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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Fur Accept population stays the

the same because the
r Accept (idea that) puffins migrate
Inf to where the
or puffins find a new food source = 2
ma 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

decr
eas
es
bec
aus
e
pred
ator
s
eat
egg
 s

Qu 1(a) 1(b)
est
ion

Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme

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S9/01
2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme S9/01
 Fur Ac Ac both both
the ce ce require require
r pt pt d in d in
Inf 2.8. 2.4 either either
or 8.2 order order
ma 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

Fur Note assume answer

the refers to car getting
r closer
Inf to the object
or but Accept ora
ma if car moving
tio 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 increases
er or sound gets
louder
(explanation)
amplitude
increases
frequency increases
pitch gets higher

any three from

 Qu 3
est
ion

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Fur Note award Accept

the marks wherever there are
r they are written constructive
Inf each correct answer = 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 con alignment of magnetic the tectonic

sw vec materials in the Earth’s plates in the
er tion crust ocean are
(cu location of earthquakes moving
rre location of away from
nts) volcanoes each
any two from other
 fossil records

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

est )
ion

Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme

S9/01

Fur each correct Ac

the answer = 1 ce
r mark pt
Inf Accept C,
or deoxyribo but
ma nucleic na
tio acid me
n
tak
es
pre
ced
enc
e
 Ma 3 1
rks

An (A) gen
sw chromosom e
er e
(C) gene
(B) DNA

Qu 5(a) 5(b
est )
ion

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2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme S9/01

Fur Ac
the ce
r pt
Inf Li
or or
ma Fr,
tio but
n na
me
tak
es
pre
ced
enc
e

Ma 1 1 1
rks

An lithi any (ide

sw um nu a
er or mb that
fra er )
nci in incr
um the eas
ran es
ge
680
to
740
o
( C

Qu 6(a 6(b 6(c

est ) ) )
ion

Fur bot correct symbol for

the h ammeter and open or
r corr closed
Inf ect wires connected correctly and
or for no gaps in the
 ma the correct symbol for variable
tio mar resistor = 1 mark
n k Ignore junction of
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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2025 Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme S9/01

Fur Do not
the accept
r breathing or
Inf photosynthesi
s
or
each
ma
correct
tio
answer = 1
n
mark

Accept
decay

Ma 2
rks

An decompositi
sw on
er respiration

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

Ma 4
rks

An (idea that) the characteristics for light mice

sw 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

Fur Do not accept heat to

the dryness or boil to
r 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 (the
sw filtrate) or boils away
er 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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Fur smooth curve through Note full marks can

the plotted points = 1 mark only be awarded if
r Accept ecf for the ‘float’ is
Inf curve from incorrect each correct answer = 1
or plots mark
ma Do not accept dot-to- stated
tio dot or a straight line
n
all points plotted correctly = 1 mark
Accept plots ± half a small
square
 Ma 2 2
rks

60
An water has a density of 999.8
50
3
sw temperature in °C (kg / m ) or the difference in
40
er density is 999.8 – 918 (kg /
30
3
20 m ) or the difference in
10
3
density is 81.8 (kg /m )
0
995 (idea that) ice
990
985 has a lower
980
1000
density than
density of
3
water or water
in kg / m
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

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2025

Fur one description matching orientations or there here

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

Ma 3 1
rks

An A (idea that) small planet rock samples from

sw collides with the Earth or the Moon are similar
er there is to rock on Earth
B (idea that) the dust comes together to lunar
form the Moon meteorites are
D (idea that) debris collects similar in
around the Earth or dust is composition to
C (idea that) small planet is the Earth
close to the Earth or 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

Fur Accept named examples, e.g. red

the blood cells are not removed by the
r 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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2025

Fur Accept Accept

the reverse volume of
r argument for wood
Inf both marking sample
or points each correct
ma each correct answer = 1 mark
tio answer = 1
n
mark

Ma 2 2
rks

An (I think) that time for

sw the smaller wood to
er the pieces burn
of wood the completely
faster they surface area of
(because) wood sample
smaller mass of
pieces of wood
wood have a sample
larger any two from
surface
will burn
area.

Qu 14(a) 14(b)
est
ion
Science Stage 9 Paper 1 Mark Scheme

S9/01

Fur Ac
the cep
r t
Inf the
or hei
ma ght
tio of
n
the
wat
er
is
diff
ere
nt

Ma 1 1
rks

An (ide (ide
sw a a
er that that
) for
lev the
el sa
of me
liqu tem
id per
in atur
 the e)
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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