May/June 2026 Paper 61

2026 · 3 questions · 18 parts · 40 marks

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1(a)(i)1(a)(ii)1(a)(iii)1(a)(iv)1(a)(v)1(a)(vi)1(a)(vii)1(b)(i)1(b)(ii)

–/19 mks

–/6 mks

3(a)(i)3(a)(ii)3(b)(i)3(b)(ii)3(b)(iii)3(b)(iv)3(b)(v)3(c)

–/15 mks

Context for question 1

Cells from the root of a beet plant contain a red pigment. A student investigated the effect of surface area on the diffusion of pigment out of cylinders of beetroot tissue. The student was provided with four identical cylinders of beetroot tissue that had been cut to 4 cm in length, and a beaker of hot water at

60^{\circ} C

. The student used this method: step 1 Label four test-tubes 1, 2, 4 and 8. step 2 Put one of the beetroot cylinders into test-tube 1. step 3 Put 10

cm^{3}

of hot water into test-tube 1 and put a bung in the top of the test-tube. step 4 Start the stop-clock. Shake the test-tube for two minutes. step 5 After two minutes, stop the stop-clock. step 6 Remove and discard the beetroot cylinder from test-tube 1 so that only the liquid remains in the test-tube. step 7 Use the scalpel and ruler to cut a second beetroot cylinder into two pieces of equal length, as shown in Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1, a beetroot cylinder drawn lying on its side, with a dashed line across its middle and an arrow labelled cut here to make two pieces of equal length

Put both of the pieces of beetroot into test-tube 2. step 8 Put 10

cm^{3}

of hot water into test-tube 2 and put a bung in the top of the test-tube. step 9 Start the stop-clock. Shake test-tube 2 until the colour of the liquid in test-tube 2 is the same colour as the liquid in test-tube 1. Stop the stop-clock and record the time. step 10 Cut the third beetroot cylinder into four pieces of equal length. Put the four pieces of beetroot into test-tube 4. step 11 Repeat steps 8 and 9 with test-tube 4. step 12 Cut the fourth beetroot cylinder into eight pieces of equal length. Put the eight pieces of beetroot into test-tube 8. step 13 Repeat steps 8 and 9 with test-tube 8. step 14 Measure the final temperature of the hot water in the beaker and record this measurement.

1(a)(i)Easy1 mark

Figure 1.2 shows part of the thermometer from step 14. Record the temperature shown on the thermometer in the space provided.

Figure 1.2, part of a thermometer scale from 20 to 50 °C marked every 1 °C, with the liquid column ending between 40 and 50

Answer

1(a)(ii)Medium4 marks

Figure 1.3 shows the time taken for the liquid in each test-tube to become the same colour as the liquid in test-tube 1.

Figure 1.3, three stop-clocks reading in minutes:seconds, labelled test-tube 2 (01:13), test-tube 4 (01:05) and test-tube 8 (00:27)

Prepare a table and record the results shown in Figure 1.3. Convert the times on the stop-clocks to seconds.

Draw with the mouse or a finger.

1(a)(iii)Easy1 mark

State a conclusion for the results.

1(a)(iv)Easy2 marks

State the independent and dependent variables in this investigation.

independent variable

dependent variable

1(a)(v)Easy1 mark

The temperature of the hot water decreased during the investigation. Suggest one way of improving the method to reduce this source of error.

Your answer

1(a)(vi)Medium2 marks

State two possible sources of error for the method used in step 9.

Your answer

1(a)(vii)Medium1 mark

Using a scalpel to cut the beetroot cylinders was a safety hazard. State one safety precaution that would reduce the risk of an injury.

Context for 1(b)

Figure 1.4 is a photograph of a leaf from a beet plant, Beta vulgaris.

Figure 1.4, a photograph of a beet leaf with its stalk, magnification ×0.82, with a straight line PQ drawn beside it across its maximum width

1(b)(i)Medium4 marks

Draw a large diagram of the beet leaf shown in Figure 1.4.

Draw with the mouse or a finger.

1(b)(ii)Medium3 marks

Line PQ on Figure 1.4 represents the maximum width of the beet leaf. Measure the length of line PQ on Figure 1.4. Calculate the actual width of the beet leaf using the formula and your measurement.

magnification = \frac{length of line PQ in Figure 1.4}{actual width of the beet leaf}

Give your answer to one decimal place.

length of PQ

actual width of the beet leaf