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PHYSICS 5054/31
Paper 3 Practical Test October/November 2020
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 30

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 2020 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U components, and some
Cambridge O Level components.

This document consists of 8 printed pages.

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5054/31 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme October/November 2020
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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 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.

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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.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a) 72 ± 5 ; 1

1(b) Vary the angle (until you see a whole number of images) ; 2
And count the images ;
Or
Vary the number of images ;
And measure the angle (when you see a whole number of images) ;
Or
Plot a graph of the number of images against θ / the angle ;;

any two from: 2

Accuracy – same spacing between images ;
Method – e.g. place the centre point of protractor at the junction of the two mirrors ;
Control – use same object to produce images ;
Test the rule: Angle θ = 360 ÷ (No. images + 1) ;

Question Answer Marks

2(a) Idea that one end returns to its original alignment (prior to turning) with a reference point ; 1

2(b)(i) 12 mm +/– 3 mm : 1

2(b)(ii) new height ─ previous height ; 1

2(c) 11 cm 1

2(d) the jaw closes in a circular way / there is some horizontal movement of the mass / k changes / the closing of the jaw is not 1
all in the vertical direction ;

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Question Answer Marks

3(a) (reading on the metre rule) 87–97 cm when rounded ; 1

n.b. maximum precision of nearest mm

3(b)(i) 5.0 +/– 0.5(cm) AND 10.0 ± 0.5 (cm) ; 1

3(b)(ii) 0.5 (their L) / ( their M) ; 1

3(c) ruler is parallel with bench / height of ruler at each end is the same ; 1

3(d) 0.60 ± 0.05 ; 1

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Question Answer Marks

4(a)(i) 4.5 (V) ; 1

4(a)(ii) mA Sensible current 1–20 ; 1

4(a)(iii) (their voltage) / their current) k Ω ; 1

4(a)(iv) headings and units ; 1

4(a)(v) Filling correctly :any one from 2

At start ensure there is no air / liquid in the syringe ;
Ensure the nozzle is submerged in the liquid ;
Raise the plunger/pull up the liquid ;
 so more than 1 ml goes in liquid goes in ;
Ensure there are no bubbles inside the syringe ;

Accuracy of volume delivered: any one from

push out excess solution until level with 1 cm3 mark then squirt the 1 ml into the water ;
ensure the eye is on the line perpendicular to the 1 ml (graduation) mark ;

4(a)(vi) the reading changes more slowly after one minute / time needed for the salt solution to mix evenly ; 1

4(b) consistent sig. figs down columns ; 2

8 sets of readings with correct trends (see sample results) and calculations ;

4(c) Axes labelled with units and correct orientation ;

Suitable scale, plotted data occupying ⩾ ½ page in both directions ;

Check at least two points plotted correctly ;

best fit line and fine points or crosses ;

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Question Answer Marks

4(d) measurements taken from large triangle and coordinates of points used seen (marked on graph or written in answer 2
space) ;

gradient correctly calculated

(should be ca 4.9) ;

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