Science
Stage 9
Paper 2 2025 Cambridge Lower Secondary
Progression Test Mark Scheme
3146_02_MS_4RP
© UCLES 2025
S9/02 Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme 2025
General guidelines on marking
Many descriptive answers can be expressed in a variety of ways. Professional judgement can be
used in these cases, providing it matches the marking points and further information in the mark
scheme.
Answers may have words spelt incorrectly. Credit is normally given for phonetically correct answers,
unless the word has a scientifically different meaning. For example, where the answer should be
antennae, credit will be given for antena but not for anthen (too close to anther).
Only the science is being assessed, so answers do not need to be grammatically correct.
Significant figures will be indicated in the question or in the mark scheme.
Unless specified all marking points are independent.
Annotations and abbreviations
/ or alternate responses for the same marking point
( ) brackets the words or units in brackets do not need to be stated, for example, (recycles or
releases or provides) minerals = minerals scores the mark
underline exact word is required
Accept an acceptable response
Do not accept indicates an incorrect response that would contradict another otherwise correct
alternative
Ignore indicates an irrelevant answer that is not creditworthy. Full marks can still be achieved
even with answers that are ignored.
Note provides extra information when necessary
ecf error carried forward; marks are awarded if an incorrect response has been carried forward from
earlier working provided the subsequent working is correct
ora or reverse argument; for example, as mass increases, volume increases could be written as
mass decreases, volume decreases
© UCLES 2025 Page 2 of 14
2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme S9/02
Fu No Ac Ac
rth te ce ce
er roo pt pt
Inf t os ev
or on mo ap
ma its sis ora
tio ow or tio
n
n diff n
is usi or
not on diff
suf usi
fici on
ent
Ma 1 1 1 1
rks
An roo ab xyl tra
sw t sor em ns
er hai pti pir
r on ati
(ce on
ll)
Qu 1(a 1(b 1(c 1(d
est ) ) ) )
ion
Fu Ac Acc
rth ce ept
er pt elec
Inf giv trost
or es atic
ma aw attra
tio ay ctio
n n
bet
wee
n
ions
Ma 1 1 1
rks
An cov los attra
sw ale es ctio
er nt n/bo
nd
bet
wee
na
posi
tivel
y
char
ged
ion
and
a
neg
ative
ly
char
ged
ion
Qu 2(a 2( 2(b)
est )(i) a)(
ion ii)
Page 3 of 14© UCLES 2025
2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme S9/02
Fu amplitude and
rth frequency by eye
er but all the peaks
Inf and troughs are
or opposite each
m other as a mirror
ati Note drawn waveform
on must have the same
A
image of
waveform
Ma 1
rk
s
B
An
sound waveform
sw
er
Qu 3
es
tio
n
Fu Accept any Accept other suitable impacts of
rth indication of desertification,
er the correct Accept increase in
Inf answer, e.g. diseases such as
or more than cholera or
ma one e.g. lack to trees to build houses
tio answer each correct answer = 1 mark
n circled = 0 typhoid
marks
ticking or
underlini
ng, but
circling
takes
precedence
Ma 1 2
rks
An less rain (idea of) loss of plant
sw species or loss of animal
er species
migration of people (to
find food or to find
jobs)
lack of hygiene or
increase risk of
diseases
less water to drink
any two from
less food
Qu 4(a) 4(b)
est
ion
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Fu Note each correct
rth carbon answer = 1
er dioxide mark
Inf and
or water can
m be written
ati in
on each correct
answer = 1 mark
any order
Ma 3 2
rk
s
An carbon photosynth
sw dioxide esis
er oxygen chloropla
water sts
Qu 5(a) 5(b)
es
tio
n
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
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© UCLES 2025
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Fu Accept Note copper Accept iron is
rth reactants in is less above silver in
er either order reactive is not the reactivity
Inf Accept sufficient series
or products in Do not accept Do not accept iron
ma either order copper is less is more reactive
tio Ignore words reactive than than silver
n Accept = for Accept copper Note iron is
is below more reactive
magnesium in is not
the sufficient
yes ticked = 0 marks no ticked = 0 marks
for the question for the question
reactivity nitrate
series ora ora
magnesium sulfate
Ma 1 1 1
rks
4
An ZnSO + Cu (idea that) (idea that) iron is
sw copper is less more reactive
4
er Zn + CuSO reactive than than silver ora
magnesium ora yes (no mark)
no (no mark)
Qu 6(a) 6(b) 6(c)
est
ion
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Page 6 of 14
© UCLES 2025
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Fu Do Note any symbol Accept correct answer
rth no may be used for the with or without working
er t meter, e.g. =
Inf ac just a circle or a Note answer on answer
or ce picture of a meter line takes precedence
ma pt correct equation
tio vol or substitution =
n ta 1 mark
me correct calculation
ter = 1 mark
or 2 marks
vol
tag
e
me
ter
Ma 1 1 2
rks
An vol meter drawn across 0.6
sw tm the lamp, e.g. or 1.5
er ete lamp (resistance =)
r voltage
current
Ω)
2.5 (
Qu 7(a 7(b)(ii) 7(b)
est )(i)
ion
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Page 7 of 14
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Fu Acce Ignore just kills animals
rth pt or kills humans
er (idea Accept many people would
Inf that) die
or NASA Accept flattens
ma want buildings
tio to
n practi
ce
destroyi
ng
asteroi
ds
Ma 1 1
rks
An (idea (idea of) dust clouds that
sw that) block out light or dust
er to blocks the
remov (idea of) increase in temperature
e the where the asteroid hits
threat (idea of) destruction of
of the buildings or
astero destruction of cities
id (idea of) mass extinction
hitting (idea of) shock
the waves
Earth any one from
Sun
Qu 8(a) 8(b)
est
ion
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
S9/02
Fu two, three or
rth four correct = 1
er mark
Inf all five correct = 2
or marks
ma one correct = 0 marks
tio
n
Ma 2
rks
An (B) purslane
sw (E) romaine
er (D) oak leaf
(C) mizuna
(A) endive
Qu 9
est
ion
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Fu Accept 6 with or without Ig
rth working = 2 marks no
er Note density and units on re
Inf answer line takes m
3
or Accept 6 g / cm with or without et
ma working = 3 alli
tio equation or correct c
n
substitution = 1 mark or
Accept d = m/v or io
m÷v nic
correct units = 1 mark or
precedence m
marks ol
ec
ul
ar
or
co
val
en
t
Ma 3 1
rks
An (density =) mass ÷ gi
sw volume or 150 ÷ 25 an
er (density =) 6 t
3
g / cm
Qu 10(a) 10
est (b)
ion
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Page 9 of 14
© UCLES 2025
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2025
Fu Acce Accept they
rth pt both contain
er therm the same
Inf al amount of
B
or energ
Accept the block A
ma y is
gets cooler and the
tio dissip
n block
ated
Ignore thermal
Accep
energy transfer stops
t heat
Accept heat for
for
thermal energy
therm
thermal energy
al
get hotter
energ
y
Ma 1 1
rks
B
An (idea that) the two
A to
sw blocks become the
block
er same temperature
therm
al
energ
y is
transf
erred
from
block
Qu 11(a) 11(b)
est
ion
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
S9/02
Fu Accept time
rth and volume in
er the headings
Inf without
or Accept
ma min(utes) and
3
tio cm in the
n
headings
without physical
quantity= 1 mark
each correct answer
= 1 mark
Ignore order of the
data
units = 1
mark
Ma 3
rks
An data correctly entered
sw without units
er (heading) time in
min(utes)
(heading)
3
volume in cm
Qu 12
est
ion
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Fu water or particles with less energy left
rth in the liquid water
er Accept slower particles left behind
Inf with liquid
or particles with more energy
ma escape the water
tio Accept faster particles
n
leave the liquid or
each correct answer = 1 mark
Ma 2
rks
An liquid water becomes a gas or
sw water becomes water vapour (idea
er that) thermal energy is transferred
from the skin (to the water) to the
air
(evaporation) is
endothermic or
requires thermal
energy
any two from
Qu 13
est
ion
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
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© UCLES 2025
S9/02
2025
Fu Ignore just no carbon dioxide each correct answer =
rth is released 1 mark
er Accept
Inf increases
or
ma
tio
n
Ma 1 2 1
rks
An (idea that) the (explanation) (idea an
sw population was much that) slow increase y
er lower in 1850 to 1865 linked to just the slow val
(idea that) the only carbon carbon cycle and ue
dioxide released is in the rapid increase linked bet
slow to the (slow and) fast we
(idea that) emissions carbon cycle en
are too low to show on (description of 7
the graph trend) a slow an
(idea that) the increase and d
emissions were then a rapid 10.
not measured increase 5
(idea that) fossil (bill
fuels were not ion
used then s
any one from of
carbon cycle ton
ne
s)
Qu 14(a) 14(b) 14(
est c)
ion
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
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Fu each measurement and linked equipment = 1 Do
rth Ignore weighing or top pan or not
er lever arm or acc
Inf Accept water for red dye solution ept
or Accept stop-clock for
ma Accept scales acc
tio electronic ura
n
mark cy
or
fair
test
ing
Ma 2 1
rks
An decrease in mass of red dye mo
sw solution or distance travelled re
er (measurement) decrease in reli
volume of red dye solution or abl
(measurement) time for red dye e
solution to reach leaf or
(equipment) measuring to
cylinder or a balance or ide
ruler ntif
(equipment) stop-watch y
by red dye solution ano
and mal
and ous
res
ults
or
to
see
if
res
ults
can
be
repr
odu
ced
Qu 15(a) 15(
est b)
ion
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
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Fu each risk correctly linked to a each correct answer
rth control = 1 mark = 1 mark
er Accept hot water may cause
Inf burns
or Note mark answers wherever
ma seen
tio
n
Ma 2 3
rks
An (risk) dye may be (explanation for hot
sw poisonous or dye red water) hot
er may be harmful or water is less dense
dye than
(control) wear eye (explanation for cold
protection or wear blue water) cold water
goggles or wear is more dense
may stain or dye (predictions) (idea
may splash into that) cold blue
eyes water sinks and
(control) wear heatproof hot red
gloves than the water
(risk) hot water may scald at room
gloves temperature
and the water at room
and temperature
water floats
Qu 16(a) 16(b)
est
ion
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
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