Cambridge IGCSE™

COMBINED SCIENCE 0653/03

Paper 3 Theory (Core) For examination from 2025
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 80

Specimen

This document has 10 pages.

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2022 [Turn over

0653/03 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2025

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 descriptions 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 descriptions for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptions 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 descriptions.
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).

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2022 Page 2 of 10

0653/03 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2025

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
descriptions 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.

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2022 Page 3 of 10

0653/03 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2025

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 × 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.

mark scheme abbreviations

; separates marking points

/ alternative responses for the same marking point
A accept (a less than ideal answer which should be marked correct)
I ignore (mark as if this material was not present)
ecf error carried forward
AVP alternative valid point
ORA or reverse argument
owtte or words to that effect
AW alternative wording (where responses vary more than usual)
AND both responses required for the mark
OR alternative responses for the same marking point
underline actual word given must be used by candidate (grammatical variants excepted)
() the word / phrase in brackets is not required but sets the context
max indicates the maximum number of marks

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2022 Page 4 of 10

0653/03 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2025

Question Answer Marks Guidance

1(a) 4
letter in name of structure function
Fig. 1.1
(cell) membrane ; (controls the movement of substances
(A)
into and out of cells)
(D) (mitochondria) (site of aerobic) respiration ;
G; (vacuole) support ; A storage

1(b) 2
(cell)

↓
tissue

↓
organ

↓
organ system

↓
(organism)

one sequential pair ;

all three in correct order ;
1(c)(i) (right / left) atrium ; 1 A atria
1(c)(ii) vein(s) ; 1
1(c)(iii) transport of oxygen ; 1
1(d) skin / hairs in the nose / mucus / stomach acid ; 1

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2022 Page 5 of 10

0653/03 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2025

Question Answer Marks Guidance

2(a)(i) starch ; 2
carbon dioxide ;
2(a)(ii) chlorophyll ; 1
2(b)(i) 30 (°C) ; 1 A value in range 28–30 °C
2(b)(ii) idea that, enzymes works best at lower temperatures / enzyme stops working 2 A enzymes are not active at 40 °C
above 25 (°C) ;
idea that, photosynthesis stops so no, glucose / sugar / carbohydrates, I food
produced ;
2(c)(i) stigma ; 1
2(c)(ii) a pollen nucleus fuses with the nucleus in the ovule ; 1

Question Answer Marks Guidance

3(a)(i) phytoplankton ; 1
3(a)(ii) 2
carnivore  ;

herbivore

primary consumer

secondary consumer

tertiary consumer  ;

3(a)(iii) idea that, 2

less squid for puffins to eat ;
puffin numbers reduce so less food for the foxes to eat ;

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2022 Page 6 of 10

0653/03 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2025

Question Answer Marks Guidance

3(a)(iv) any two from: 2
climate change ;
habitat destruction ;
hunting ;
overharvesting ;
introduced species ;
AVP ;
3(b) energy ; 2
organic ;

Question Answer Marks Guidance

4(a) anode ; 1
4(b) (positive electrode) chlorine / Cl 2 ; 2 I chloride
(negative electrode) hydrogen / H2 ;
4(c)(i) a soluble, base / metal oxide / hydroxide ; 1
4(c)(ii) yellow ; 1
4(d)(i) 1
(sodium hydroxide) + (sulfuric acid) → sodium sulfate + water ;

4(d)(ii) (an exothermic reaction) transfers thermal energy to the surroundings ; 2 idea of the surroundings may be seen in either
leading to an increase in temperature (of the surroundings) ; marking point

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2022 Page 7 of 10

0653/03 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2025

Question Answer Marks Guidance

5(a) (refinery gas) heating / cooking ; 2
(gasoline) cars / vans / lorries ;
5(b)(i) C 3H 8 ; 1
5(b)(ii) (hydrocarbon) A 1
AND
(reason) all carbon–carbon bonds are single (bonds) ;
5(b)(iii) (test) aqueous, bromine / Br2 ; 2
(hydrocarbon A) mixture stays orange AND
(hydrocarbon B) mixture decolourises / turns colourless ;
5(c) CH4(g) + 2O2(g) → CO2(g) + 2H2O(l) 2
correct state symbols ;
correct balancing ;
5(d) any one from: 1
low melting point ;
low boiling point ;
low electrical conductivity ;

Question Answer Marks Guidance

6(a) (electrons) 26 ; 2
(neutrons) 30 ;
6(b)(i) (the atom) loses two electrons ; 1
6(b)(ii) green ; 2 I any reference to turning brown
precipitate / ppt (is formed) ;
6(c)(i) a new substance is made ; 1
6(c)(ii) (test) lighted splint AND 1
(result) (burns with a squeaky) ‘pop’ ;
6(d) (a substance that) increases the rate (of a reaction) ; 2
is unchanged (at the end of the reaction) ;

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2022 Page 8 of 10

0653/03 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2025

Question Answer Marks Guidance

7(a)(i) (electric) motor ; 1
7(a)(ii) 8.8 A ; 1 more than one answer circled = 0 marks
7(a)(iii) total cost = cost per kW h × power in kW × time (in hours) / $0.15 × 2.0 × 5.5 ; 2 A formula in any form
$1.65 ; A 1.70
7(b) power = energy ÷ time / E = P × t / 2200 × 15 ; 2 A formula in any form
33 000 (J) ;
7(c)(i) red ; 1
7(c)(ii) infrared OR ultraviolet ; 1

Question Answer Marks Guidance

3
8(a)(i) weight = mass × gravitational field strength / W = mg / 3.1 × 10 × 9.8 ; 3 A formula in any form
30 × 103 / 30 000 ; A 30.38 / 30.4
I 31
N / newton(s) ;
8(a)(ii) increases in speed ; 1
8(a)(iii) (3.2 days = 3.2 × 24 =) 76.8 (h) ; 1 A 76 h 48 min
8(a)(iv) (average) speed = distance ÷ time / v = s ÷ t / 384 000 ÷ 76.8 ; 2 A formula in any form
5000 (km / h) ; ecf from (a)(iii)
8(a)(v) (speed) same AND 1
(reason) both electromagnetic waves which all travel at the same speed ;
8(b) Mercury ; 1
8(c) Milky Way ; 1

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2022 Page 9 of 10

0653/03 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme For examination
SPECIMEN from 2025

Question Answer Marks Guidance

9(a) (electrical property) insulator AND 1
(reason) plastic / polymer / not a metal or carbon ;
9(b) (water) floats AND (ethanol) sinks ; 2
density (of poly(ethene) is) between water (greater density) and ethanol
(lower density) ;
9(c) (ethanol) Y AND (sulfur) X AND 2
(at 25 °C) sulfur is solid AND ethanol is liquid ;
(explanation) solid has regular particle arrangement / liquid has irregular
particle arrangement / solid more closely packed particles / liquid less closely
packed particles ;
9(d)(i) density = mass ÷ volume / V = m ÷ ρ / 9.0 ÷ 2.7 ; 2 A formula in any form
3.3 (cm3) ; A 3 significant figures but no more
9(d)(ii) 2

object
i

eye

mirror
normal drawn correctly AND angle of incidence correctly shown ;
reflected ray to eye AND angle of reflection approximately equal to angle of
incidence ;

© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2022 Page 10 of 10