Cambridge International Examinations

Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level

BIOLOGY 9700/34
Advanced Practical Skills 2 May/June 2015
CONFIDENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Great care should be taken to ensure that any confidential information given, including the identity
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of material on microscope slides where appropriate, does not reach the candidates either directly or
indirectly.

If you have any problems or queries regarding these Instructions, please contact CIE
by e-mail: info@cie.org.uk
by phone: +44 1223 553554
by fax: +44 1223 553558
stating the Centre number, the nature of the query and the syllabus number quoted above.

This document consists of 9 printed pages and 3 blank pages.

DC (RW/SW) 87487/5
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Instructions for preparing apparatus

These instructions give details of the apparatus required by each candidate for each experiment in
this paper. A summary of the questions that will be presented to the candidates is included, where
appropriate, to allow the biology teacher to test the apparatus appropriately. No access to the question
paper is permitted in advance of the examination.

If a candidate breaks any of the apparatus, or loses any of the material supplied, the matter should be
rectified and a note made in the Supervisor’s Report.

Candidates must be provided with a microscope with:

• Eyepiece lens, ×10 (equal to 16 mm or 23ʺ)

• Low-power objective lens, ×10 (equal to 16 mm or 23ʺ)
• High-power objective lens, ×40 (equal to 4 mm or 16ʺ)
• Eyepiece graticule fitted within the eyepiece and visible in focus at the same time as the
specimen.

To avoid confusion, Cambridge request that only the lenses specified above are fitted in the microscopes
to be used in the examination. Any lenses which are not ×10 or ×40 should be removed or replaced.

Each candidate must have uninterrupted use of the microscope for at least one hour.

Supervisors are advised to remind candidates that all substances in the examination should be treated
with caution. Pipette fillers and safety goggles should be used where necessary.

In accordance with the COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) Regulations, operative in
the UK, a hazard appraisal of the examination has been carried out.

The following codes are used where relevant.

C = corrosive substance F = highly flammable substance

H = harmful or irritating substance O = oxidising substance
T = toxic substance N = harmful to environment

internal diameter

When small test-tubes are provided, it is expected

that these are approximately 150 mm in height.
height
If other dimensions of apparatus are required, these
will be specified in the Apparatus list.

Centres are reminded that they are not permitted to open the question paper envelopes before the
examination. Centres should also refer to the Handbook for Centres.

If there are any difficulties with any aspect of setting up this practical examination that the Centre is
not able to resolve, it is essential for Centres to contact the Product Manager as soon as possible by
e-mail to info@cie.org.uk, by fax to +44 1223 553558 or by phone to +44 1223 553554.

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Confidential Instructions

No access to the Question Paper is permitted in advance of the examination.

Each candidate will require:

For both Questions

• mm ruler.

Question 1

Before the examination, prepare the plant extract and test its activity using the instructions below.

• Solutions and reagents provided to the candidates should be supplied in a suitable beaker,
or container, for removal of the solutions and reagents using a syringe. More of the solutions
and reagents should be available if requested by candidates.
• All solutions should be provided to candidates at room temperature.
• Fresh test-tubes and syringes are needed for each candidate.
• Fresh P, X, H and W are needed for each candidate.
• All solutions and reagents should be disposed of according to local safety regulations.

Well before the examination prepare the plant extract and test its activity as below. The active
mung bean plant extract can be frozen in advance, then defrosted to reach room temperature before
the examination.

Put approximately 40 g of dried mung beans into a beaker or container and make up to 500 cm3 with
distilled water. Cover the container and leave to soak for at least 12 hours.

Liquidise all the soaked mung beans with all the liquid until ground into small pieces, or grind in a
pestle and mortar.

Allow the larger solid pieces to settle and decant off the cloudy solution. Do not filter. The solution
will contain small pieces of plant material and should be cloudy.

Test for activity of P:

The activity of the plant extract solution should be tested before the examination by
putting 10 cm3 of H into a test-tube. Stir the plant extract solution P and add 10 cm3 of
P to the test-tube containing H. The mixture should produce rapid bubbles and foam
within 2 minutes.

If the reaction is too fast decrease the concentration of H. It is not necessary to tell the
candidates of any change in the concentration of H.

If the reaction is too slow then soak a larger mass of mung beans in the same volume
of water or change the source of the mung beans.

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Summary of solutions and reagents:

labelled contents hazard volume / cm3

P plant extract solution none at least 90
0.3% copper sulfate
X [H] harmful at least 20
solution
6% hydrogen peroxide [H] harmful
H at least 90
solution [H] irritant
W distilled water none at least 100

It is advisable to wear safety glasses/goggles when handling chemicals.

Preparation of solutions and reagents:

(i) P, at least 90 cm3 of plant extract solution in a beaker or container, labelled, P.

You will need to prepare the following stock solution which will then be used to make X:

3% copper sulfate solution

This is prepared by putting 3 g of copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O) in 80 cm3

distilled water, stirring to dissolve and making up to 100 cm3 with distilled water. This makes a
pale blue solution.

[H] (ii) X, at least 20 cm3 of 0.3% copper sulfate solution in a beaker or container, labelled X.

The 0.3% copper sulfate solution for candidates is prepared by putting 10 cm3 of the 3% stock
solution in a beaker or container and making up to 100 cm3 with distilled water. This makes a
very pale blue solution.

[H] (iii) H, at least 90 cm3 of 6% (20 vols) hydrogen peroxide solution, in a beaker or container,
labelled H.

H must be put out immediately before the examination and kept covered to prevent
evaporation.

(iv) W, at least 100 cm3 of distilled water in a beaker or container, labelled W.

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Apparatus for each candidate should be clean.

Syringe needles are not required and must not be given to candidates.

Apparatus for each candidate Quantity ✓

10 cm3 syringe with the means to wash it out 2
10 cm3 syringe, labelled X 1
5 cm3 syringe (without the plunger) 1

The nozzle needs to be sealed by sucking up a very small quantity of melted wax
(e.g. candle). Put the plunger in to the 5 cm3 mark and suck up less than 0.2 cm3.
Leave the plunger in until the wax has cooled. Remove the plunger.
Beaker or container (capacity at least 300 cm3), containing approximately 200 cm3 1
tap water for pouring into test-tubes, labelled For washing
Container (capacity at least 300 cm3), labelled For waste 1
Paper towels 8
Beakers or containers to hold at least 50 cm3 to allow a 10 cm3 syringe to remove 6
liquid
Beaker or container (capacity at least 400 cm3) filled to two-thirds full with tap 1
water, labelled T
Test-tubes – to hold more than 40 cm3 but no more than 50 cm3 and to fit the bung 6
being provided to each candidate
Bung with a plastic or rubber delivery tube connected as described in Fig. 1.1 to fit 1
each of the test-tubes to give an airtight seal
Test-tube rack to hold 6 test-tubes or a test-tube rack to hold 1 test-tube with a 1
container to hold the other 5 test-tubes
Glass rod 1
Stopclock or timer showing seconds 1
Glass marker pen 1
Safety goggles/glasses 1
Petroleum jelly available on request for a candidate to make the apparatus air tight –
as needed

connect 40 cm to 45 cm length of
rubber or plastic tubing to give
an airtight fit

bung

Fig. 1.1

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During the examination, the Supervisor (not the Invigilator) should, out of the sight of the candidates,
carry out Question 1 using the same solutions and reagents as the candidates in order to obtain
results for 1(b)(ii) and 1(b)(iii). These results should be written in the Supervisor’s Report, not on a
spare question paper.

The Supervisor’s Report and the candidates’ seating plan should be enclosed with the candidates’
scripts.

Please ensure that, if the scripts are in several packets, a copy of the Supervisor’s Report and the
candidates’ seating plan are enclosed with each packet of scripts.

The Invigilator should not carry out Question 1.

Question 2

(i) Slide M1 (supplied by Cambridge)

On receipt of the slides, please check that they are labelled M1 and that none of the slides
are broken. The material is confidential (so must not be disclosed to candidates) and the
slides should not be viewed in advance of the examination.

The number of slides supplied by Cambridge will be equal to half the candidate entry.

Therefore, half the candidates should start on Question 2 and the other half should start on
Question 1.

(ii) Microscope as described on page 2

For each candidate:

• the microscope must be set up on low power
• the slide must not be on the stage of the microscope.

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MATERIALS TO BE SUPPLIED BY CAMBRIDGE

(i) Question papers

(ii) Slide M1

RETURN OF EXAMINATION MATERIALS TO CAMBRIDGE

Immediately after the examination the microscope slides must be:

• returned to Cambridge in the containers in which they were received, using the self-adhesive
label. The slides must not be included in the packet of scripts.
Or
• purchased using the order form enclosed with the slides, which should be completed and
returned to Cambridge. The order form must not be included in the packet of scripts.

Slides and boxes will be charged at the rate of £3 per slide and £1 per box.

If the items are not returned or purchased by the deadline stated on the order form they will be charged
at £3.50 per slide plus £1 per box.

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT and SEATING PLAN

The teacher responsible for the examination is asked to fill in the Supervisor’s Report in these
Confidential Instructions.

For Centres where more than one script packet is used, there must be a copy of the completed
Supervisor’s Report and the candidates’ seating plan in each script packet. These Supervisors’ Reports
are essential in order to allow the Examiners to assess all candidates as fairly as possible and should
always be completed by every Centre.

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Permission to reproduce items where third-party owned material protected by copyright is included has been sought and cleared where possible. Every reasonable
effort has been made by the publisher (UCLES) to trace copyright holders, but if any items requiring clearance have unwittingly been included, the publisher will
be pleased to make amends at the earliest possible opportunity.

To avoid the issue of disclosure of answer-related information to candidates, all copyright acknowledgements are reproduced online in the Cambridge International
Examinations Copyright Acknowledgements Booklet. This is produced for each series of examinations and is freely available to download at www.cie.org.uk after
the live examination series.

Cambridge International Examinations is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of University of Cambridge Local
Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which is itself a department of the University of Cambridge.

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9700/34

This form should be completed and sent to the Examiner with the scripts.

SUPERVISOR’S REPORT

May/June 2015

The Supervisor or Teacher responsible for the subject should provide the following information.

1. Was any difficulty experienced in providing the necessary materials? If so, give brief details.

2. Give details of any difficulties experienced by particular candidates, giving names and candidate
numbers. Reference should be made to:

(a) difficulties arising from faulty specimens or microscopes;

(b) accidents to apparatus or materials;

(c) assistance provided in case of colour-blindness;

(d) any other information that is likely to assist the Examiner, especially if this cannot be
discovered from the scripts.

All other cases of individual hardship, e.g. illness or disability, should be reported direct to CIE on the
normal ‘Special Consideration Form’ as detailed in the Handbook for Centres.

3. During the examination, the Supervisor should, out of the sight of the candidates, carry out
Question 1 using the same solutions and reagents as the candidates. The results for Questions
1(b)(ii) and 1(b)(iii) should be written in the Supervisor’s Report, which should be enclosed with
the candidates’ scripts. If the scripts are in several packets, please ensure that a copy of the
Supervisor’s Report is enclosed with each packet of scripts.
The Invigilator should not carry out Question 1.

4. Enclose a seating plan of work benches with the scripts, giving details of the candidate numbers
of the places occupied by the candidates for each session. Use separate paper for this.

Declaration (to be signed by the Principal or the Examinations Officer)

The preparation of this practical examination has been carried out so as to maintain the security of the
examination.
Signed .....................................................................................................................................................

Name (in block capitals) ..........................................................................................................................

Centre number (of enclosed scripts) .......................................................................................................

Centre name ............................................................................................................................................

If scripts are required by CIE to be despatched in more than one envelope, it is essential that a copy of
the relevant Supervisor’s Report and the appropriate seating plan(s) are sent inside each envelope.

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Temperature of examination room ......................... °C

Results for Questions 1(b)(ii) and 1(b)(iii)

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