Cambridge IGCSE™

BIOLOGY 0610/06
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical  For examination from 2023
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 40

Specimen

This document has 8 pages.

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0610/06 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

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 descriptors 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.
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).

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0610/06 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

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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0610/06 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

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 schemes will use these abbreviations:

; separates making points

/ alternatives
() the word / phrase in brackets is not required but sets the context
A accept (for answers correctly cued by the question, or guidance for examiners)
and both responses required for the mark
any [number] from: accept the [number] of valid responses
AVP alternative valid point
AW alternative wording (where responses vary more than usual)
ecf error carried forward
I ignore as irrelevant
MP mark point
note: additional marking guidance
ora or reverse argument
R reject
underline actual word given must be used by candidate (grammatical variants accepted)
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0610/06 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

Question Answer Marks Guidance

1(a)(i) table drawn with header lines and at least two columns ; 3
headings with units ;
height of the foam for both cooked and uncooked potato recorded ; expected range for foam height in cooked is
0.8–1.1 cm and for uncooked is 2.9–3.3 cm,
check the printed paper
1(a)(ii) 2.2 ± 0.2 cm ; 1 ecf measurements in 1(a)(i)
1(a)(iii) any one from: 1
uncooked potato produces more, foam / oxygen ; ora
catalase / enzyme, more active in uncooked potato / AW ; ora
1(b)(i) treatment of potato / AW ; 1
1(b)(ii) same surface area ; 1
1(b)(iii) any two from: 2
volume of hydrogen peroxide solution ;
concentration of hydrogen peroxide solution ;
time potato is in hydrogen peroxide solution ;
1(c) any one from: 1
cooked potato was not dried before adding to hydrogen peroxide solution ;
cooked potato was not cooled before adding to hydrogen peroxide solution ;
uncooked potato was not soaked in (cold) water ;
uneven surface of the foam ;
foam is unstable / AW ;

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0610/06 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

Question Answer Marks Guidance

1(d) independent variable 6
at least two different species of plant ;

variables that are kept constant (max. two from:) ;;

same, size / mass, plant
same volume of hydrogen peroxide solution
same concentration of hydrogen peroxide solution
same temperature
same pH
same time
tissue from the same part of the plant, e.g. roots or leaves
same, size / diameter, test-tube

dependent variable
measure height of foam / measure volume of oxygen produced / count
bubbles ;

detail of given method

adding hydrogen peroxide solution to plant tissue ;
preparation of plant material / method used to achieve the same surface area ;

novel method
collecting volume of gas with, gas syringe / upturned measuring cylinder ;

control
test hydrogen peroxide solution with, no plants / boiled plants ;

two or more replicates ;

relevant safety precaution ;

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0610/06 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

Question Answer Marks Guidance

1(e) starch 5
add iodine solution ;
blue-black ;

reducing sugars
add Benedict’s solution ;
heat (to 80 °C) ;
(brick-)red / yellow / orange / green, (precipitate) ;

Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(a)(i) start 1
44 / 45 / 46 (mm)
and
after 30 minutes
4 / 5 / 6 (mm) ;
2(a)(ii) 40 (mm) ; 1 ecf readings from 2(a)(i)
2(a)(iii) 1.3 ;; 2 ecf answer to 2(a)(ii) correctly divided by 30
and rounded to 1 d.p.
1 mark for correct value, 1 mark for correct
rounding
2(b)(i) 1.5 ; 1
2(b)(ii) axes labelled as animal species and mean rate of movement (of the drop of 3 ecf their plot for A from 2(b)(i)
coloured liquid) / mm per minute ;

suitable scale and occupies at least half the grid on both axes ;

all bars plotted accurately ± half a small square, bars do not touch and are the
same width ;
2(b)(iii) C; 1
2(b)(iv) replace woodlice with inert material (in the respirometer) / AW ; 1

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0610/06 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2023

Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(b)(v) measure the mass of the animal ; 2
divide rate of, respiration / movement of bubble, by mass (in grams) ;
2(c)(i) outline: single clear line and no shading ; 4

size: equal to / larger than, original ;

detail 1: at least eight distinct segments ;

detail 2: two projections at the front and two at the back ;
2(c)(ii) length of PQ 48 (mm) ± 1 mm ; 3 check measurement on printed paper

MP1 correct measurement

5.22–5.44 (mm) ;; MP2 correct calculation
MP3 correct rounding to three significant
figures

ecf MP2 and MP3 if MP1 incorrect

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