Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 1

Question 1
1(a) (i)
Score Explanation
Able to state two different observations correctly based on the following
criteria.
3 C1 – Fan speed
C2 – The time taken for air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm.

Sample Answer:
1.The time taken for air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm at air speed 5
is 12 minutes.
2. The time taken for air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm at air speed 0
is 37 minutes.
3.The time taken for air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm is shorter/faster
at air speed 5 than at air speed 0 // inversely.
2 Able to state two different observations inaccurately.

Sample Answer:
1. Under fast / slow moving/ still air, the air bubble moves.
2. The fan speed influences the time taken for air bubble to move a
distance of 10 cm.
1 Able to state two different observations at idea level.

Sample Answer:
1. The fan speed influences the air bubble to move.
2. The fan speed changes / increases /decreases.
3. The time taken for air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm changes /
increases /decreases.
0 No response or wrong response (response like hypothesis)

Scoring

Correct Inaccurate Idea Wrong Score

2 -
1 1
- 2
1 -
- -
1 -
- 1
- 1
- - 3
- -
- - 2
1 -
2 -
- 1 1
1 -
- 1
1 1 0
Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 2

1(a) (ii)
Score Explanation
3 Able to state two inferences correctly.

Sample answer:
1. Under fast moving air, the rate of transpiration is high / the water
molecules evaporate from surface of the leaves rapidly causing the time
taken by air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm to be short/fast.
2. Under slow moving air, the rate of transpiration is low/ the water
molecules evaporate from surface of the leaves slowly causing the time
taken by air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm to be long.
3. The time taken by air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm // rate of
transpiration under fast moving air is shorter/faster // higher than under
slow moving air.
2 Able to state two inferences inaccurately / one correct inference and one
inaccurate inference.

Sample answer:
1. (Under fast moving air,) transpiration occurs in plant.
2. The rate of transpiration is affected by the fan speed.

1 Able to state one correct inference or two inaccurate inference or idea.

Sample answer:
1. Transpiration occurs.
2. The fan speed changes / increases /decreases.
3. The time taken by air bubble to move (a distance of 10 cm)
changes / increases /decreases

0 No response or wrong response (inference like hypothesis)

Scoring

Correct Inaccurate Idea Wrong Score

2 -
1 1
- 2
1 -
- -
1 -
- 1
- 1
- - 3
- -
- - 2
1 -
2 -
- 1 1
1 -
- 1
1 1 0
Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 3

1(b) (i)
Score Explanation
Able to state all the 3 variables and the methods to handle the variables.

Sample answer :
3 Variable Method to handle the variable
Manipulated variable : Carry out the experiment / Place the
Fan speed apparatus under different fan speed / fast
moving air, slow moving air and still air
Responding variable: Take the time taken by air bubble to move a
The time taken by air distance of 10 cm using a stop watch //
bubble to move a using a formula,
distance of 10 cm // rate distance moved by air bubble (cm )
of transpiration time taken ( minute ) ,
the rate of transpiration is calculated.

Controlled variable:
the distance moved by Fix the distance at 10 cm//carry out the
air bubble// temperature/ experiment in the lab//use the same plant /
relative humidity/ light branch with the same number of leaves
intensity// plant used

Able to get 6 √
2 Able to get 4 – 5 √
1 Able to get 2 – 3 √
0 No response or wrong response

1(b)(ii)
Score Explanation
Able to list all materials and apparatus from the given list correctly.

3 Sample answer :

Materials Apparatus
Leafy branch Capillary tube
Coloured water Stop watch
Metre rule
Fan

All two materials and four apparatus are correct.

2 Refer to scoring below
1 Refer to scoring below
0 Refer to scoring below
Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 4

Materials Apparatus Score Comments

2M 4A 3 All the four listed labels in given list.
2M + 1A 3A 1 listed apparatus classified wrongly
2M 2/3 A 2 1/2 listed apparatus are missing
1M 4A 1 listed material is missing
2M + 2A 2A 2 listed apparatus classified wrongly
1listed apparatus is classified wrongly
2M +1A 2A
and 1 is missing
1 1/2 listed apparatus are missing with
2M 1/2 A + any X
added unlisted apparatus.
1 listed material and 1/2 apparatus are
1M 2/3 A
missing
Apparatus and materials are wrongly
4A 2M
classified
0
Added unlisted material/apparatus with
1/2M+ any X 2/3 A + any X
added unlisted apparatus.

1(c)
Score Explanation
3 Able to state the hypothesis correctly based on the following criteria:
V1 – State the speed of air movement
V2 – State the time taken by air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm
// rate of transpiration
R - State the relationship between V1 and V2.

Sample answer :
1. The higher the fan speed, the faster/shorter the time taken by air
bubble to move a distance of 10 cm // the higher the rate of
transpiration // inversely.
2. As the fan speed increases, the time taken by air bubble to move a
distance of 10 cm // rate of transpiration also increases // inversely.
2 Able to state the hypothesis but less accurate.

Sample answer :
1. The fan speed influences / affects the time taken by air bubble to
move a distance of 10 cm // the rate of transpiration.
2. The time taken by air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm // the rate
of transpiration is influenced / affected by the fan speed.
1 Able to state the idea of the hypothesis

Sample answer :
1. The air movement causes air bubble to move / water loss from
plants.
2. The plant takes up / loses water.
0 No response or wrong response
Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 5

1(d)(i)
Score Explanation
3 Able to construct a table correctly with the following criteria:

1. T – Able to state the 3 titles with units correctly

2. D – Able to record all the data correctly.
3. C – Able to calculate the rate of transpiration correctly

Fan Speed Time taken by air Rate of transpiration

bubble to move a (cm/min)
distance of 10 cm
( min)
5 12 0.83
3 23 0.43
0/Off 37 0.27

2 Any two criteria correct

1 Any one criterion correct
0 No response or wrong response

1(d)(ii)
Score Explanation
Able to draw the graph of rate of transpiration against the fan speed
3 correctly with the following criteria :

1. Axes (A) – correct titles with units on both axes and uniform scales on
axes.
2. Point (P) – All points are correctly plotted.
3. Shape (S) – All points are connected smoothly.
All three criteria correct.
2 Graph with any two criteria correct.
1 Graph with any one criteria correct.
0 No response or wrong response.

Note :

1. For points plotted / transferred wrongly but graph shows a line with positive
gradient, give mark for S but no mark for P.
2. Graph with inverse axes, reject A but accept P and S if they are transferred
and drawn correctly.
Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 6

1(d) (iii)
Score Explanation
3 Able to interpret data correctly and explain with the following aspects :

Relationship(R) :
P1 = Able to state the relationship between the
manipulated variable and responding variable

Explanation :
P2 = Able to state rate of transpiration increases

P3 = Able to state the time taken by air bubble to move from P to Q / a

distance of 10 cm increases .

Sample answer :
1. When the fan speed increases, the rate of transpiration increases
because the time taken by air bubble to move from P to Q / a
distance of 10 cm increases.
2 Able to interpret data with two aspects correctly.
1 Able to interpret data with only one aspect correctly.
0 No response or wrong response

1(e)
Score Explanation
3 Able to state the changes in the distance moved by the air bubble with time
when the apparatus is placed under a fan at air speed of 5 and give the fact
and an explanation for the changes correctly based on the following criteria:

C1 : Observation
The distance moved by the air bubble will increase with time.
C2 : Fact
The rate of transpiration increases.
C3 : Explanation
More water is lost from the leaves per minute.
Sample answer :
1. When the apparatus is placed under a fan at air speed 5, the distance
moved by the air bubble will increase with time. The rate of transpiration
increases as more water is lost from the leaves per minute.
2 Able to state the changes in the distance moved by the air bubble with time
correctly based on two criteria, C1 & C2 or C1 & C3.
1 Able to state the changes in the distance moved by the air bubble with time
with only one criterion, C1 correctly.
0 No response or wrong response
Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 7

1(f)
Score Explanation
3 Able to state the definition of transpiration operationally, based on the
result of experiment with the following aspects :

C1 – a leafy plant
C2 – the (upward) movement of air bubble // uptake of water
C3 – the factor that affects the time taken for the air bubble to move a
distance of 10 cm / transpiration.

Sample answer
1. Transpiration is a process occurring in a leafy plant causing (upward)
movement of air bubble/uptake of water and is affected by the fan speed.
2 Able to state the definition of transpiration based on the result of experiment
with two criteria correctly.
1 Able to state the definition of transpiration based on the result of experiment
with only one criterion correctly.
0 No response or wrong response

1(g)
Score Explanation
3 Able to predict and explain the outcome of the experiment correctly with
the following aspects:
Prediction :
P1 : Able to predict the time taken by air bubble to move a
distance of 10 cm// transpiration rate
- shorter / slower / lower ( compared with that under fast moving air
from the present experiment )

Explanation :
P2 : Able to state smaller leaves have smaller surface area
and smaller number of stomata
P3 : Able to state less water is lost from the leaves per
minute
Sample answer :
1. The time taken by air bubble to move a distance of 10 cm shorter/slower
than 12.0 minutes // the transpiration rate is lower than 0.83 cm min-1
because smaller leaves have smaller surface area and smaller number
of stomata and thus less water is lost from the leaves per minute.
2 Able to predict based on any two criteria.
1 Able to predict based on any one criterion.
0 No response or wrong response
Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 8

MScheme Bio Trial Question 2 P3 Zone A 2008

Construct Sample Answers Notes on Scoring

1. Objective 1. To investigate / study the pollution level of four Reject :
(Ob) sample of water from different sources. If no “four different
sources of water”.

tick
2. Problem Able to relate P1, P2 and R in a question form. P1=Manipulated
Statement var.
Sample Answer: = four different
(PS) 1. What is the time taken to decolourise sources of water
methylene blue solution by four different sample
water samples? P2=Responding
2. What is the pollution level of the four var.
01 different water samples? = time taken to
decolourise
methylene blue
solution / pollution
level
R =Question

P1 + P2 + R = 3
1. What is the pollution level of the four No P2 / R
different water samples?
2. Does / How do four water samples differ in
pollution level? 2
3. Does the time taken for methylene blue to
decolourised influenced by different sources
water?
4. Is the pollution level of water influenced by
different sources of water?
1. Pollution (level) is affected by (different No P2/P1 and H
sources of) water samples.
2. The (different) sources of water samples
affect the pollution (level) of water. 1
3. The source of water samples is a factor in tick
pollution.
3.Hypothesis 1. Water sample A took the shortest time to P1=Manipulated
(Hp) decolourise methylene blue solution var.
compared to water sample B, C and D. = four different
2. Water sample A / water from river took the sources of water
shortest // fastest tie to decolourise methylene P2=Responding
02
blue solution. The pollution level is the var.
highest in water sample A. = time taken to
Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 9

3. The river water / water sample D is more decolourise

polluted than the pond water / water sample methylene blue/
A. pollution level
H =Relationship
P1 + P2 + H = 3
1. Water sample A took (the shortest time) to
decolourise methylene blue solution. P1 + P2 or
2. The time taken is the fastest / shortest in river P1 + H or
water / water sample A. P2 + H
3. The river water / water sample D is more
polluted.
2
1. The water samples affect the pollution level / P1 only or
time taken to decolourise methylene blue P2 only
solution.
2. Water sample decolourises methylene blue
solution.
3. Water sample A/B/C/D is not polluted / 1
polluted. tick

4. Variables (Vr)
Manipulated : Water samples from four different sources.

Responding : Time taken for the methylene blue solution to

decolourise
All three variables
Fixed : Volume of water sample / Concentration or volume correct
of methylene blue solution tick
5.Apparatus and Materials (M): Methylene blue
Materials 1.Methylene blue solution solution and water
( AM) 2.water sample from A,B,C and D sample from
A,B,C and D
Apparatus (A) : should be in the
1.Reagent bottle materials listed.
2.stopper
3.beaker If either
4.syringe Methylene blue
05 5.stop watch solution or water
sample from
5 / more A + 2 M = 3m A,B,C and D is
missing, AM = 0m
3- 4 A + 2M = 2m But marks are
given, if they are
2A + 2 M = 1m mentioned in the
procedure /
1 or 2 A +1M =0m diagram
Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 10

tick
6.Technique Able to state the operating responding variable
. correctly, using suitable apparatus. B1 = 1m
( Tq )
Record the time taken for methyelene blue solution to tick
decolourise using a stopwatch.
7. Procedure Able to list down the complete and correct
procedures/steps used based on the following five All 5 K
(K) criterias P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 : = 3m

P1 : Preparation of materials & apparatus 3 - 4 K only

( Any 4 ) = 2m
K1: Water samples are collected from four 2 K only
different sources A,B,C and D = 1m
04 K2: The reagent bottles are labelled 1,2,3,4
K3: The reagent bottles are closed with the 1K
stoppers immediately. = 0m
K4: The stopwatch is activated.
K5: The bottles are examined from time to time.
K6: The results are recorded in a table.
Remark :
Able to state any four (K) steps to get P1.

P2 : Operating Fixed variable(any 1)

1. Measure 250 ml of water sample from A, B,

C and D separately and pour into the reagent
bottle labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively.
2. 1 ml of methylene blue solution is added to 1K only
the bottom of each water sample using a = tick
syringe.

P3 : Operating responding variable

The time taken for the methylene blue solution to

decolourise / become colourless is recorded for all the
water samples.

P4 : Operating manipulated variable

Measure 250 ml of water sample from A, B, C and D
separately and pour into the reagent bottle labelled
1,2,3,4 respectively.

P5 : Methods to take precautions steps

State one precaution steps in the experiment.
Sample Answer:
Mark scheme Bio Paper3 Zone A 2008 11

1. The contents of the bottles cannot be shaken.

2. All the reagent bottles are kept in a dark cupboard.
Sample Answer:
Method / Procedure :
1.Water samples are collected from A, B, C and D
2.The reagent bottles are labelled 1,2,3,4
3.Measure 250 ml of water sample from A,B,C and
D separately and pour into the reagent bottle
labelled1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively.
4.1 ml of methylene blue solution is added to the
bottom of each water sample using a syringe.
5. The reagent bottles are stoppered immediately.
6. The content of the bottles cannot be shaken.
7. All the reagent bottles are kept in a dark cupboard
8. The stopwatch is activated.
9. The bottles are examined at one hour interval.
10.The time taken for the methylene blue solution to
decolourise / become colourless is recorded for all
the water samples.
11. The results are recorded in a table.

8. Recording Able to construct a table to record all data with the B2 = 1

data / following aspects :
Result 1.3 titles with units
(RD) 2.No data is required tick
Reagent bottle Water samples Time taken for
methylene blue
solution to
decolourise
(hours)
1 A
2 B
3 C
4 D
9. Conclusion Same as hypothesis above tick
( Cn )
Planning 7-9 ticks = 3m
experiment 4-6 ticks = 2m
03 1-3 ticks = 1m