Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610/62 is the May/June 2026 Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical), variant 2. It lasts 1 hour, is worth 40 marks and is sat by Core and Extended candidates whose school enters them for Paper 6 rather than the practical test. It had two questions: a 23-mark question on a vitamin C investigation and kiwi fruit, and a 17-mark question on beans that ended in a 6-mark planning task. This guide goes through the paper part by part and shows what the official mark scheme gave marks for. The paper and its mark scheme are free on the Tutopiya Learning Portal.

For an overview of all six 0610 papers from this series, see IGCSE Biology 0610 May/June 2026 past papers: what came up and how it was marked.

Paper 6 and Paper 5 share the same contexts this year. Question 2 asks the same parts on both, with the same mark scheme, and Question 1 uses the same vitamin C test and kiwi fruit data. The 0610/52 Practical Test guide is the best extra practice for this paper.

0610/62 at a glance

Question	Topic	Marks	Main command word
1(a)	Vitamin C dilutions: syringe readings, results table, variables, method errors	9	Prepare, calculate, suggest
1(b)	Mean and estimate for drink D; Benedict’s test; another vitamin C test	6	Calculate, describe
1(c)	Graph of vitamin C in kiwi fruit against drying time	8	Plot, describe and explain
2(a)	Drawing three beans in a pod; magnification	7	Draw, calculate
2(b)	Variables in a bean germination experiment	4	Identify, suggest
2(c)	Planning a catalase investigation using beans of different ages	6	Plan
	Total	40

Question-by-question walkthrough

Question 1: vitamin C and kiwi fruit (23 marks)

A student made three dilutions of a 0.6% vitamin C solution, added each to starch suspension, and dripped in iodine solution from a 5 cm³ syringe until the blue-black colour stayed. The more iodine needed, the more vitamin C in the sample.

• Concentration in V3 (1 mark): 4 cm³ of 0.6% solution in a total of 12 cm³ gives 0.2%.
• Results table from the syringe diagram (3 marks): one mark each for: a table with at least two columns and a header line; headings with units for the percentage concentration and for the volume of iodine solution remaining (or used) in cm³; and all three concentrations and three volumes recorded to match the headings. The readings remaining were 1.4, 3.0 and 4.6 cm³ for V1, V2 and V3. Units in the data cells were rejected.
• Volume added (1 mark, all three needed): 5.0 minus each reading gives 3.6, 2.0 and 0.4 cm³, with ecf from your table.
• Dependent variable (1 mark): the volume of iodine solution added (or remaining, or used).
• Why blue-black appeared (1 mark): starch is present, and iodine solution turns blue-black with starch.
• Using one syringe for all three vitamin C solutions (1 mark): a greater volume of iodine solution would be needed for V3, because the syringe carries over some of the stronger solutions.
• Why measuring volume beats counting drops (1 mark): drops vary in size, or drops can be miscounted.
• Mean for drink D (1 mark): the three volumes were 2.8, 2.9 and 2.7 cm³, so the mean is 2.8 cm³.
• Estimating vitamin C in drink D (1 mark): 2.8 cm³ lies between the volumes added for 0.4% (2.0 cm³) and 0.6% (3.6 cm³), so any value greater than 0.4% and less than 0.6% scored, with ecf.
• More confidence in the estimate (1 mark): test at least one more concentration between 0.4% and 0.6%, or use smaller intervals of concentration.
• Testing for reducing sugars (2 marks): use Benedict’s solution and heat it.
• Another test for vitamin C (1 mark): DCPIP.
• Plotting the kiwi fruit graph (4 marks): axes labelled with units (drying time / hours and vitamin C concentration / mg per 100 g); a linear scale using at least half the grid in both directions; all five points plotted to within half a small square; and a suitable line. A ruled dot-to-dot line or a smooth curve both count, but neither may extend beyond the first and last points, and thick or feathered lines were rejected.
• Describe and explain (2 marks): the concentration increases and then levels off; it rises because water is being lost, or levels off because the fruit has lost all the water it can.
• Reading the graph at 10 hours (2 marks): one mark for showing the reading line on your graph and one for a value that matches your own line to within half a small square. The table gives 185 at 8 hours and 230 at 12 hours, so a ruled line between them puts 10 hours roughly halfway.

Question 2: beans, germination and catalase (17 marks)

• Drawing the beans in the pod (4 marks): a single clear, unbroken outline; at least as large as the photograph; the gap between the top and middle beans smaller than the gap between the middle and bottom beans (touching was accepted); and the top bean touching or overlapping the edge of the pod. Shading, ruled lines, or a drawing that runs into the text were all rejected.
• Magnification (3 marks): line PQ measures 33 mm (32 to 34 mm accepted). With the bean’s actual length of 19 mm, 33 ÷ 19 = 1.74, which is ×1.7 to two significant figures; 34 mm gives ×1.8. One mark each for the measurement, the calculation and the rounding, with ecf. Writing mm on the magnification answer line was rejected, because magnification has no units.
• Independent variable (1 mark): temperature.
• A controlled variable (1 mark): the volume of water, the number of beans, or how often the beans were watered.
• Why so many beans (1 mark): to identify anomalies or reduce their effect, to get a representative sample, or in case some beans do not germinate. “To prevent anomalous results” was rejected, because more beans cannot stop an anomaly happening.
• Apparatus for 45 cm³ of water (1 mark): a measuring cylinder.
• Planning the catalase investigation (6 marks, any six of nine points):
  • at least two different ages of bean (the independent variable)
  • break up or blend the beans to extract the catalase
  • add them to hydrogen peroxide
  • a described or drawn way to collect the oxygen, such as a gas syringe or an upturned measuring cylinder over water
  • three controlled variables, one mark each, from: type of bean, collection time or volume, temperature, pH, mass or size of beans, volume of hydrogen peroxide and concentration of hydrogen peroxide
  • at least three trials
  • a relevant safety precaution, such as goggles or gloves

Where the marks are on 0610/62

• Recording and presenting data carried 11 marks: the results table (3), the graph (4) and the drawing (4). These follow fixed rules, so they are the most reliable marks on the paper.
• The command words: plan 6; calculate 5; plot 4; draw 4; prepare (the table) 3; state 3; suggest 3; describe 3; estimate 3; identify 2; describe and explain 2; complete 1; explain 1. Together they make 40.
• The planning question is the single biggest part, at 6 marks. It is marked against a checklist, so a list that covers all nine points can score full marks.
• Reading and handling numbers carried 7 marks: the 0.2% dilution, the volumes added, the mean, the drink D estimate and the magnification, on top of reading the three syringes for the table.
• Evaluating the method carried 4 marks: reusing a syringe, drops against volume, a better range of concentrations and the reason for using 200 beans. The syringe and drops questions appear only on Paper 6.

How to self-mark 0610/62 with the mark scheme

1. Learn the abbreviations first. A semicolon separates marking points, a slash shows alternatives for the same point, A means accept, R means reject, I means ignore, ecf means error carried forward and AVP means any other valid point.
2. Check your syringe readings against 1.4, 3.0 and 4.6 cm³ before anything else, because the volumes added, the estimate and the table all depend on them. Ecf protects the later parts if a reading is off.
3. Check your table against each rule in turn. Count the columns, look for a header line, check that every heading has a unit after a slash, and make sure no unit appears in a data cell.
4. Check your graph with a ruler. Does the scale fill half the grid each way? Is every point within half a small square? Does the line stop at the first and last points?
5. Mark your drawing against the four points, especially the spacing of the beans and the top bean touching the pod. Shading costs the outline mark.
6. Tick the planning checklist. Count how many of the nine points your plan contains and stop at six. Three controlled variables are three separate marks.

Sit 0610/62 as a timed mock

The paper allows 60 minutes for 40 marks, about one and a half minutes per mark. A workable plan:

Block	Marks	Time
Question 1(a): syringe readings, table, variables, method	9	13 minutes
Question 1(b): mean, drink D and food tests	6	9 minutes
Question 1(c): graph and its questions	8	12 minutes
Question 2(a): drawing and magnification	7	10 minutes
Question 2(b): germination variables	4	4 minutes
Question 2(c): catalase plan	6	9 minutes
Check tables, units and the graph	–	3 minutes

Bring a ruler and a sharp HB pencil: the graph, the drawing and the PQ measurement all need them.

Other May/June 2026 0610 papers

• 0610 Paper 12 (Core Multiple Choice)
• 0610 Paper 22 (Extended Multiple Choice)
• 0610 Paper 32 (Core Theory)
• 0610 Paper 42 (Extended Theory)
• 0610 Paper 52 (Practical Test)

Practise and download

• Download 0610/62 and its mark scheme on the Learning Portal →
• All 0610 May/June 2026 papers: overview and marking patterns
• Try a free IGCSE Biology quiz

Need help with a 0610 topic? Book a free trial lesson with an IGCSE Biology tutor →

Frequently asked questions

What was on 0610 Paper 62 May/June 2026? +

Question 1 gave the results of a vitamin C test using starch and iodine solution: you read three syringes, built a table, calculated volumes and a mean, estimated vitamin C in a drink and plotted kiwi fruit data. Question 2 covered drawing beans in a pod, magnification, a germination experiment and a catalase plan.

How many marks is 0610/62 and how long is it? +

It is out of 40 marks and lasts 1 hour. Question 1 is worth 23 marks and Question 2 is worth 17.

What were the syringe readings in 0610/62 Question 1? +

The volumes of iodine solution remaining were 1.4, 3.0 and 4.6 cm³ for V1, V2 and V3. Taking each from 5.0 gives 3.6, 2.0 and 0.4 cm³ added. The mean for drink D was 2.8 cm³, so its vitamin C concentration lies between 0.4% and 0.6%.

What was the magnification answer on 0610/62? +

Line PQ measures 33 mm (32 to 34 mm accepted) and the bean is 19 mm long, so the magnification is ×1.7 to two significant figures. A 34 mm measurement gives ×1.8.

Is 0610/62 the same as 0610/52? +

They use the same investigations, and Question 2 is the same on both. Paper 6 replaces the hands-on vitamin C practical with results to analyse, adds questions on reusing a syringe, counting drops and DCPIP, and is 15 minutes shorter.

Where can I download 0610/62 May/June 2026 and its mark scheme? +

Both are free to download and print on the Tutopiya Learning Portal, on the Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 past papers page.

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