage change calculation
ecf from previous step

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