Cambridge International A Level

MATHEMATICS 9709/62
Paper 6 Probability & Statistics 2 May/June 2023
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 50

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 May/June 2023 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 12 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 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).

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.

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Mathematics Specific Marking Principles

1 Unless a particular method has been specified in the question, full marks may be awarded for any correct method. However, if a calculation is required
then no marks will be awarded for a scale drawing.

2 Unless specified in the question, answers may be given as fractions, decimals or in standard form. Ignore superfluous zeros, provided that the degree of
accuracy is not affected.

3 Allow alternative conventions for notation if used consistently throughout the paper, e.g. commas being used as decimal points.

4 Unless otherwise indicated, marks once gained cannot subsequently be lost, e.g. wrong working following a correct form of answer is ignored (isw).

5 Where a candidate has misread a number in the question and used that value consistently throughout, provided that number does not alter the difficulty or
the method required, award all marks earned and deduct just 1 mark for the misread.

6 Recovery within working is allowed, e.g. a notation error in the working where the following line of working makes the candidate’s intent clear.

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Mark Scheme Notes

The following notes are intended to aid interpretation of mark schemes in general, but individual mark schemes may include marks awarded for specific reasons
outside the scope of these notes.

Types of mark

M Method mark, awarded for a valid method applied to the problem. Method marks are not lost for numerical errors, algebraic slips or errors in units.
However, it is not usually sufficient for a candidate just to indicate an intention of using some method or just to quote a formula; the formula or idea
must be applied to the specific problem in hand, e.g. by substituting the relevant quantities into the formula. Correct application of a formula
without the formula being quoted obviously earns the M mark and in some cases an M mark can be implied from a correct answer.

A Accuracy mark, awarded for a correct answer or intermediate step correctly obtained. Accuracy marks cannot be given unless the associated method
mark is earned (or implied).

B Mark for a correct result or statement independent of method marks.

DM or DB When a part of a question has two or more ‘method’ steps, the M marks are generally independent unless the scheme specifically says otherwise;
and similarly, when there are several B marks allocated. The notation DM or DB is used to indicate that a particular M or B mark is dependent on
an earlier M or B (asterisked) mark in the scheme. When two or more steps are run together by the candidate, the earlier marks are implied and full
credit is given.

FT Implies that the A or B mark indicated is allowed for work correctly following on from previously incorrect results. Otherwise, A or B marks are
given for correct work only.

 A or B marks are given for correct work only (not for results obtained from incorrect working) unless follow through is allowed (see abbreviation FT above).
 For a numerical answer, allow the A or B mark if the answer is correct to 3 significant figures or would be correct to 3 significant figures if rounded (1
decimal place for angles in degrees).
 The total number of marks available for each question is shown at the bottom of the Marks column.
 Wrong or missing units in an answer should not result in loss of marks unless the guidance indicates otherwise.
 Square brackets [ ] around text or numbers show extra information not needed for the mark to be awarded.

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Abbreviations

AEF/OE Any Equivalent Form (of answer is equally acceptable) / Or Equivalent

AG Answer Given on the question paper (so extra checking is needed to ensure that the detailed working leading to the result is valid)

CAO Correct Answer Only (emphasising that no ‘follow through’ from a previous error is allowed)

CWO Correct Working Only

ISW Ignore Subsequent Working

SOI Seen Or Implied

SC Special Case (detailing the mark to be given for a specific wrong solution, or a case where some standard marking practice is to be varied in the
light of a particular circumstance)

WWW Without Wrong Working

AWRT Answer Which Rounds To

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

1 0.23(1 0.23) M1 Expression of correct form. Any z, but z = 0.8328 scores

0.23 ± z × B0M0.
200

z = 1.811 or 1.812 B1

0.176 to 0.284 (3 sf) A1 Must be an interval.

Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(a) E(W) = Var(W). B1 Allow ‘they are the same’ OE.

Must be = not ≈ (and not both = and ≈).
Condone E(W) =λ and Var(W)= λ.

2(b) np ≈ np(1 – p), hence 1 – p must be close to 1 B1 OE. Must see formulae and q = 1 – p must be seen or
implied and conclusion made.

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(c) λ = 1.4 B1 Seen.

2
1 – e–1.4(1 + 1.4 + 1.4 ) or 1 – e–1.4(1 + 1.4 +0.98) or 1- M1 Allow any λ; allow one end error. Expression must be
2 seen (accept correct sigma notation).
(0.2466+0.3452+0.2417)

= 0.167 (3 sf) or 0.166 A1 Use of Binomial scores SCB1 for 0.167 or 0.166 .
No working: 0.167 [or 0.166] SC B1.
Note: λ=1.4 and 0.167 with no working seen scores SC
B1B1.
Use of Normal scores B0M0.

Question Answer Marks Guidance

3(a) Est (μ) = 3.25 = 13/4 or 1625/500 B1

1  16252  M1 Expression of correct form.

500 5663.5 2
 "3.25" ) or  5663.5 
2
Est(σ ) = ( 
499 500 499  500 

= 0.766 (3 sf) or 1529/1996 A1 Biased variance of 0.7645 scores M0A0.

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

3(b) H0: Pop mean (or μ) = ‘3.25’ B1FT Not just ‘mean’.
H1: Pop mean (or μ) ≠ ‘3.25’ FT their 3.25 .

2.95"3.25" M1 Standardising with their values.

"0.766"60 Must have √60.

= –2.655 A1 Or P(𝑋 < 2.95) = 0.0039 or 0.00396 or 0.00397 .

SC FT their biased est(σ2), i.e. 0.7645 to give z = 2.658
A1.

‘2.655’ > 2.576 or ‘–2.655’ < –2.576 M1 For valid comparison, e.g. 0.0039 or 0.00396 or 0.00397
< 0.005, or 0.0078 < 0.01, or 0.00792 < 0.01 .

[Reject H0] A1FT OE. Must be in context and not definite, e.g., not ‘Mean
There is evidence that (mean) mass in (country B) is different (from country mass is not different’, No contradictions.
A). Context needs either ‘mass’ or ‘countries’ OE.

SC, Use of one-tail test.

‘2.655’ > 2.326 or 0.0039 < 0.01 M1A0 (Max
B0M1A1M1A0 3/5).

Accept critical value method. Either:

Xcrit=2.959 M1A1 2.95<2.959 M1A1FT with correct
conclusion, or
Xcrit=3.241 M1A1 3.25>3,241 M1A1FT with correct
conclusion.

Question Answer Marks Guidance

4(a) Books received independently or singly or randomly. B1 OE. Must be in context.

If more than one condition given, ignore extras.

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

4(b) 10 M1 Allow incorrect λ.

e15.3  15.3
10!

= 0.0439 (3sf) A1 SC No working shown but correct answer seen scores

B1.

4(c) N(153, 153) B1 Seen or implied.

180.5153 M1 For standardising with their values (can be implied).

[= 2.223] Allow with wrong or missing continuity correction.
153

1 ̶ ɸ(‘2.223’) M1 For correct probability area consistent with their values.

= 0.0131 (3sf) A1

4(d) (λ =) 5.1 + 2.5 [= 7.6] B1 Give at early stage (seen or implied).

7.6 (1  7.6  7.62  7.63 ) M1 Allow incorrect λ. Allow one end error.
1– e = 1– e-7.6(1+7.6+28.88+73.16) Must see an expression (accept correct sigma notation).
2 3!
= 1 – (0.0005005+0.003803+0.01445+0.03661)

= 0.945 (3sf) A1 SC No working, 0.945 B1(could be implied) SC B1.

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

5(a) E(X – Y) = 1 Var(X – Y) = 5 B1 Seen or implied, OE e.g. X – Y – 2.

2 1 [= 0.447] 2 1 [= –1.342] M1 Standardising with their values must come from a

5 5 combination.

1 – Φ('0.447') Φ('–1.342') = 1 – Φ('1.342) M1 Correct probability area consistent with their values.

= 0.327 or 0.328 = 0.0898 or 0.0899 A1 Seen or implied.

Probability that difference is more than 2 = 0.417 (3 sf) or 0.418 A1

5(b)(i) E(X) = 62 + 1.5(42) [= 125] B1 OE.

Var(X) = 158 + 1.52 × 108 [= 401] B1 Correct expression OE.

90"125" M1 Correct standardisation using their E(X) and Var(X).

[= ̶ 1.748] Must both be from a combination attempt.
"401"
Ignore any attempted continuity correction.

Φ(‘1.748’) M1 Correct probability area consistent with their stated

values.

= 0.960 or 96.0% (3 sf) A1 Allow 0.96 or 96%.

5(b)(ii) Unlikely. A candidate who does well in Theory is likely to do well in B1 Need both.
Practical. Accept ‘unlikely’, ‘not independent’, ‘dependent’, ‘not
realistic’, or similar; and accept ‘both testing knowledge
from the same syllabus’, ‘theory and practical share
same content’ or similar statement.

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

6(a) (1 – 1 )10 M1
3

= 0.0173 (3 sf) A1 No working scores SC B1.

6(b) 1 – (1 – p)10 = 0.8926 M1 Accept 1 – q10 = 0.8926 .

Equation must be in p or in q but not both.

1 – p = 0.10740.1 [= 0.800] M1 For valid attempt to solve their (binomial) equation in

p10 or q10.

p = 0.200 (3 sf) or 0.2 A1

Question Answer Marks Guidance

7(a)(i) 1 ×4×a=1 M1 For use of area = 1

2 4
or let f(x) = kx and attempt 
0
kx dx  1 .

[a = 1 ] f(x) = 1 x A1  2 4
2 8 k  x  = 1; 8k = 1; k = 1 .
 2 0 8

f(x) = 1 x or k = 1 .
8 8

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

7(a)(ii) 4 M1 Attempt to integrate x × their f(x). Ignore limits accept

0
x  18 x dx
in terms of k.

 x3  4 A1ft Their integral and correct limits accept in terms of k.

 24  0
 

= 8 or 2.67 (3 sf) A1 Note: Final answer of 64k/3 scores 2/3.

3

7(b) a 1 1 M1 1 1
 Or attempt  g( w)dw = 1 i.e.  ( 2  22 w)dw = 1 ,
a 2 2 a a 2
0 0
or integral from 1 to a.
g(w) must be linear of form g(w) = mw (+c).
Or area attempt: attempt to calculate heights using their
linear equation (h1=2/a and h2= –2/a2 + 2/a) and use in
either area trapezium = 0.5, or area trapezium =area
small triangle or area small triangle = 0.5 .
Area trapezium =1/2  1 (2/a + –2/a2 + 2/a)
Area triangle = 1/2(a – 1)(–2/a2 + 2/a))
Note: alternative expression for h1 = (a – 2)/(a – 1).

a 2  2 a A1 Or a2 – 4a + 2 = 0.
Any correct equation in a, a not in denominator.

a = 2 + 2 = 3.41 A1

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