Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint

SCIENCE 0893/02
Paper 2 October 2024
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 50

Published

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 Markers were instructed to award marks. It does
not indicate the details of the discussions that took place at a Markers’ 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 End of Series
Report. Cambridge will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

This document has 18 pages. Any blank pages are indicated.

10_0893_02/6RP
© UCLES 2024 [Turn over
0893/02 Checkpoint Secondary – Mark Scheme October 2024
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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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Question Answer Marks Further Information

1(a) variation 1 Ignore traits / inheritance

Do not accept genes / DNA / natural selection

1(b) any three from 3 each correct answer = 1 mark

attached earlobes Ignore shape of ears

blood group

eye colour

colour blindness

sex / gender

tongue rolling

dimples and freckles Ignore facial features

Accept any other suitable characteristic e.g. curly

hair etc.

Accept named genetic disorders such as

polydactyly or cystic fibrosis

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

2 any three from 3 each correct answer = 1 mark

Ignore reference to shapes of plates

(fossil record)
(idea that) similar fossil (record) is found on continents that Accept same or similar fossil (record) on different
are far apart continents or same or similar fossil (record) in
different parts of the world or same or similar
fossil (record) in different countries or same or
similar fossil (record) in different areas or same or
similar fossil (record) on different plates

(idea that) the continents were together (a long time ago) Accept (idea of) Pangaea or supercontinent
or (idea that the) continents have moved apart (taking the
fossils with them)

(magnetic material)
(idea of) same pattern of alignment of the magnetic Accept alignment is symmetrical about the plate
materials is seen in rocks either side of the mid-Atlantic boundary or same pattern of alignment on either
ridge side of plate boundary or same part of alignment
on adjacent tectonic plates

(idea that) the rocks have moved away from the mid- Accept rocks have moved away from the plate
Atlantic ridge boundary

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

3(a)(i) 2.8.3 1 Accept drawing of correct electronic structure

Accept K2 L8 M3

Ignore 13

3(a)(ii) 11 1

3(b) 2 Note covalent bonding or intermolecular forces

= 0 marks for the question

each correct answer = 1 mark

Note award the marks wherever they appear

ionic Accept electrovalent

made up of positive and negative ions Accept oxide is negative and magnesium (ion) is
positive

Ignore negative atoms and positive atoms or

reference to electrons even if incorrect or is a
metal and non-metal compound

Note consists of ions is insufficient but accept

electrostatic attraction between ions

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

4(a) 1 Both correct for the mark

(open) switch

lamp

4(b) 2 each correct answer = 1 mark

(hypothesis) the more lamps (added) the smaller the Accept the current decreases
current
Accept reverse argument

Ignore comments about brightness

Do not accept the current is slower, weaker or

stronger

(explanation) (the more lamps the) greater the resistance Accept reverse argument

Accept ecf for incorrect hypothesis

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

4(c) 2 safety hazard = 1 mark

linked reduction = 1 mark

Accept safety hazard and reduction wherever

written

Note the reduction is dependent on the idea of a

correct safety hazard

(safety hazard) electric shock Accept electrocution

(idea of) turn off the circuit before adding lamps Accept keep circuit away from water or use a
lower voltage
or
Accept can get burnt by (hot lamps)
(safety hazard) (idea that) lamps get hot or circuit gets hot
Accept use a lower voltage or add a resistor or
(idea of) turn off the circuit before adding lamps or do not reduce the number of cells used
use a high current
Accept open the switch rather than turn off

Accept wear gloves

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

5(a) B 1 Accept B circled on the map, but answer line

takes precedence

5(b) convection (currents) 1

Question Answer Marks Further Information

6 any two from 2 each correct answer = 1 mark

(increased) hunting Accept idea of hunting for the skin or killed for
horns or predation or poaching
(increased) disease

lack of food or lack of water Accept insufficient nutrients

climate change Accept examples of climate change, e.g. extreme

weather or global warming
(increased) competition

loss of habitat Accept deforestation or pollution for loss of

habitat

Accept death rate is larger than reproduction rate

as an extra marking point

Note environmental change unqualified is not

sufficient

(idea of) increase in conservation work if linked to increase Accept put into reserves
(in population)

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

7(a) magnesium sulfate + zinc 1 Both required either order for the mark

Accept correct formulae or mix of words and

formulae, but words take precedence

e.g. MgSO4 + Zn

7(b) 1 more than one box ticked = 0 marks

zinc is more reactive than copper Accept any indication of the correct answer, e.g.
underlining or circling, but ticking takes
precedence

Question Answer Marks Further Information

8(a) reinforce 1 Accept reinforcement or constructive interference

Note unqualified constructive is not sufficient

8(b)(i) (same) frequency or pitch 1 Accept (same) wavelength

8(b)(ii) 2 each correct answer = 1 mark

quieter Accept less or lower or smaller

Accept softer

Note answer must be comparative

amplitude

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

9 M1 table drawn with suitable headings, e.g. soil and mass 3 Note M1 does not need units
of magnesium (salts in 1 kg)
Accept Mg for magnesium

table with headings = 1 mark

M2 units in g or grams included in headings (but not in the unit only included in the heading = 1 mark
body of the table)
correctly entered data = 1 mark

mass of magnesium
type of soil
in g
M3 all data entered correctly A 5.0 or 5

B 0.4

C 35.0 or 35

D 6.4

Ignore the order of the soil types

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

10(a) (idea that) new information may be discovered 1 Accept (idea of) better technology

Accept atom is 3D and not 2D

Accept (idea that) the model has a flaw (so

needs changing or (idea that) may find a better
model

Ignore idea that it changed in the past so will

change again

10(b) 2 each correct answer = 1 mark

Fe2O3 Accept O3Fe2

Do not accept superscripted numbers

Do not accept FE

Na2CO3 Accept O3CNa2 or CNa2O3 or CO3Na2

Accept Na2C1O3 or Na2Co3

Do not accept superscripted numbers

Do not accept NA

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

11(a) 350 (J) 1

11(b) any three from 3 each correct answer = 1 mark

M1 air above candle is heated or air above the candle Ignore particles for M1
warms (up)

M2 warm air expands or is less dense Accept particles move further apart

Do not accept particles expands or particles less

dense for M2

M3 less dense air rises (up tube A) Accept hot or warm air rises or hot air moves
upwards for M3

Ignore particles for M3

M4 more dense air sinks (down tube B to replace air Accept cold or cool air sinks for M4
above candle)
Ignore particles for M4

M5 convection (current formed)

Accept M6 a drop in pressure in the box (due to

the rising air at A) = 1 mark causing air to enter
through tube B = 1 mark

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

12(a) process description 2 all four correct = 2 marks

two or three correct = 1 mark

one correct = 0 marks

if more than one line from one process to different

descriptions = 0 marks for that process

12(b) 3 or three 1 Accept respiration, decomposition and

combustion

12(c) 1 both correct for the mark

(process) combustion Accept burning for combustion

and Accept combustion and (more) transport or

combustion and (more) slash and burn or
combustion and (more) burning trash or waste
(explanation) (idea of) (increased) use of fossil fuels or
increase in population or to provide energy

Accept respiration and increase in population

12(d) photosynthesis 1 Accept correct carbon storage example, e.g. rock

formation or sedimentation or formation of fossil
fuels

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

13(a)(i) 60 2 correctly plotted points including the origin = 1

mark
50 Accept tolerance within ± half a small square

40 Accept one error in plotting or missing plot

total Ignore size of crosses or blobs

volume of 30
gas made curve of best fit = 1 mark
in cm3
20
Note the curve must be a smooth curve and not
feathery with more than one line showing
10
Note line must go through the origin and must not
go above 50.5 cm3
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
time in s Accept line going through any part of a cross/dot
or within ± half a small square of a point

Accept ecf from points plotted incorrectly

Do not accept dot-to-dot

13(a)(ii) 44 1 Accept tolerance within ± half a small square

Accept ecf from incorrect curve of best fit

Accept correct reading from incorrect graph

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

13(b) 2 each correct answer = 1 mark

M1 lumps have smaller surface area Accept ora if powdered magnesium specified

Accept fewer particles exposed to the acid

Accept smaller area exposed

Ignore particles are less crowded

Do not accept for M1 particles move slower or

particles have less energy

M2 so fewer (successful) collisions Accept for M1 and M2 less frequent collisions or

collisions less often or less chance of collisions or
fewer collisions per second or lower frequency of
collisions per surface area = 2 marks

Do not accept slower collisions

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

14 any one from (idea of) 1 Note if Lily given accept answers that suggest the
mother should have a good diet or should avoid a
poor diet

Lily and because idea that a good diet leads to healthy Lily and idea that a healthy diet leads to a healthy
birth mass baby or fetus

Lily and because there is a better chance of baby Lily and idea that a pregnant mother should have
surviving birth a balanced diet

Lily and fetus getting all nutrients needed or and

fetus getting nutrients needs for growth or bone
growth etc

Lily and (idea that) mother should avoid alcohol

or (idea that) mother should avoid drugs

Lily and (idea that) fetus gets the nutrients the

mother gets

Lily and the mother’s eating habits affect the baby

Lily and because it is an unknown secondary source on

the internet

Lily and because the internet data could be biased

Jamila and because she has used some secondary data

Jamila and because Lily is just an opinion or not backed

up with data

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Question Answer Marks Further Information

15(a) 2
carbon dioxide + water  glucose + oxygen reactants any order = 1 mark

products any order = 1 mark

Accept correct formulae or mix of words and

formulae, but words take precedence
e.g. CO2 + H2O  C6H12O6 + O2

Accept = for 

Do not accept ‘and’ for ’+’

15(b) Sunlight 1 Accept Sun or light

Ignore chlorophyll and chloroplast

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