Science
Stage 9
Paper 2
2025
45 minutes
No additional materials are needed.
INSTRUCTIONS
• Answer all questions.
• Write your answer to each question in the space provided.
• You should show all your working on the question paper.
INFORMATION
• The total mark for this paper is 50.
• The number of marks for each question or part question is shown in brackets [ ].
3146_02_4RP
© UCLES 2025
2
1
The diagram shows the pathway of water through a plant.
soil
(a) Name the type of cell where water enters the plant.
[1]
(b) Water from the soil enters a plant.
Write down the name of this process.
[1]
(c) Water passes from the root, through the stem to the leaf.
Name the vessel in the stem that the water passes through.
[1]
(d) Water moves from the leaf to the air.
Write down the name of this process.
[1]
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3
2
(a) Complete the sentences about chemical bonding.
(i) The type of bond made when a pair of electrons is shared by two atoms is called
a
bond.
(ii) When an atom
[1]
an electron, a positive ion is made.
[1]
(b) What is an ionic bond?
[1]
3
Look at the diagram of sound waveform A.
sound waveform A
Draw on the grid a sound waveform B that completely cancels out sound waveform A.
sound waveform B
[1]
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4
4
Aiko finds a drawing of a desert.
She draws a diagram to show the different causes of desertification.
grassland with too
many animals
land over used for
crops
trees cut down by
humans
soil becomes bare
soil eroded by wind
and water
desertification
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less rain
5
(a) Climate change causes desertification.
Circle the cause of desertification due to climate change.
grassland with too many animals
land over used for crops
trees cut down by humans
less rain
[1]
(b) Suggest two future impacts of desertification.
1
2
[2]
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6
5
Complete these sentences about how plants make glucose.
(a) Plants use energy from light,
and
to make glucose and
.
[3]
(b) Plants make glucose using the process of
.
This process takes place in structures in some leaf cells.
These structures are called
.
[2]
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7
6
Look at part of the reactivity series.
calcium
most reactive
magnesium
zinc
iron
copper
silver
gold
least reactive
(a) Zinc, Zn, reacts with copper sulfate solution, CuSO4.
Zinc sulfate solution, ZnSO4 and copper, Cu, are made.
Write the symbol equation for this reaction.
[1]
(b) Predict if copper reacts with magnesium sulfate solution.
Tick () the correct answer.
yes
no
Explain your answer.
[1]
(c) Predict if iron reacts with silver nitrate solution.
Tick () the correct answer.
yes
no
Explain your answer.
[1]
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8
7
Oliver makes a series electrical circuit.
Here is a diagram of his electrical circuit.
ammeter
lamp
switch
battery
(a) (i) Oliver wants to measure the voltage across the lamp.
Write down the name of the meter that measures voltage.
[1]
(ii) Oliver uses this meter to measure the voltage across the lamp.
Draw on the diagram to show where and how the meter is connected.
Use this shape
for the meter.
Use lines for wires.
[1]
(b) Oliver writes down the readings from the meters in his electrical circuit.
voltage = 1.5 V
current = 0.6 A
Calculate the resistance of the lamp.
resistance =
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Ω [2]
9
8
Scientists are concerned that some asteroids may collide with the Earth.
NASA sent a spacecraft to collide with a small asteroid.
small asteroid
NOT TO SCALE
The small asteroid was destroyed.
(a) Suggest why NASA destroyed the small asteroid.
[1]
(b) One consequence of a large asteroid hitting the Earth is climate change.
Describe one other consequence of a large asteroid hitting the Earth.
[1]
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10
9
These varieties of lettuce are from the same species.
Look at the diagram of one leaf from each variety of lettuce.
A
B
C
D
E
DRAWN TO SCALE
Key
Yes: go to question 3
1 Does the leaf have a rounded end?
No: go to question 2
Yes: mizuna
2 Is the leaf longer than it is wide?
No: endive
Yes: oak leaf
3 Is the rounded end of the leaf dark in colour?
No: go to question 4
Yes: purslane
4 Is the leaf small and oval in shape?
No: romaine
Use the key to identify each variety of lettuce.
A
B
C
D
E
[2]
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11
10 (a) A sample of substance X has a mass of 150 g and a volume of 25 cm3.
Calculate the density of substance X.
Include the unit of density.
density of substance X =
unit
[3]
(b) Substance X has a melting point of 1852 oC and a boiling point of 4377 oC.
Suggest the type of structure in substance X.
[1]
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12
11 This question is about heat and temperature.
Lily has two blocks of metal.
block A
block B
Block A has a higher temperature than block B.
Lily puts the blocks together.
block A
block B
(a) Describe what happens when the two blocks touch each other.
[1]
(b) Describe what happens when the two blocks are together for 10 minutes.
[1]
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13
12 Hassan investigates the reaction between magnesium and dilute hydrochloric acid.
The reaction makes hydrogen gas.
Hassan adds 0.5 g of magnesium to 25 cm3 of dilute hydrochloric acid.
He measures the total volume of hydrogen gas made every minute for 4 minutes.
Look at his results.
The volume after 3 minutes is 45 cm3
At the start the volume is 0 cm3
20 cm3 = 1 minute
2 minutes = 35 cm3
50 cm3 is the volume after 4 minutes
Hassan presents his results in a table.
Complete the table of results.
[3]
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14
13 Chen runs for 20 minutes.
He is hot.
Chen has liquid water on his skin.
Explain how the evaporation of the liquid water cools his skin.
[2]
14 Rajiv uses the internet to find out about the carbon cycle.
He finds out that there are two types of carbon cycle.
• slow carbon cycle
Carbon in fossil fuels leaks slowly into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide through
volcanic activity.
This takes millions of years.
• fast carbon cycle
Humans burn fossil fuels such as oil to release very large amounts of carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere every year.
Rajiv also finds this graph.
12
10
global
carbon
dioxide
released in
billions of
tonnes
8
6
4
2
0
1850
1875
1900
1925
1950
year
1975
2000
2025
2050
(a) There are no values of carbon dioxide released shown on the graph between 1850 and
1865.
Suggest why.
[1]
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15
(b) Describe the trend in the amount of carbon dioxide released from the year 1850 to the
year 2000.
Explain the trend.
Use ideas about the slow carbon cycle and the fast carbon cycle.
description of trend
explanation
[2]
(c) Suggest a value for the amount of global carbon dioxide released in 2025.
billions of tonnes [1]
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16
15 Mike investigates the rate water is absorbed by a plant.
The diagram shows some of the equipment he uses.
leaves
vein
stem
solution of red dye
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17
(a) Mike waits until the veins of the leaves are red in colour.
leaves
vein
stem
solution of red dye
Write down two measurements he takes to measure the rate water is absorbed by the plant.
Name the two pieces of equipment he uses to take these measurements.
measurement 1
equipment 1
measurement 2
equipment 2
[2]
(b) Mike decides to repeat the experiment three times.
Explain why.
[1]
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18
16 Jamila and Safia investigate convection.
Jamila:
• adds blue dye to cold water
• pours the cold blue water into water at room temperature.
Safia:
• adds red dye to hot water
• pours the hot red water into water at room temperature.
Safia
Jamila
cold blue
water
hot red
water
water at room
temperature
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19
(a) Look at Safia in the picture.
She has not made a risk assessment.
Complete the table to identify two risks and describe how to control these risks.
risk
how to control the risk
……………………………………..
…………………………………………..
……………………………………..
…………………………………………..
……………………………………..
…………………………………………..
……………………………………..
…………………………………………..
[2]
(b) Predict what happens to the cold blue water and the hot red water.
Explain your answers.
Use ideas about density and convection.
prediction for cold blue water
explanation
prediction for hot red water
explanation
[3]
Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every
reasonable effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the
publisher will be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.
To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge Assessment
International Education Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced annually and is available to download at
https://lowersecondary.cambridgeinternational.org/
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge Assessment. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of the University of Cambridge
Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is a department of the University of Cambridge.
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21
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calcium
40
38
Sr
strontium
88
56
Ba
barium
137
88
potassium
39
37
Rb
rubidium
85
55
Cs
caesium
133
87
actinoids
lanthanoids
–
Ca
K
–
actinoids
20
19
Ra
24
23
radium
89–103
magnesium
sodium
Fr
57–71
Mg
Na
francium
89
12
11
22
cerium
140
90
Th
thorium
232
lanthanum
139
89
Ac
actinium
–
231
protactinium
Pa
91
141
praseodymium
Pr
59
58
Ce
57
–
–
dubnium
Db
105
181
tantalum
Ta
73
93
niobium
Nb
41
51
vanadium
V
23
Cr
24
238
uranium
U
92
144
neodymium
Nd
60
–
seaborgium
Sg
106
184
tungsten
W
74
96
molybdenum
Mo
42
52
chromium
relative atomic mass
rutherfordium
Rf
104
178
hafnium
Hf
72
91
zirconium
Zr
40
48
titanium
Ti
La
lanthanoids
yttrium
Y
39
45
scandium
Sc
9
7
name
atomic symbol
Be
beryllium
Li
lithium
atomic number
4
3
Key
2
1
–
neptunium
Np
93
–
promethium
Pm
61
–
bohrium
Bh
107
186
rhenium
Re
75
–
technetium
Tc
43
55
manganese
Mn
25
–
plutonium
Pu
94
150
samarium
Sm
62
–
hassium
Hs
108
190
osmium
Os
76
101
ruthenium
Ru
44
56
iron
Fe
26
27
28
29
30
–
americium
Am
95
152
europium
Eu
63
–
meitnerium
Mt
109
192
–
curium
Cm
96
157
gadolinium
Gd
64
–
darmstadtium
Ds
110
195
platinum
Pt
Ir
iridium
78
106
palladium
Pd
46
59
nickel
Ni
77
103
rhodium
Rh
45
59
cobalt
Co
–
berkelium
Bk
97
159
terbium
Tb
65
–
roentgenium
Rg
111
197
gold
Au
79
108
silver
Ag
47
64
copper
Cu
–
californium
Cf
98
163
dysprosium
Dy
66
–
copernicium
Cn
112
201
mercury
Hg
80
112
cadmium
Cd
48
65
zinc
Zn
B
C
–
einsteinium
Es
99
165
holmium
Ho
67
–
nihonium
Nh
113
204
thallium
Tl
81
115
–
fermium
Fm
100
167
erbium
Er
68
–
flerovium
Fl
114
207
lead
Pb
82
119
tin
Sn
In
indium
50
73
germanium
Ge
32
28
silicon
49
70
gallium
Ga
31
27
aluminium
Si
14
13
Al
12
carbon
11
boron
6
–
mendelevium
Md
101
169
thulium
Tm
69
–
moscovium
Mc
115
209
bismuth
Bi
83
122
antimony
Sb
51
75
arsenic
As
33
31
phosphorus
P
15
14
nitrogen
N
7
–
nobelium
No
102
173
ytterbium
Yb
70
–
livermorium
Lv
116
–
polonium
Po
84
128
tellurium
Te
52
79
selenium
Se
34
32
sulfur
S
16
16
oxygen
O
8
–
lawrencium
Lr
103
175
lutetium
Lu
71
–
tennessine
Ts
117
–
astatine
At
85
127
iodine
I
53
80
bromine
Br
35
35.5
chlorine
Cl
17
19
fluorine
F
9
–
oganesson
Og
118
–
radon
Rn
86
131
xenon
Xe
54
84
krypton
Kr
36
40
argon
Ar
18
20
neon
Ne
10
4
5
helium
8
1
7
hydrogen
6
2
5
He
4
H
3
1
Group
The Periodic Table of Elements
20
0
