Science
Stage 9
Paper 2
Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Test
Mark Scheme
3146_02_MS_8RP
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026
2026
S9/02
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
2026
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
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2026
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S9/02
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
1(a)(i)
Answer
Marks
2026
Further Information
2 each correct answer = 1 mark
any two from
(same) temperature
(same) age of plant
(same) light intensity / number of hours of light
Accept (same) amount of light
(same) concentration of carbon dioxide
(same) pH of liquid
Ignore (same) volume of liquid or (same) type of
plant or (same) species of plant or (same) initial
height of plant
1(a)(ii)
type of nutrients (in the liquid)
1 Accept the liquid
1(b)(i)
yes circled (no marks)
1 if no circled = 0 marks
fewer leaves or least growth
1(b)(ii)
1 more than one answer circled = 0 marks
D
Accept any indication of the correct answer, e.g.
ticking or underlining, but circling takes
precedence
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Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
Answer
2026
Marks
Further Information
2(a)
molecule
1
2(b)
correct covalent pair of electrons circled
1
e.g.
H
2(c)
O
H
by adding 2 electrons
Question
Do not accept if circle is around any of the nonbonding electrons
1
Answer
Marks
Further Information
3(a)
carbon dioxide + water → (glucose) + oxygen
1 Accept reactants in either order
3(b)
chloroplasts
1 Do not accept chlorophyll
3(c)
chlorophyll
1 Do not accept chloroplasts
3(d)
photosynthesis needs light or photosynthesis does not
happen in the dark
1
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S9/02
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
4(a)
Answer
2026
Marks
density = mass ÷ volume or d = m ÷ v
Further Information
1
2 2.17 g / cm3 with or without working = 2 marks
4(b)
2.17 with or without working = 1 mark
correct unit = 1 mark
Accept 2.2
2.17
Accept 2.173913 or correctly rounded to at least
two significant figures.
g / cm3
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S9/02
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
Answer
Marks
2026
Further Information
5(a)
0.2 (A)
1
5(b)
0.1 (A)
1
3 40 Ω with or without working = 3 marks
5(c)
40 with or without working = 2 marks
correct equation or substitution = 1 mark
correct unit = 1 mark
(resistance =) voltage ÷ current or (resistance =) 12 ÷ 0.3
Accept (resistance =) V ÷ I
40
Ω
5(d)
cell or battery of cells
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1 Accept batteries or resistors in parallel
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S9/02
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
6(a)
Answer
Marks
2026
Further Information
1
any one from
location of earthquakes (on edges of plates)
(idea of) jigsaw appearance of the coastlines of different
continents
Accept example of jigsaw appearance e.g. jigsaw
appearance of coastline of Africa and South
America
Accept coastlines of continents are
complementary
Do not accept coastlines have the same shape
Ignore location of volcanoes
1 Accept answers from mark scheme for (a) not
given as an answer in (a)
6(b)
any one from
Accept same fossils found in different continents
(far away from each other)
fossil record
alignment of magnetic material in the crust
location of volcanoes
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S9/02
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
7(a)
Answer
Marks
2026
Further Information
3 each correct answer = 1 mark
any three from
warm water expands or warm water becomes less dense
warm water rises
cold water replaces the warm water
convection current is formed / circular flow until all the water
is an equal temperature
Ignore ideas about conduction and radiation
7(b)(i)
no circled (no marks)
1 if yes circled = 0 marks for the question
(idea that) repeat results are not close together
7(b)(ii)
1
any one from
insulate the beaker
place heater fully into the water
stir the water
add a lid
Do not accept repeat
Accept use a temperature probe
Accept move thermometer away from the side of
the beaker so it is not touching it
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S9/02
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
7(c)
Answer
Marks
line from 100 οC falling at faster rate with decreasing
gradient and ending at 20 οC
Question
Answer
2026
Further Information
1
Marks
Further Information
3 each correct answer = 1 mark
8
a collision
Earth
planet
Question
Answer
9
Marks
2 all four correct = 2 marks
female
X
Further Information
two or three correct =1 mark
X
one correct = 0 marks
X
XX
girl
XX
girl
Y
XY
boy
XY
boy
Accept YX for XY
male
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Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
2026
Question
Answer
Marks
Further Information
10(a)
(idea that) no more bubbles (of hydrogen) or solid zinc left
in bottom of beaker
1
10(b)
filtration or filtering
1 Ignore sieving
10(c)
any two from
2 each correct answer = 1 mark
Note heat solution until all water evaporates or
boil solution until all water evaporates = 0 marks
for the question
M1 (heat) to make a concentrated solution or to make a
saturated solution or until first appearance of crystals or
solid
Accept for M1 evaporate/heat to get half of the
volume of solution
Accept for M1 heat solution until first appearance
of crystals
Accept for M1 evaporate water from solution until
a saturated solution is made
Accept for M1 leave to evaporate in a warm
place
M2 let (hot) solution cool or leave hot solution to evaporate
(for a few days)
Accept for M3 and M4 pick out crystals and dry
between pieces of filter paper = 2 marks
M3 filter off crystals
M4 wash crystals with a small amount of cold water and
leave to dry or dry crystals between filter paper
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S9/02
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
Answer
Marks
2026
Further Information
2 each correct tick = 1 mark
11
Solid D floats in liquid A and floats in liquid C.
three boxes ticked = 1 mark maximum
Solid D floats in liquid A and sinks in liquid B.
four or more boxes ticked = 0 marks
Accept any indication of the correct answer e.g.
circling or underlining, but ticking takes
precedence
Question
12
Answer
Marks
2 each correct answer = 1 mark
any two from
(idea that) might be biased
(idea that) might be incorrect
(idea that) not be written by experts
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Further Information
Page 11 of 14
S9/02
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
Answer
Marks
Further Information
2 correct heading = 1 mark
13(a)
13(b)
2026
correct insertion of numbers = 1 mark
(time in minutes)
volume of gas
in cm3
0
0
Note if units in body of table, accept correct
numbers but do not award heading mark
1
25
Accept correct rows in any order
2
40
3
48
4
52
wear goggles or gloves
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1 Ignore use lab coat or facemask
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Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
Answer
Marks
2026
Further Information
2 each correct answer = 1 mark
14
(idea that) drop the ball from different heights and measure
the depth of the crater
and
any one from
repeat each drop height
use appropriate apparatus, e.g. ruler
(idea of) controlling variables, e.g. depth of sand, dampness
of sand, ball used
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S9/02
Science Stage 9 Paper 2 Mark Scheme
Question
15
Answer
Marks
Further Information
3 each correct answer = 1 mark
any three from
(idea that) the changes to the horse are due to genetic
changes over time
(idea that) present day horses do not need to escape from
other animals (so do not need 4 toes)
(idea that) present day horses do not all live in areas with
soft, wet ground (so do not need 4 toes)
(idea that) present day horses can now eat harder food (so
have developed hard teeth)
(idea that) present day horses do not need to be small to
hide (as are not escaping other animals)
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2026
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