Science

Stage 9

Paper 1 2025 Cambridge Lower Secondary

Progression Test Mark Scheme

3146_01_MS_3RP
© UCLES 2025
S9/01 Science Stage 9 Paper 1 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

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2025
Fu Accept population stays the
rth same because the
er Accept (idea that) puffins migrate
Inf to where the
or puffins find a new food source =
ma 2 marks
tio each correct answer = 1 mark
n
Ignore puffins die
water is colder

Ma 2 1
rks

An less food for puffins or puffins (po

sw starve pul
er (explanation) atio
(prediction) n)
decreases dec
rea
ses
bec
aus
e
pre
dat
ors
eat
puff
ins
or
dec
rea
ses
bec
aus
e
 pre
dat
ors
eat
egg
s

Qu 1(a) 1(b
)
est
ion

Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme

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© UCLES 2025

S9/01
2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme S9/01
Fu Ac Ac both both
rth ce ce requir requir
er pt pt ed in ed in
Inf 2.8 2.4 either either
or .8. order order
ma 2 for the for the
tio mark mark
n Accep Accep
t 2.7 t 2.7
(and) (and)
2.8.7 2.4

Ma 1 1 1 1
rks

B
An E C A
A
sw (and)
(and)
er C

Qu 2(a 2(b 2(c) 2(d)

est ) )
ion
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2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme S9/01

Fu Note assume answer

rth refers to car getting
er closer
Inf to the object
or but Accept
ma ora if car
tio moving away
n Note award
marks wherever
they are written
each correct answer
= 1 mark
from object is
specified

Ma 3
rks

An (description)
sw volume
er increases or
sound gets
louder
(explanation)
amplitude
increases
frequency increases
pitch gets higher
any three from
 Qu 3
est
ion

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2025

Fu Note award Accept

rth marks wherever there are
er they are written constructiv
Inf each correct answer e plate
or = 1 mark boundaries
ma in the
tio ocean or
n
there are
divergent
plate
boundaries
in the
ocean
Accept sea
floor
spreading

Ma 1 2 1
rks
 An co alignment of magnetic the tectonic
sw nv materials in the plates in
er ecti Earth’s crust the ocean
on location of earthquakes are moving
(cu location of away from
rre volcanoes each
nts any two from other
) fossil records

Qu 4(a 4(b) 4(c)

est )
ion

Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme

S9/01
Fu each correct Ac
rth answer = 1 ce
er mark pt
Inf Accept C,
or deoxyrib but
ma onucleic na
tio acid me
n
tak
es
pre
ce
de
nc
e

Ma 3 1
rks

An (A) ge
sw chromoso ne
er me
(C) gene
(B) DNA

Qu 5(a) 5(b
est )
ion
Page 6 of 14© UCLES 2025

2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme S9/01

Fu Ac
rth ce
er pt
Inf Li
or or
ma Fr,
tio but
n na
me
tak
es
pre
ce
de
nc
e

Ma 1 1 1
rks
An lithi an (id
sw um y ea
er or nu tha
fra mb t)
nci er inc
um in rea
the ses
ran
ge
68
0
to
74
0
o
(

C)

Qu 6(a 6(b 6(c

est ) ) )
ion

Fu bot correct symbol for

rth h ammeter and open
er cor or closed
Inf rec wires connected correctly
or t and no gaps in the
ma for correct symbol for variable
tio the resistor = 1 mark
n ma Ignore junction of
rk connectors symbols
Ignore any labels or words
circuit by eye = 1
mark
switch = 1 mark
 Ma 1 3
rks

A
An 2
sw (A)
er 2
(A)

Qu 7(a 7(b)
est )
ion

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© UCLES 2025
2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme S9/01

Fu Do not
rth accept
er breathing or
Inf photosynthe
or sis
ma each
tio correct
n answer = 1
mark
Accept
decay

Ma 2
rks

An decomposit
sw ion
er respiration

Qu 8
est
ion
Fu Accept dark mice goes from 4 to 1 and
rth light mice goes from 4 to (3 to) 7
er each correct answer = 1 mark
Inf
or
ma
tio
n

Ma 4
rks

An (idea that) the characteristics for light

sw mice more likely to be
er passed on to offspring or characteristics for
dark mice less
(idea that) dark mice are
more visible so are
more likely to
(idea that) light mice are more
likely to reproduce or dark
be eaten or light mice are
less visible so less likely
to be
(light mice decreases and then)
increases
likely to be passed on to offspring
mice are less likely to reproduce
(dark mice) decreases
(explanation)
eaten
and
 Qu 9
est
ion

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© UCLES 2025

2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme S9/01

Fu Do not accept heat

rth to dryness or boil to
er dryness
Inf Do not accept evaporate
or residue slowly
ma each correct answer = 1
tio mark
n
Accept filtration
Ignore sieving

Ma 3
rks
 An slowly evaporates
sw (the filtrate) or boils
er away half of filtrate
(idea that) Blessy adds
excess zinc carbonate
to dilute
or leaves (filtrate) to
crystallise slowly
filters the
mixture
sulfuric acid or AW

Qu 10
est
ion

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2025
 Fu smooth curve through Note full marks can
rth plotted points = 1 mark only be awarded if
er Accept ecf for the ‘float’ is
Inf curve from each correct answer = 1
or incorrect plots mark
ma Do not accept stated
tio dot-to-dot or a straight
n
line
all points plotted correctly = 1 mark
Accept plots ± half a small
square

Ma 2 2
rks

60
An water has a density of
50 3
sw temperature in °C 999.8 (kg / m ) or the
40
er difference in density is
30
3
20 999.8 – 918 (kg / m ) or
10 the difference in density is
0 3
995 81.8 (kg /m )
990
(idea that) ice
985
980 has a lower
1000
density of density than
3
in kg / m
water
water or water
has a higher
density than ice
float (no marks)
and

Qu 11(a) 11(b)
est
ion

Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme

 Page 10 of 14

© UCLES 2025

S9/01
2025

Fu one description orientations or there

rth matching the diagrams = here is evidence in other
er 0 marks for the star systems of similar
Inf descriptions collisions
or all four descriptions matching the Accept any
ma diagrams = 2 suitable
tio only two or three higher-level
n
descriptions matching the evidence, e.g.
diagrams = 1 mark for Earth's spin and
the descriptions the Moon's orbit
marks for the descriptions have similar
correct order = 1 mark

Ma 3 1
rks
 An A (idea that) small planet rock samples from
sw collides with the Earth or the Moon are
er there is similar to rock on
B (idea that) the dust comes together to Earth
form the Moon lunar
D (idea that) debris collects meteorites
around the Earth or dust is are similar in
C (idea that) small planet composition
is close to the Earth or to the Earth
small any one from
planet moves towards
the Earth or large rock
moves
formed around the Earth
towards Earth
a collision
C
A
D
B

Qu 12(a) 12(b)
est
ion

Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme

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 © UCLES 2025

S9/01
2025

Fu Accept named examples, e.g. red

rth blood cells are not removed by the
er kidney
Inf correct limitation = 1 mark
or correct strength = 1 mark
ma
tio
n

Ma 2
rks
 An (idea that) it visualises a
sw process that cannot be seen
er inside the kidney
from the blood, but all the
contents are removed from the
(idea that) not all substances
are removed by the kidney
(idea that) the mechanism of
cleaning is similar, e.g. the
(idea that) the filtering happens within
the kidney, but
useful substances are separated
and then returned
everything is taken out of the bag for
cleaning
(limitation)
(strength)
bag
or
or

Qu 13
est
ion

Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme

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 © UCLES 2025

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2025

Fu Accept Accept
rth reverse volume of
er argument for wood
Inf both marking sample
or points each correct
ma each correct answer = 1
tio answer = 1 mark
n
mark

Ma 2 2
rks
 An (I think) time for
sw that the wood to
er smaller the burn
pieces of completely
wood the surface area of
faster they wood sample
(because) mass of
smaller wood
pieces of sample
wood have any two from
a larger
surface
will burn
area.

Qu 14(a) 14(b)
est
ion

Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme

S9/01
Fu Ac
rth ce
er pt
Inf the
or hei
ma ght
tio of
n
the
wat
er
is
diff
ere
nt

Ma 1 1
rks

An (id (ide
sw ea a
er tha that
t) for
lev the
el sa
of me
liq tem
uid per
in atu
the re)
rm the
om vol
ete um
rs es
is of
the wat
sa er
me are
diff
 ere
nt

Qu 15( 15(
est a) b)
ion

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2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme S9/01

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