Cambridge O Level

BIOLOGY 5090/21
Paper 2 Theory May/June 2022
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 80

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 2022 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 13 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.

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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  10(n)) 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.

Mark schemes will use these abbreviations:

; separates marking points

/ alternatives
() contents of brackets are not required but should be implied
R reject
A accept (for answers correctly cued by the question, or guidance for examiners)
Ig ignore (for incorrect but irrelevant responses)
AW alternative wording (where responses vary more than usual)
AVP alternative valid point (where a greater than usual variety of responses is expected)
ORA or reverse argument
underline actual word underlined must be used by candidate
+ statements on both sides of the + are needed for that mark

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

1(a)(i) B = blood vessel / capillary / artery / arteriole ; 1

C = sweat gland ; 1

1(a)(ii) less blood flows + in blood vessel / close to skin surface ; 1

decrease in radiation / heat loss / AW ; 1

vasoconstriction OR 1
blood vessels / arterioles / arteries / part B + narrow / constrict ;

1(b) any three from: 3

A is a receptor / nerve ending ;
touch / pressure / pain / temperature ;
examples of uneven distribution e.g. high density in fingers / lips ;
exposed areas + need higher sensitivity AW ;

1(c) any two from: 2

fatty / adipose + tissue / cell ;
less food eaten / less fat in diet / exercise;
so fat used by body + for respiration / release energy ;
body using more energy than it is taking in ;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(a)(i) lungs: 2
enters via nose / nasal passages + into larynx / trachea ;
travels through bronchus / bronchi / bronchioles ; any two
to air sacs / alveoli ;

circulation: 2
diffuses + into blood / into capillaries / from blood
to muscle;
red blood cells / haemoglobin ; any two
transported by pulmonary vein ;
pumped by heart ;
through arteries / arterioles ;

2(a)(ii) any two from: 2

a larger lung capacity / stronger intercostal muscles ;
stronger / thicker + cardiac / ventricle muscle ;
cardiac muscle able to pump more blood in each cardiac cycle ;
improved blood supply to heart muscle ;
more haemoglobin / red blood cells ;

2(b)(i) aerobic ; 1

respiration ; 1

2(b)(ii) 3.4 + dm3 ; 1

2(b)(iii) any three from: 3

respire anaerobically ;
without oxygen / lack of oxygen ;
respiration + energy released ;
lactic acid ;
lactic acid builds up in / affects + muscles ;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(b)(iv) line starts close to rest point line on y axis + continues upwards on 1
same straight line as before training ;

maximum oxygen consumption is higher + reached at higher exercise 1 accept lines that continue in a straight line or
intensity ; plateau.

Question Answer Marks Guidance

3(a)(i) removal of leaves: 1

reduction + surface area / stomata ;

covering with transparent bag: 1

increase humidity ;

to reduce transpiration OR evaporation / water loss ; 1

3(a)(ii) any two from: 2

production of genetically identical offspring / clones ;
mitosis ;
from one parent/ AW;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

3(b) function: xylem vessels transport water and/or minerals ; 1

adaptation: long / thin / no end cell walls / hollow tubes / no cytoplasm ; 1

function: (mechanical) support / keeps stem upright ; 1

adaptation: lignified OR woody / strengthened / hard + walls ; 1

3(c) any five from: 5

1 artificial selection / selective breeding ;
2 transfer pollen / pollination ;
3 from anther / stamen of one plant + e.g. red petal colour ;
4 to stigma / carpel /pistil of another ;
5 fertilisation OR gametes / genetic material + combined AW ;
6 grow seeds ;
7 select the ones with best combination of characteristics ;

Question Answer Marks Guidance

4(a) ileum / small intestine ; 1

hepatic portal vein ; 1

4(b) any three from: 3

lock and key ;
shape AW + active site / enzyme / amino acids different shapes ;
complementary / fits / matches ;
binds AW to a substrate / enzyme-substrate complex / ES complex ;
wrongly shaped substrates cannot fit + active site ;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

5(a)(i) light /carbon dioxide from air + for photosynthesis OR 1

more AW + light / carbon dioxide ;

5(a)(ii) A = stoma ; 1

B = air/ intercellular + space ; 1

5(a)(iii) any three from: 3

stomata + on upper surface AW ;
gaseous exchange / air enters / air leaves ;

carbon dioxide + for photosynthesis ;

large + air spaces ;

air space + leaf buoyancy / float / less dense ;

5(b) producer / first trophic level ; 1

Question Answer Marks Guidance

6(a) any four from: 4

virus is smaller ORA ;
both contain genetic material ;
animal cell always DNA + virus DNA or RNA ;

animal cell has (cell surface) membrane ORA ;

virus has a protein coat / capsid ORA ;

animal cell has a nucleus / nuclear membrane ORA ;

animal cell contains cytoplasm / organelles / named organelle ORA ;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

6(b)(i) any three from: 3

sexually transmitted ;
blood transfer / blood transfusion AW ;
sharing AW + needles / razors ;
from mother to baby + across placenta / during pregnancy /
during birth / breastfeeding ;

6(b)(ii) any three from: 3

number infected increasing / more people infected in 2018 than 2000 ;
rate of infection decreasing / slowing down ;
correct data manipulation + data quoted to illustrate either point ;

number treated for HIV increasing / more people treated in 2018 than
2000 ;
a much bigger proportion of those infected being treated ;
correct data manipulation + quoted to illustrate the point e.g. in 2000
less than 5% treated in 2000 and in 2018 over 60% treated ;

Question Answer Marks Guidance

7(a)(i) crushing /grinding / chewing / increasing surface area of food ; 1

7(a)(ii) any four from: 4

blood under pressure ;
capillary + thin wall /one cell thick ;
soluble materials / plasma + squeezed / leaks out ;
oxygen / glucose + from capillary / to cells ;
carbon dioxide / urea + from cells / to capillary / blood ;
diffusion ;
across cell membrane / partially permeable + membrane ;
additional named soluble substance e.g. amino acids + direction of
movement ;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

7(b) any three from: 3

bacteria ;
bacteria + feed on + sugar / food ;
produce acid ;
acid + corrodes / destroys AW + enamel / dentine ;

any two from: 2

brushing / cleaning / toothpaste ;
flossing / mouthwash ;
fluoride ;
avoid sugar AW ;
visit dentist ;

Question Answer Marks Guidance

8(a) any four from: 4

1 both trigger responses ;
2 both work on specific effectors AW ;

3 nerve impulses fast + hormones slow ;

4 nerve impulses electrical + hormones chemical ; comparative statements required accept
5 nerve impulses short term effect + hormones longer term effect ; faster / slower etc.

6 nerve impulses travel along nerve cells / neurones AW OR

hormones travel in blood / plasma ;
7 nerve impulses all the same / hormones are different chemicals ;
8 nerve impulses generated by receptors AW / hormones from
glands ;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

8(b) any six from: 6

eye receptors / retina / rods / cones ;
impulse + sensory neurones ;
via relay neurones ;
to motor neurones ;
to effector / muscle ;

adrenaline + from adrenal glands ;

travels in blood + to named specific target organ e.g. heart / lungs ;
heart beats faster ;
stimulates glycogen to be converted to glucose ;
more glucose / oxygen / blood + to muscles ;
air passageways increase in diameter ;
blood diverted AW + to muscles ;
pupils dilate ;

Question Answer Marks Guidance

9(a) any five from: 5

ammonium ions / urea / nitrates + in fertiliser / into soil ;
bacteria + produce nitrates / nitrification ;
root hairs + take up / absorb ;
active transport ;
transported in xylem ;
produce amino acids / proteins ;
humans ingest / eat + proteins ;

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Question Answer Marks Guidance

9(b) advantages 5
replace nitrogen removed by crops ;
needed for improved growth / more yield ;
to feed increasing human population ;

disadvantages
production / transport is energy consuming ;
promotes monoculture ;
degrades soil structure ;
reduces biodiversity of soil ;
leaches AW + into rivers / lakes ;
eutrophication / water pollution ;
stimulates growth of plants / algal bloom ;
decomposition / decay / bacteria feed on + algae /plants ;
lack of oxygen + for water animals / named freshwater animal ;

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