CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education
MARK SCHEME for the May/June 2015 series
0610 BIOLOGY
0610/32 Paper 3 (Extended Theory), maximum raw mark 80
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.
bestexamhelp.com
Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner
Report for Teachers.
Cambridge will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
Cambridge is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2015 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE®, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some
Cambridge O Level components.
® IGCSE is the registered trademark of Cambridge International Examinations.
Page 2 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Abbreviations used in the Mark Scheme
• ; separates marking points
• / separates alternatives within a marking point
• R reject
• ignore mark as if this material was not present
• A accept (a less than ideal answer which should be marked correct)
• AW alternative wording (accept other ways of expressing the same idea)
• underline words underlined (or grammatical variants of them) must be present
• max indicates the maximum number of marks that can be awarded
• mark independently the second mark may be given even if the first mark is wrong
• ecf credit a correct statement that follows a previous wrong response
• ( ) the word / phrase in brackets is not required, but sets the context
• ora or reverse argument
• AVP any valid point
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 3 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
1 (a) Triticum aestivum D 5 / 6 right = 3
3 / 4 right = 2
Solanum tuberosum G 1 / 2 right = 1
Glycine max C 0 right = 0
Manihot esculenta F
Ipomoea batatas B
Zea mays A
Oryza sativa E
max [3]
(b) general features: monocotyledon features: Mark answers in context of either general
features (first column) or referring to
1 leaf, width / shape ; narrow leaves ; monocotyledonous plants (second
2 leaf connection to stem / AW ; sheath / no petiole ; column)
3 number of (named) flower parts ; flower parts in multiples of 3 ;
4 number of, cotyledons / seed one cotyledon / seed leaf ;
5 leaves ; fibrous roots ;
6 type of root ; scattered vascular bundles ;
7 pattern of vascular bundles ; no, cambium / woody tissue ;
8 presence/absence of max [1]
cambium / AW ;
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 4 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
(c) (i) 1 increase in (soil) water / flooding / waterlogging ;
2 decrease in (soil) water / desertification ;
3 soil erosion ; A landslides / reduced soil volume loss of
4 loss of, habitat / places where organisms live ; nutrients / reduced nutrient cycling
5 disruption to food chain ;
6 endangered / extinction, of species or loss of biodiversity ;
7 AVP ; e.g. example of named soil organism in context of a function
of a soil ecosystem
max [4]
(ii) 1 collecting / sorting (of paper) ;
2 shredding / AW ;
3 adding water to make, pulp / paste ;
4 cleaned / de-inked / AW ;
5 bleached ;
6 rinsed ;
7 pressed / rolled / flattened / dried, into sheets ;
8 any named product made from recycled paper ; e.g. low quality
paper / toilet paper / newspaper max [3]
[Total:11]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 5 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
2 (a) (6) CO2 + (6) H2O ; C6H12O6 + (6) O2 ; balancing ; [3] ignore word equations
(b) acts as heat filter / absorbs heat from lamp / reduces heat effect of the
lamp / AW ;
maintain constant temperature / make sure temperature is not another A ‘improves validity’
variable ; max [1]
(c) colour prediction: no mark for prediction alone
purple
explanation
1 CO2 is an acidic gas / forms carbonic acid ;
2 CO2 been used up / taken in / absorbed (by the algae) ;
3 by photosynthesis ;
4 which causes pH increase / more alkaline / less acidic ;
5 more photosynthesis than respiration ; max [3]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 6 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
(d) 1 as distance increases / light intensity decreases, time taken for
colour change increase / photosynthetic rate decreases ; ora
2 rate of change slows, at low light intensity / furthest from lamp ;
3 no change in rate, at high light intensity / close to lamp ;
4 credit appropriate use of comparative figures with units stated at
least once ;
5 as distance (from lamp) increases, light intensity decreases ; ora
6 light (intensity) is limiting (factor for photosynthesis) ;
7 at high light (intensity), another factor could be limiting
photosynthesis ;
8 light provides energy (for photosynthesis) ;
9 light is absorbed / trapped by, chlorophyll / chloroplast ; max [5]
[Total:12]
3 (a) transports, oxygen / gases ; [1]
(b) (i) 1 controls activities in the cell / AW ;
2 contains, chromosomes / genes / alleles / genetic information / DNA ;
3 controls how cells, develop / divide / reproduce / grow ; max [1]
(ii) more space for haemoglobin ;
to enable greater oxygen carrying capacity / AW ;
more flexible shape (to move through capillaries) ; max [1]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 7 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
(c) (i) 0.15 mol dm–3
(red blood cells) are normal shape / biconcave ;
0.20 mol dm–3
(red blood cells) have shrunk / crenation / AW ; max [2]
(ii) 1 osmosis ;
2 (diffusion / osmosis) of water molecules into cells ;
3 down a water potential gradient / from high water potential (of
solution) to low water potential (in cells) ;
4 across partially permeable membrane ; max [3]
(iii) cell wall (offers resistance) ;
water potential (of plant cells) could be equal / higher / less negative (than
0.1 M solution) (so no net osmosis) ;
max [1]
(d) (i) 0.15 mol dm–3 ; units must be included
no net movement of water / (red blood) cells will remain normal A (red blood) cells won’t be
shape / AW ; [2] damaged / isotonic (with solution)
(ii) 1 ref to platelets ;
2 fibrinogen converted to fibrin ;
3 soluble to insoluble / fibrin is insoluble ;
4 thrombin / enzyme in context ;
5 mesh / network / web, to trap blood (cells) ;
6 AVP ; e.g. reference to prothrombin or involvement of calcium ions max [3]
[Total: 14]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 8 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
4 (a) (i) bronchus / bronchiole(s) ; [1]
(ii) 1 goblet cells, release / produce, mucus ;
2 mucus traps, dirt / particles / pathogens ;
3 cilia, beat / AW ; R ‘cilia trap dirt’
4 to move, fluid / AW, up / out (of airway) ; max [3]
(b) (i) 1 diffusion ;
2 across (cell / permeable) membranes ;
3 high concentration to low concentration (of O2) / down
concentration gradient ;
4 moist lining / AW / O2 is dissolved ; max [3]
(b) (ii) 1 external intercostal muscles contract ;
2 internal intercostal muscles relax ;
3 lifts ribs, upwards / outwards ; A ribcage expands
4 diaphragm contracts ;
5 diaphragm, flattens / drops ;
6 volume of, thorax / lungs / chest, increases ;
7 pressure in, thorax / lungs / chest, decreases ;
8 air flows in down a pressure gradient ; max [4]
(iii) carbon dioxide ;
water vapour ; max [1]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 9 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
(c) 1 tar / carcinogens ; component must be linked to correct effect
2 carcinogenic / can cause, lung cancer ;
3 sticks to / blocks / damages, (named) air passages / alveoli / cilia ;
4 (trigger) production of, more / excess, mucus ;
5 (smoke) particles ;
6 trigger white blood cells ;
7 irritant / causes asthma / prone to infection ;
8 phagocytosis described ;
9 carbon monoxide ;
10 combines with haemoglobin (permanently) ;
11 reduced oxygen transport (of blood) ; max [4]
[Total: 16]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 10 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
5 (a) (i) 2 wrong = 1 mark
Y W V T S X U [2] more than 2 wrong = no marks
(ii)
letter from name function during pregnancy
each correct row = 1 mark
Fig. 5.2
P amniotic sac encloses the amniotic fluid
Q umbilical cord ; attaches the placenta to the fetus
protection / maintains temperature /
N amniotic fluid
allows fetus to move / AW ;
contracts to push the baby through the
M uterus (wall) ;
birth canal
immune protection / exchange of
(named) nutrients or wastes or gases /
R placenta
secretes hormone to maintain lining /
separates blood of mother and fetus ;
cervix ;
widens during labour to allow the head
O A vagina / birth
of the baby to pass
canal
[5]
(b) difference: 1 mark for difference and 1 mark for
protein ; similarity
similarity:
lipid ;
energy content ;
lactose ; max [2]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 11 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
(c) (i) 1 increase in, size / length / mass / volume / AW ; A reference to cell division / mitosis /
2 increase in dry mass ; reproduction of cells or tissues
3 increase in cell number ;
4 ref to permanent ; max [2] ignore development
(ii) 1 lower mass / slower growth, of breast-fed babies ; ora
2 both (babies) show same increasing trend ;
3 appropriate use of comparative data from table or figure with units
stated at least once ;
4 because less protein / less energy (in breast-fed milk) ; ora
5 (protein / energy) is required for growth ; ora
6 lower volume of milk drunk (by breast fed babies) ; ora
max [4]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 12 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
(iii) advantages:
1 provides, best / complete / most suitable / AW, food ; maximum 3 marks for advantages
2 easy to digest / less risk of colic ;
3 no additives / less risk of allergies / child less likely to develop
diabetes ;
4 contains antibodies / reference to colostrum / provides passive
immunity / provides protection against,
pathogens / diseases / microorganisms ;
5 sterile / less risk of infection ;
6 is at, body / correct, temperature ;
7 no preparation / always available ;
8 bonding with mother ;
9 it’s free / ‘cheap’ ;
disadvantages: maximum 3 marks for disadvantages
11 time consuming ;
12
13 transfer of, viruses / HIV / hepatitis B ;
14 painful / sore nipples / mastitis ;
15 stressful / may be embarrassing / AW ;
16 mother may not be able to produce enough milk ;
17 cannot see how much baby has consumed ;
18 task cannot be shared with other parent ; max [4]
medications / drugs / alcohol, can pass to baby ;
[Total: 19]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
Page 13 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
Cambridge IGCSE – May/June 2015 0610 32
Question Expected Answers Marks Additional Guidance
6 (a) log / exponential (phase) ; [1]
(b) 1 decomposition of waste ; ignore pollution / contamination unqualified
2 by bacteria / microorganisms ;
3 reduces oxygen available ;
4 eutrophication / algal bloom ;
5 results in death of (aquatic) plants and animals ; max [3]
(c) secondary consumer / third trophic level ;
[1]
(d) 1 seaweed at a lower trophic level (than salmon) ; ora A seaweed are producers / first
2 energy is lost, between / within, trophic levels / along food chain ; trophic level
3 reference to 10% energy transfer / ora ;
4 (energy lost in) respiration / heat / (named) metabolic process ;
5 (energy lost in) movement / muscle contraction ;
6 reference to (more) material that is, inedible / not digestible (in
longer food chains) ;
7 (energy lost in) excretion / urine ;
8 idea that less fuel required to farm seaweed / AW ; max [3]
[Total: 8]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2015
