CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS
International General Certificate of Secondary Education
MARK SCHEME for the October/November 2012 series
0610 BIOLOGY
0610/21 Paper 2 (Core 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.
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 October/November 2012 series for most IGCSE,
GCE Advanced Level and Advanced Subsidiary Level components and some Ordinary Level
components.
Page 2 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE – October/November 2012 0610 21
Question Mark Scheme Mark Guidance
1 (a) fish; 1st or 2nd space
reptile; [2] 1st or 2nd space
(b) mammal;
bird; [2] 2nd space
A – scientific names for the classes
R – named examples e.g. shark, dog, etc.
[Total: 4]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2012
Page 3 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE – October/November 2012 0610 21
Question Mark Scheme Mark Guidance
2 (a) X – iris;
Y – retina;
Z – optic nerve; [3]
(b) 1 ciliary muscles contract; 1 R – wrong muscle
1 Ig – muscle unqualified
2 tension on (suspensory) ligaments less; 2 A – ligaments less taut / slackened
3 lens no longer stretched; 3 A – under less tension / no tension
4 becomes more convex / curved; 4 A – rounded / fatter / wider
5 refracts / bends light (rays) more; 5 A – reduces focal length
6 (brings focus) on to the retina / fovea; 6 A – yellow spot
any four – 1 mark each [4]
(c) (i) 1 axes correctly labelled with units; Ig – orientation
2 suitable scales used and uses at least half
of the grid;
3 five points plotted correctly; A – ± half a square
4 points joined; [4] R – line extrapolated to 0.0
(ii) distance as shown by candidate’s graph ± 1; [1] likely to be 15 (cm)
(iii) age as shown by candidate’s graph ± 1 [1] likely to be 47 (years)
[Total: 13]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2012
Page 4 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE – October/November 2012 0610 21
3 (a) 1 blood unable to reach muscle (in shaded region);
2 less / no oxygen / glucose reaches muscle; Ig – nutrients
3 less / no respiration;
4 less / no energy release;
5 (muscle) cells die;
6 causes a heart attack;
any three – 1 mark each [3]
(b) 1 exercise (regularly); A – examples of exercise
2 reduce / stop smoking (tobacco);
3 reduce (animal / saturated) fat / cholesterol in Ig – refs to balanced diet
diet;
4 lose weight;
5 reduce salt intake;
6 avoid stressful lifestyles;
7 use of medication qualified; Ig – refs to visits to doctor
any three – 1 mark each [3]
[Total: 6]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2012
Page 5 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE – October/November 2012 0610 21
4 (a) (i) A – ovary;
B – ovule; [2] R – ovum
(ii) C – style/stigma;
D – sepals; [2] A – calyx
(b) plumule correctly labelled;
radicle correctly labelled;
testa correctly labelled; [3]
(c) by animals / mammals / birds;
by wind;
by water;
by explosive mechanisms; A – agents or methods
any two – 1 mark each [2]
(d) oxygen; Ig – refs to light
water / moisture; Ig – refs to humidity
suitable temperature / warmth; Ig – refs to heat / temperature unqualified
food store; A – named example
any three – 1 mark each [3]
[Total: 12]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2012
Page 6 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE – October/November 2012 0610 21
5 (a) (i) respiration; [1]
(ii) combustion; [1] A – burning
(b) (i) fungi/bacteria; [1] A – decomposers
(ii) moisture / water; A – dampness, humidity
Ig – refs to light
warmth / suitable temperature; Ig – refs to heat unqualified
oxygen; Ig – air
any two – 1 mark each [2]
(c) (i) C; [1]
(ii) water and carbon dioxide; both for the mark
glucose / sugar; [2] Ig – refs to carbohydrates / starch
(iii) light / sunlight; [1] Ig – sun / radiation / solar energy
(d) 1 carbon dioxide trapped in plant / used in
photosynthesis;
2 released (as carbon dioxide) during decay /
in burning / in respiration; A – carbon not lost
3 carbon is recycled / reused;
4 light energy trapped (in plant) by
Photosynthesis;
5 (light energy) changed to chemical energy;
6 (energy) lost (as heat) to environment / not
released as light energy / light cannot be
recycled;
three – 1 mark each [max. 3]
[Total: 12]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2012
Page 7 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE – October/November 2012 0610 21
6 (a) 1 increased muscle activity; A – muscle movement, contraction
2 increased / faster release of energy / heat; only need ref to increase once
3 from increased respiration; A – use more energy
any two – 1 mark each [2]
(b) (i) maintenance of a constant internal A – ref to keeping within narrow limits
environment; [2] A – in context of named examples
(ii) 1 sweat secreted (onto surface of skin / body); A – released
2 water evaporates; A – water and salts
3 this process needs heat / energy; Ig – refs to sweat
4 ref to latent heat (of vaporisation); A – vapour takes energy / heat with it
5 body temperature falls;
A – cools the body
any three – 1 mark each [3]
[Total: 7]
7 (a) mitosis; Must be in correct position in sentences
same;
diploid;
meiosis;
half;
haploid;
gametes;
fertilisation; [8]
[Total: 8]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2012
Page 8 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE – October/November 2012 0610 21
8 (a) Ig – any crosses
label number present in both animal and
plant cells Four ticks MAX 2 if two are correct
1
2 Five ticks MAX 1
3
4 Six ticks MAX 0
5
6
correct ticks – 1 mark each [3]
(b) 1 chloroplast / 1; correct feature must be stated to award function mark
2 carry out photosynthesis / absorb light
3 cell wall / 4;
4 give shape / provides support / protected cell;
5 vacuole / 2;
6 reserve / store of water / salts / provides
support;
any two pairs – 2 marks each [4]
(c) (i) nucleus; [1]
(ii) carrying / transporting oxygen;
contains haemoglobin / large surface area; [2] A – ref to no nucleus qualified by idea can contain more
haemoglobin / carry more oxygen
[Total: 10]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2012
Page 9 Mark Scheme Syllabus Paper
IGCSE – October/November 2012 0610 21
9 (a) food chain shows energy transfer from one A – only one organism at each (trophic) level
organism to next organism;
food web shows energy transfer through an A – can have more than one organism at (trophic) levels
ecosystem; [2] A – food web is a network of linked food chains
(b) (i) snake / lizard / bat / badger / eagle / coyote /
mountain lion;
(ii) producer – sage brush / prickly pear (cactus) / A – bushes, cactus
(desert) flowers;
(iii) rabbit / insects / deer (and other grazers) /
squirrel (and other small rodents); [3]
(c) (no mountain lions / extinction) leads to increase in A – alternative routes that lead from mountain lion to coyotes
numbers of deer (and other grazers); via deer, producers, insects, lizards, etc.
more food for coyotes; A – less competition for food
leads to increase in numbers of coyotes; [3]
[Total: 8]
© Cambridge International Examinations 2012
