Cambridge IGCSE™
COMBINED SCIENCE 0653/42
Paper 4 Theory (Extended) February/March 2024
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 80
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 Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ 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 Principal Examiner Report f or
Teachers.
Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes f or the February/March 2024 series f or most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level components, and some Cambridge O Level
components.
This document consists of 10 printed pages.
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024 [Turn over
0653/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme February/March 2024
PUBLISHED
Generic Marking Principles
These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alon gside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptions for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:
Marks must be awarded in line with:
• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:
Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:
Marks must be awarded positively:
• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond
the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assess ed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:
Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024 Page 2 of 10
0653/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme February/March 2024
PUBLISHED
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:
Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the fu ll mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).
GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:
Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.
Science-Specific Marking Principles
1 Examiners should consider the context and scientific use of any keywords when awarding marks. Although keywords may be presen t, marks
should not be awarded if the keywords are used incorrectly.
2 The examiner should not choose between contradictory statements given in the same question part, and credit should not be awarded for
any correct statement that is contradicted within the same question part. Wrong science that is irrelevant to the questi on should be ignored.
3 Although spellings do not have to be correct, spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation fro m other
syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. ethane / ethene, glucagon / glycogen, refraction / reflection).
4 The error carried forward (ecf) principle should be applied, where appropriate. If an incorrect answer is subsequently used i n a scientifically
correct way, the candidate should be awarded these subsequent marking points. Further guidance will be include d in the mark scheme
where necessary and any exceptions to this general principle will be noted.
5 ‘List rule’ guidance
For questions that require n responses (e.g. State two reasons …):
• The response should be read as continuous prose, even when numbered answer spaces are provided.
• Any response marked ignore in the mark scheme should not count towards n.
• Incorrect responses should not be awarded credit but will still count towards n.
• Read the entire response to check for any responses that contradict those that would otherwise be credited. Credit should not be
awarded for any responses that are contradicted within the rest of the response. Where two responses contradict one another, this
should be treated as a single incorrect response.
• Non-contradictory responses after the first n responses may be ignored even if they include incorrect science.
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024 Page 3 of 10
0653/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme February/March 2024
PUBLISHED
6 Calculation specific guidance
Correct answers to calculations should be given full credit even if there is no working or incorrect working, unless the question states ‘show
your working’.
For questions in which the number of significant figures required is not stated, credit should be awarded for correct answers when rounded
by the examiner to the number of significant figures given in the mark scheme. This may not apply to measured values.
For answers given in standard form (e.g. a 10n) in which the convention of restricting the value of the coefficient ( a) to a value between 1
and 10 is not followed, credit may still be awarded if the answer can be converted to the answer given in the mark scheme.
Unless a separate mark is given for a unit, a missing or incorrect unit will normally mean that the final calculation mark is not awarded.
Exceptions to this general principle will be noted in the mark scheme.
7 Guidance for chemical equations
Multiples / fractions of coefficients used in chemical equations are acceptable unless stated otherwise in the mark scheme.
State symbols given in an equation should be ignored unless asked for in the question or stated otherwise in the mark scheme.
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024 Page 4 of 10
0653/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme February/March 2024
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks
1(a)(i) liver labelled ; 1
1(a)(ii) pancreas ; 1
1(b) pieces ; 2
molecules ;
1(c) digest / breakdown, starch ; 2
into (simpler) sugars ;
1(d) enzyme: A 2
AND
works (best) at low pH / acidic conditions ;
gastric juice, contains hydrochloric acid / is acidic ;
Question Answer Marks
2(a)(i) helium ; 1
2(a)(ii) potassium ; 1
2(a)(iii) iron ; 1
2(a)(iv) aluminium ; 1
2(b) 6 electrons shared between the two nitrogens ; 2
lone pair in each of the N atoms ;
2(c) nitrogen is, covalent / (simple) molecular and potassium nitrate is, ionic / contains ions / has a lattice structure ; 3
strong(er) attractive forces in potassium nitrate / weak(er) attractive forces in nitrogen ;
more energy needed to overcome or break the attractive forces / bonds, in potassium nitrate ; ORA
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024 Page 5 of 10
0653/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme February/March 2024
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks
3(a) speed = distance ÷ time / 4.5 108 ÷ 2.0 105 ; 2
(conversion hours to days) 2250 ÷ 24 ;
(= 94 / 93.8 / 93.75 days)
3(b) white ; 2
shiny ;
3(c)(i) visible (light) and infrared ; 1
3(c)(ii) 800 nm seen / states idea that minimum frequency has longest wavelength ; 3
f = 3.0 108 ÷ (800 10-9) ;
= 3.8 1014 (Hz) ;
Question Answer Marks
4(a) root and stem labels are the wrong way around ; 2
xylem label incorrect in leaf ;
4(b) any three from: 3
(description of trend) increased humidity causes decrease in rate of transpiration / ref to inverse relationship between
humidity and transpiration rate ;
higher humidity means higher water (vapour) concentration in air (surrounding the leaf) ;
the idea that at higher humidity the concentration gradient between the leaf and the air is reduced ;
reference to reduced, evaporation / diffusion (from leaf at higher humidity) ;
4(c)(i) 6CO2 + 6 H2O ; 2
C6H12O6 + 6O2 ;
4(c)(ii) chloroplast ; 1
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024 Page 6 of 10
0653/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme February/March 2024
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks
4(d) 3
trophic
organism feeding relationship
level
musk ox 2 (gets its energy by eating) grass
(gets its energy by eating)
snowy owl 3 and 4
(Arctic) fox and (Arctic) hare
;;;
correct trophic levels = [1]
grass = [1]
(Arctic) fox and (Arctic) hare = [1]
Question Answer Marks
5(a)(i) (molten because) ions must, be free to move / be mobile / migrate ; 1
5(a)(ii) (so that they) do not react / only provide a surface for electron transfer (to or from ions) ; 1
5(a)(iii) gain of electrons by, cations / (zinc) ions ; 1
5(b) chlorine + potassium bromide → ; ( → or = required) 2
potassium chloride + bromine ;
5(c) (molecule made of) two atoms, combined / bonded ; 1
5(d) Cl 2 + H2 → 2HCl ;; 2
reactants and products [1]
balanced [1]
Question Answer Marks
6(a)(i) (nuclear) fusion ; 1
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024 Page 7 of 10
0653/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme February/March 2024
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks
6(a)(ii) (nuclear) fission ; 1
6(a)(iii) idea that in fusion energy is released by joining (of nuclei) and in fission energy is released by splitting (of nuclei) ; 1
6(b) P = V I / 240 8.0 ; 3
1920 (W) / conversion W to kW seen ;
1.9 (kW) ;
6(c)(i) (electric) motor ; 1
6(c)(ii) use of current from source = sum of currents in branches ; 2
current in motor = 14.7 – 13.0 – 0.2 = 1.5 (A) ;
6(c)(iii) the idea that the total resistance in the circuit increases (and as the potential difference stays the same) so total current 1
decreases ;
Question Answer Marks
7(a) 3
absence of a nucleus N
contains an energy store E
has a flagellum for movement S
has a jelly coating E
large numbers released at any one time S
;;;
5 correct = [3]
3–4 correct = [2]
1–2 correct = [1]
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024 Page 8 of 10
0653/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme February/March 2024
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks
7(b) (dissolved) nutrients / oxygen, pass (from the mother’s blood across placenta) to fetus ; 3
waste products pass from fetus (to mother across placenta) ;
placenta provides a barrier to toxins ;
7(c) carbon monoxide ; 2
reduces oxygen uptake (into blood / cells / body) / binds to haemoglobin ;
OR
tar ;
causes, lung cancer / bronchitis / emphysema ;
Question Answer Marks
8(a)(i) fractional and distillation ; 1
8(a)(ii) refinery gas: 2
smaller molecules ;
more volatile ;
ORA
8(b) (family of compounds with): 2
same general formula ;
similar chemical properties ;
8(c)(i) C2H4 ; 1
8(c)(ii) any two from: 2
high temperature / 400−700 C ;
high pressure / 60–70 atmosphere ;
catalyst ;
8(c)(iii) contains only single (C-C) (covalent) bonds / does not contain double (C=C) (covalent) bonds ; 1
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024 Page 9 of 10
0653/42 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme February/March 2024
PUBLISHED
Question Answer Marks
9(a)(i) S; 1
9(a)(ii) speed ; 1
9(b)(i) reference to the need to calculate the area under graph OR one area calculated ; 3
(calculation of area under graph t = 0 to t = 250 s)
½ 100 4.8 + 150 4.8 / 960 ;
(add in ½ (½ 100 4.8) / 120 for area under curve)
total = 1100 / 1080 (m) ;
9(b)(ii) time at max. speed of 4.8 m/ s = 150 s ; 2
and E = 2.0 150 ;
(300 kJ)
9(b)(iii) KE of boat = ½ mv2 in any form ; 2
KE = ½ 450 4.82 = 5200 (J) = 5.2 (kJ) ;
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2024 Page 10 of 10
