CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK

Exam-style questions and sample answers have been written by the authors. In examinations, the way marks are awarded
may be different.

Coursebook answers
Chapter P2
Exam-style questions
At this level, practical skills are examined in a
laboratory-based practical examination. The
questions in the Coursebook are for practice in the
theoretical aspects of these skills. For laboratory-
based practice practical questions, please see the
Practical workbook in this series.
The mark schemes, suggested answers and
comments that appear here were written by the
author(s). In examinations, the way marks would
be awarded to answers like these may be different.
Notes about mark schemes  reverse way. For example: ‘activity increases
A or accept indicates an alternative acceptable
answer.
R = reject. This indicates a possible answer that
should be rejected.
Underlining This is used to indicate essential
word(s) that must be used to get the mark.
AW means ‘alternative wording’. It is used to indicate
that a different wording is acceptable provided the
essential meaning is the same, and is used where
students’ responses are likely to vary more than usual.
AVP means ‘additional valid point’. This means
accept any additional points given by the student
that are not in the mark scheme, provided they
are relevant. But accept only as many additional
points as indicated by the bold semicolons, e.g.
AVP ; ; means award a maximum of 2 extra marks.
ORA means ‘or reverse argument’ and is used
when the same idea could be expressed in the
between pH2 and pH5 ORA’ means accept
‘activity decreases between pH5 and pH2’.
max. This indicates the maximum number of
marks that can be given.

; The bold semicolon indicates the award of
1 mark.
/ This indicates an alternative answer for the same
mark. The alternatives may be separated from the
rest of the answer by commas.
( ) Text in brackets is not required for the mark.
1 a axes of scatter graph are labelled length /
mm and mass of seeds / g ; note that it
does not matter which is on the x-axis and
which is on the y-axis
suitable scales on each axis ;
all eight points correctly plotted ;[3]
b positive linear correlation ;[1]

1 c Pod  Length / mm x Mass of seeds / g y xy 

1 134 35 4690
2 71 18 1278
3 121 30 3630
4 83 21 1743
5 99 23 2277
6 107 29 3103
7 82 17 1394
8 119 34 4046
mean  –
x  = 102.0 –
y  = 25.9 Σxy = 22 161
nx–y– 8 × 102.0 × 25.9 = 21 134.4
standard sx = 22.1 sy = 7.1
deviation 

1 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology © Cambridge University Press 2020

 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK

∑xy − nxy 6 × ∑D 2
r =  r1 = 1 − 
nsxsy n3 − n
(6 × 160.5)
22 161 – 21 134.4 r = 1 −  3
r =  (8 − 8)
8 × 22.1 × 7.1
22161– 21134.4 963
r =  r = 1 −  512 − 8
1255.3
1026.6 963
r =  r = 1 − 
1255.3 504
r = 0.82 r = 1 − 1.91
This number is close to 1, which suggests that r = −0.91
there is a linear correlation between the length of Using Table P2.8, the critical value of r when
the pods and the mass of the seeds they contain. n = 8 is 0.76.
means for length and mass both correct ; The value of r is greater than this, so there is
mean for mass correct ;  a significant negative correlation between the
numbers of F and the numbers of G.
all values for xy correct ;
working is clearly laid out and easy to follow ;
Σxy correct ; 
ranking correct for F and G ;
nx y correct ; 
all values for D and D2 correct ;
correct formula used ; 
ΣD2 correct ;
substitution into formula correct ;
substitution and calculation of r correct ;
correct value for r calculated ;
identification of the critical value in the
statement explaining what this value
table ;
indicates ; [max. 8]
correct conclusion drawn ;  [7]
 [Total: 12]
 [Total: 12]
2 a axes of scatter graph are number of
species F and number of species G ; note 3 a i  light intensity / exposure to light ;  [1]
that it does not matter which is on the ii independent variable: collect large
x-axis and which is on the y-axis number of leaves from a sunny area
suitable scales on each axis ; and a shaded area ;
all eight points correctly plotted ;  [3]   control variables: collect leaves in
a way that controls at least one key
b a negative non-linear correlation ;  [1]
variable ; (e.g. all from same height,
c the correlation is non-linear ;[1] all from same relative position on the
ivy stem)
d 
  measuring dependent variable /
Quadrat Rank for Rank for Difference D2 procedure: suitable description of
species species in rank, method of finding surface area of
F G  D each leaf ;
1 5 2.5 2.5  6.25
  reference to multiplying by 2 to find
2 2 7 -5 25 total surface area ;
3 8 2.5 5.5 30.25   suitable description of how to find dry
4 3 6 -3  9 mass, including reference to method
5 1 8 -7 49 of drying and apparatus used for
measuring mass ;
6 7 1 6 36
7 4 5 -1   1   suitable description of how to measure
internode length, including apparatus
8 6 4 2 4
used ;
ΣD2 160.5

2 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology © Cambridge University Press 2020

 CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL BIOLOGY: COURSEBOOK
  suitable description of method of
measuring water loss (e.g. by weighing
or by using a potometer) ;
  description of controlling one key
variable (temperature, humidity,
wind speed) while measuring rate of
water loss ;
  description of replicates and
calculation of mean values ;
  processing data: reference to
calculation and use of standard
deviation (to give the ± values) ;
  safety: reference to risk, e.g. that
there are no significant risks
involved ;  [max. 8]
b i  t = 23 – 15 ; 
   +32 ÷ 30 ;
   8 ÷ 0.9 = 8.9 ;
ii  v  = (n1 – 1) + (n2 – 1) = (30 – 1)
+ (30 – 1) = 58 ;
iii 
both values of t are (much) greater
than 2.00 / greater than the critical
value (for 60 degrees of freedom) ;
   t herefore the results are significant /
the differences between the two sets
of leaves are significant / not due
to chance ; [2]
 [Total: 15]
4 a i  e .g. the rate of water loss from a
mesophyte will be greater than the rate
of water loss from a xerophyte ;[1]
ii independent variable: collect, shoots
/ leaves, from a mesophyte and
xerophyte ;
  measuring the dependent variable:
record rate of movement of meniscus
along the capillary tube, include
reference to distance and time ;
  control variables: shoots / leaves, with
similar surface areas ;
same temperature / wind speed /
humidity ;
  procedure: cut shoot under water with
slanting cut ; 
  dry shoot before beginning
measurements ;
   ensure apparatus entirely airtight ;
3 Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology © Cambridge University Press 2020
  use syringe to begin with water at a
suitable point in the tubing ; 
  leave for some time to settle
down before beginning to take
measurements ; 
  reliability: do replicates and calculate
means ;
  risk: no significant risk / reference
to care needed when, cutting shoot /
pushing shoot into capillary ; [max. 8]
iii  s uitable method described for finding
the volume of a cylinder ;
  r efer to using distance moved by water
in this calculation ; 
  or 
  use the syringe to push the water back
to its starting position ; 
[3]   measure volume of water needed to
do this ; [max. 2]
[1] b axes with independent variable on the
x-axis and the dependent variable on the
y-axis ;
suitable curve or bars to show results
(this depends on what is being measured
and how) ; [2]
c i  area  = 36 / 10 000 = 0.0036 m2 ;
   water loss = 0.018 / 30 = 0.0006 cm3 min–1 ;
  rate = 0.0006 / 0.0036 = 0.167 cm3
m–2 min–1 ;[3]
ii  t-test ; 
  comparing the means of two sets
of, data with normal distribution /
continuous data ;[2]
d mesophyte has a greater transpiration rate
than the xerophyte ;
both lose less mass when lower surface
is covered ;
more water lost from lower surface than
from upper surface ;
xerophyte loses almost no water from its
upper surface ; [max. 3]
 [Total: 21]