Cambridge IGCSE™
BIOLOGY
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical
STM MARK SCHEME final
Maximum Mark: 40
0610/62
March 2022
03_0610_62_2RP
IGCSE Biology – Provisional Mark Scheme
March/2022
Cambridge Assessment International Education – 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.
Page 2 of 9
03_0610_62_2RP
IGCSE Biology – Provisional Mark Scheme
March/2022
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 (see examples below)
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
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 x 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.
Page 3 of 9
03_0610_62_2RP
IGCSE Biology – Provisional Mark Scheme
March/2022
Examples of how to apply the list rule
State three reasons…. [3]
A
1. Correct
2. Correct
3. Wrong
B
(4 responses)



1. Correct, Correct
2. Correct
3. Wrong
, 

ignore
C
(4 responses)
1. Correct
2. Correct, Wrong
3. Correct

, 
ignore
D
(4 responses)
1. Correct
2. Correct, CON (of 2.)
3. Correct
E
(4 responses)
1. Correct
2. Correct
3. Correct, Wrong
2
F
(4 responses)
1. Correct
2. Correct
3. Correct
CON (of 3.)



(discount 3)
2
G
(5 responses)
1. Correct
2. Correct
3. Correct
Correct
CON (of 4.)



ignore
ignore
3
H
(4 responses)
1. Correct
2. Correct
3. CON (of 2.)
Correct


(discount 2)

2
I
(4 responses)
1. Correct
2. Correct
3. Correct
CON (of 2.)



(discount 2)
2
3
2

, (discount 2)

2



3
Page 4 of 9
03_0610_62_2RP
Question
1 (a)(i)
IGCSE Biology – Provisional Mark Scheme
Answer
March/2022
Marks
table drawn with either minimum two columns and a header
line ;
appropriate column / row headings, with units ;
recording of four readings (for time) ;
correct conversion to seconds ;
Guidance
4 MP1 Ignore extra columns
MP1 Accept transposed rows and columns
MP2 Reject units and repeated headings in data cells
MP2 Accept block / tube / agar / side length / AW in cm
/ surface area in cm2 / volume in cm3 and time in s
MP3 Ignore units in data cells
MP3 Accept 6.56 etc.
MP4 Ignore incorrect surface area values
block
time / s
A
B
C
D
416
182
114
84
1 (a)(ii)
the time taken (for the agar block to change colour) increases
as the, side length / diffusion distance / surface area,
increases ; ora
1 Accept correctly expressed answers that relate to
diffusion time or the volume or surface area of the cube
Accept the time taken (for the agar block to change
colour) decreases as the surface area to volume ratio
increases ; ora
1 (a)(iii)
time (taken for block to completely change colour) ;
1 Apply list rule
1 (a)(iv)
size of block AW / surface area to volume ratio / surface area
/ diffusion distance ;
1 Apply list rule
Accept volume
Reject shape of block
1 (a)(v) 1
2
3
4
5
concentration of acid ;
volume of acid ;
type of acid ;
agar (cut from) same (block) / type of indicator ;
starting colour / green at the start (of block) ;
2 Apply list rule
MP4 Accept concentration of agar / type of agar /
universal indicator
Ignore temperature
MP5 Accept starting pH of block (at the start)
Reject block dimensions / size / surface area / time
Page 5 of 9
03_0610_62_2RP
Question
IGCSE Biology – Provisional Mark Scheme
Answer
Marks
March/2022
Guidance
1(a)(vi)
repeat the investigation ;
AVP ;
1 Ignore all wrong suggestions
e.g. control the temperature / use of camera / video, to
observe the colour change / use an indicator that goes
clear / multiple observers / put white card behind the
tubes
1(a)(vii)
cut away from body / cut towards tile / cut on flat surface / AW
;
1 Ignore gloves
Ignore cut carefully
1 (b)
10 (:1) ;
1 Accept response in table if no response on answer line
1(c)(i)
Outline - single clear line no shading ;
Size – larger than image ;
Detail ;; e.g. proportion, filaments and lamellae shown, 14 18 branches, at least one alternation of branches
4
1(c)(ii) 0.162 / 0.164 / 0.165 ;;;
3 MP1 measuring line PQ = 90  1 mm
MP2 e.g. =
MP3 correct rounding to three decimal places
ecf for MP2 and MP3
1(d)
2 Reject burette
Accept NaOH / KOH / alkaline and CuSO4 etc.
(add) biuret (solution) ;
purple / AW ;
Page 6 of 9
03_0610_62_2RP
Question
IGCSE Biology – Provisional Mark Scheme
Answer
Marks
1 (e) independent variable:
1 (at least) two different temperatures ;
2 method of maintaining at least one temperature ;
March/2022
Guidance
6
MP2 e.g. thermostatically-controlled / AW, water-bath
MP2 e.g. insulated water-bath with thermometer
MP2 e.g. air-conditioned rooms / fridge
dependent variable:
3 measuring time for film, to become transparent / clear /
crystals to fall off ;
MP3 Accept leave for set time and compare
transparency
MP3 e.g. appearing cross to identify end point
method:
4 use of a buffer ;
5 equilibration to correct temperature ;
6 shaking ;
constant variables ;;
7&8 concentration of protease / volume of protease / type of
protease / type of film / pH / size of film pieces / light
(intensity) / volume of buffer / consistent shaking
MP7 Accept amount of protease (if no concentration or
volume mentioned)
9 two or more replicates or repeat investigation twice ;
10 valid safety precaution ;
MP10 Accept gloves / goggles / safety glasses /
washing hands / ref to heat protection
Ignore cutting safety precautions
Page 7 of 9
03_0610_62_2RP
Question
IGCSE Biology – Provisional Mark Scheme
Answer
Marks
March/2022
Guidance
2 (a)
any two from:
beaker / balance / Bunsen (burner) or water-bath / gauze /
tripod ;;
2 Apply list rule
Accept cooker / AW / pan / kettle / (weighing) scale /
qualified container / qualified vessel
Ignore heater / container and vessels unqualified / knife
Reject safety equipment
2(b)(i)
Axes– labelled with units ;
Scale – suitable linear scale and points occupy at least half
the grid in both directions ;
Plot – five points plotted accurately  half a small square ;
Lines – suitable line drawn ;
4 A minimum axes labels: boiling time / min and vit C
conc / mg per 100 g
A Accept reversed orientation of axes
P Reject ‘dots’ larger than a small square
P Ignore ‘points’ at 20 min (Q2(b)(ii))
L if dot-to-dot touch all their points (1/2 square
tolerance)
L if straight line must not have more than two points
above or below the line (within half a small
square tolerance)
L Reject extrapolation of line of more than 1 square
beyond first or their last plot points
L Reject thick or feathered lines
2(b)(ii)
intersection of line on graph at 20 minutes shown ;
value from graph with tolerance of  half a small square ;
2 expect value of approx. 17.5 mg per 100 g
Accept ecf from plotting
2(b)(iii)
62 ;;;
3 MP1 correct values selected i.e. 13 and 34 or 21
MP2 correct calculation 61.765 (any number of dps) OR
34 − 13
× 100
34
MP3 correct rounding to two significant figures (from
shown working)
ecf MP2 and MP3
Page 8 of 9
03_0610_62_2RP
Question Answer
2(c)
IGCSE Biology – Provisional Mark Scheme
March/2022
Marks Guidance
add DCPIP ;
(turns) colourless ;
2 Ignore universal indicator and acid colour change
MP1 Accept add iodine and starch (titration)
MP2 Accept blue colour disappears
MP2 Accept stays, yellow brown / orange (if iodine and
starch method)
Page 9 of 9