Cambridge IGCSE™: Physics 0625/43 October/November 2020
Cambridge IGCSE™: Physics 0625/43 October/November 2020
Cambridge IGCSE™: Physics 0625/43 October/November 2020
PHYSICS 0625/43
Paper 4 Extended Theory October/November 2020
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 for
Teachers.
Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the October/November 2020 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U components, and some
Cambridge O Level components.
These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.
• 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.
Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
• 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 assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.
Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.
Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).
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.
1 Examiners should consider the context and scientific use of any keywords when awarding marks. Although keywords may be present, 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 question should be ignored.
3 Although spellings do not have to be correct, spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and unambiguous separation from 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 in a scientifically
correct way, the candidate should be awarded these subsequent marking points. Further guidance will be included in the mark scheme where
necessary and any exceptions to this general principle will be noted.
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.
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.
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.
B marks are independent marks, which do not depend on other marks. For a B mark to be scored, the point to which it refers must be
seen specifically in the candidate’s answer.
M marks are method marks upon which accuracy marks (A marks) later depend. For an M mark to be scored, the point to which it refers
must be seen in a candidate's answer. If a candidate fails to score a particular M mark, then none of the dependent A marks
can be scored.
C marks are compensatory marks in general applicable to numerical questions. These can be scored even if the point to which they
refer are not written down by the candidate, provided subsequent working gives evidence that they must have known it.
For example, if an equation carries a C mark and the candidate does not write down the actual equation but does correct
substitution or working which shows he knew the equation, then the C mark is scored. A C mark is not awarded if a candidate
makes two points which contradict each other. Points which are wrong but irrelevant are ignored.
A marks A marks are accuracy or answer marks which either depend on an M mark, or which are one of the ways which allow a C mark
to be scored. A marks are commonly awarded for final answers to numerical questions. If a final numerical answer, eligible for
A marks, is correct, with the correct unit and an acceptable number of significant figures, all the marks for that question are
awarded.
However, an A mark following an M mark is a dependent mark and is only awarded if the M mark has been awarded.
Brackets ( ) Brackets around words or units in the mark scheme are intended to indicate wording used to clarify the mark scheme, but the
marks do not depend on seeing the words or units in brackets, e.g. 10 (J) means that the mark is scored for 10, regardless of
the unit given. However, if a word in brackets is replaced with another word that is clearly wrong then the mark should not be
awarded.
Underlining Underlining indicates that this must be seen in the answer offered, or something very similar.
OR / or This indicates alternative answers, any one of which is satisfactory for scoring the marks.
Ignore This indicates that something which is not correct or irrelevant i.e. it is not a contradiction (CON) is to be disregarded and does
not incur a penalty.
Not/NOT This indicates that an incorrect answer is not to be disregarded, but cancels another otherwise correct alternative offered by
the candidate, i.e. right plus wrong penalty applies.
ecf meaning ‘error carried forward’ is mainly applicable to numerical questions, but may in particular circumstances be applied in
non-numerical questions. This indicates that if a candidate has made an earlier mistake and has carried an incorrect value
forward to subsequent stages of working, marks indicated by ecf may be awarded, provided the subsequent working is correct,
bearing in mind the earlier mistake. This prevents a candidate from being penalised more than once for a particular mistake,
but only applies to marks annotated ecf in the mark scheme. Always annotate ecf if applied.
Significant Answers are normally acceptable to any number of significant figures ⩾ 2. Any exceptions to this this general rule will be
Figures specified in the mark scheme. Annotate with SF from the toolbar. A second (or further) sig. fig. error in a single question is not
penalised; annotate with SF SF. It is normally acceptable to quote just 1 s.f. for answers, which are exact to 1 s.f
Units Deduct one mark for each incorrect or missing unit from an answer that would otherwise gain all the marks available for that
answer: maximum 1 per question. No deduction is incurred if the unit is missing from the final answer but is shown correctly
in the working.
Unless listed here or stated in the mark scheme for the question, do not accept derived units e.g. kg m s–2 for N is NOT
acceptable. The following are acceptable alternatives: Nm for J, Js–1 or Nms–1 for W, Nm–2 for Pa, Ns and kg m s–1 are both
acceptable for both momentum and impulse.. Beware : J NOT acceptable for moments. Condone wrong use of upper and
lower case symbols, e.g. pA for Pa.
Annotate with U. For more than one unit error in a question, annotate UU to indicate an error which has not been penalised.
Arithmetic errors If the only error in arriving at a final answer is clearly an arithmetic one, then the mark awarded will be one mark lower than the
maximum mark. Regard a power-of-ten error as an arithmetic error unless otherwise specified in the mark scheme. Annotate
with POT. The use of a wrong SI prefix in the final answer is counted as a power-of-ten error rather than a unit error. However
if the power-of-ten error is due to the wrong omission or inclusion of g (= 10 N / kg) this rule does not apply.
Transcription If the only error in arriving at a final answer is because previously calculated data has clearly been misread but used correctly,
errors one mark of that part question is negated
Fractions Allow these only where specified in the mark scheme; they are a form of sig. fig. error; annotate with SF. Consequently, when
a sig. fig. error and a fraction is used in the same question, the second answer may still be awarded full marks.
RM Assessor 3
Please note that 0625 papers are now marked using RM assessor 3. Videos and documents are available by using the Help icon in the top right
hand cornet when logged in or from the RM support site. Familiarisation mode is also available on RM Assessor 3.
The tool bar is now located on the left of the screen and you drag items used frequently to the right hand side of the tool bar. Note – the tool bar
won’t be visible until you have scripts to mark rather than just browse.
RM Assessor 3 annotations:
annotation suggested use annotation suggested use
tick mark awarded (note the ticks are added wavy line (horizontal or used to highlight a particular point
up next to the tick annotation, check the vertical)
total you enter agrees)
on page comment gives a text box to write comment – SF error in number of significant figures
much easier to use than in the previous significant figure error not penalized.
version of RM assessor SFSF
ECF error carried forward large dot (red blob) used to indicate a point has been
seen
? unclear I ignore
Page 18, 19 and 20 of the answer book is. They are linked to Q1(a).
Annotate with SEEN from toolbar to show that you have seen it.
Additional objects will appear as soon as you start to mark a script containing them. On each page of the additional objects you will see the option
to ‘flag as seen’ or ‘link to question’. This must be done for each of the additional objects. Links will appear when the linked question/questions
is/are opened for marking.
To increase marking transparency, reduce the number of enquiries about results and assist team leaders, the following is mandatory :
For all questions with two or more marks, examiners should tick to indicate where each credit is awarded.
For questions with one mark, examiners do not need to annotate the script to indicate that credit is awarded.
Any text annotation or annotation in a comment box should never contain –1 or allow a possible misinterpretation that negative marking was
applied.
Normally place the ticks close to where the mark is scored.
0.5 × 0.75 A1
(distance = =) 0.19 m
2
(speed =) 48 m / s A1
2(b) momentum = mv C1
(t =) 13 s A1
4(a) A liquid B2
B solid
C gas
4(c)(i) p1V1 = p2V2 in any form OR 0.9 × 105 × 3400 = 2.5 × 105 × V2 C1
1200 cm3 A1
5(a) cork on black plate / side B falls off (before cork on shiny plate / side A) B1
5(b) conduction B1
(λ = v ÷ f =) 0.077 m A1
2 wavelength decreases B1
7(c)(i) 1 3 × 108 m / s B1
2 3 × 108 m / s B1
(I =) 0.75 A A1
first line of E 0 B1
8(c)(ii) OR B1
P = VI in any form C1
10(b) current in circuit B does not stop when switch in circuit A is opened B1
α continues in straight line beyond plates OR multiple paths for β and no more than a single α path B1
γ passes straight through without deviation and continues in straight line beyond plates B1
11(b) suitable application e.g. sterilisation of equipment, medical diagnosis / treatment, thickness control, detecting leaks / cracks, B1
food preservation
explanation e.g. destroys bacteria, destroys cancer cells, lower amount of radiation detected if thickness too large, radiation B1
detected at site of leak, destroys microbes in food