Cambridge IGCSE™: Short Answer and Data Response
Cambridge IGCSE™: Short Answer and Data Response
Published
This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.
Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.
Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.
Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2022 series for most
Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge International A and AS Level and Cambridge Pre-U components, and some
Cambridge O Level components.
These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers. They should be applied alongside the
specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these
marking principles.
the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.
Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).
marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit is given for valid answers which go beyond the
scope of the syllabus and mark scheme, referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
marks are not deducted for errors
marks are not deducted for omissions
answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these features are specifically assessed by the
question as indicated by the mark scheme. The meaning, however, should be unambiguous.
Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the application of generic level
descriptors.
Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question (however; the use of the full mark range may
be limited according to the quality of the candidate responses seen).
Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should not be awarded with grade thresholds or
grade descriptors in mind.
a DO credit answers which are worded differently from the mark scheme if they clearly convey the same meaning (unless the mark
scheme requires a specific term)
b DO credit alternative answers/examples which are not written in the mark scheme if they are correct
c DO credit answers where candidates give more than one correct answer in one prompt/numbered/scaffolded space where extended
writing is required rather than list-type answers. For example, questions that require n reasons (e.g. State two reasons …).
d DO NOT credit answers simply for using a ‘key term’ unless that is all that is required. (Check for evidence it is understood and not used
wrongly.)
e DO NOT credit answers which are obviously self-contradicting or trying to cover all possibilities
f DO NOT give further credit for what is effectively repetition of a correct point already credited unless the language itself is being tested.
This applies equally to ‘mirror statements’ (i.e. polluted/not polluted).
g DO NOT require spellings to be correct, unless this is part of the test. However spellings of syllabus terms must allow for clear and
unambiguous separation from other syllabus terms with which they may be confused (e.g. Corrasion/Corrosion)
4 Annotation:
For point marking, ticks can be used to indicate correct answers and crosses can be used to indicate wrong answers. There is no direct
relationship between ticks and marks. Ticks have no defined meaning for levels of response marking.
For levels of response marking, the level awarded should be annotated on the script.
Other annotations will be used by examiners as agreed during standardisation, and the meaning will be understood by all examiners
who marked that paper.
BOD Benefit of doubt Used when the benefit of the doubt is given in order to reward a response.
TV Too vague Used when parts of the answer are considered to be too vague.
NAQ Not answered Used when the answer or parts of the answer are not answering the question asked.
question
K Knowledge Indicates knowledge and understanding of the concepts and issues relating to the question.
EVAL Evaluation Indicates where the answer has demonstrated evaluation (part (e) questions only).
OFR Own figure rule If a mistake is made in a calculation, and the incorrect figure that results from the mistake is used for
subsequent calculations.
SEEN Noted but no Indicates that content has been recognised but not rewarded.
credit given
Award 2 marks for a full definition. Award 1 mark for a partial definition.
When a product is priced in line or just below competitors’ prices (to try to capture
more of the market) [2]
OR
Setting a price similar to that of competitors products which are already
established in the market. [2]
OR
When the price of a good is set at the same level as other products in the market
and at a level customers expect or are willing to pay [2]
Award 2 marks for a full definition. Award 1 mark for a partial definition.
A financial plan for the marketing of a product or product range (for a specified
period of time) [2]
OR
The amount of money made available by a business for its marketing activities
during a particular period of time [2]
1(c) Outline two possible threats to Pamela’s business of using e-commerce. 4 To use words from the stem as
application, the reference must be
Award 1 mark for each relevant threat (max 2). appropriate (i.e. make sense) in
relation to the point being made.
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business (max 2).
The following words are likely to be
Points might include: appropriate for this question:
Increased competition [k] which makes it harder to calculate a competitive Gift shop
price [app] (celebration) Cards/toys/candy
Unfamiliarity / customers are less likely to buy from a business they don’t Entrepreneur/the owner
know [k] leading to fewer sales of toys [app] 30 years ago
No face-to-face contact which could make it difficult to establish a relationship 5 employees
[k] so difficult to gain customer loyalty [app] Customer loyalty
Website design must be clear / attractive / easy to use, or customers will not Competitive pricing
visit [k] Marketing budget
Limited/no access to the internet [k] Sales promotion
Increasing costs as a specialist may need to be employed / website design /
maintenance of sites [k] Other appropriate examples in context
May need a larger space to store products increasing costs [k] can still be credited.
Packaging/delivery of each item will increase costs per product [k]
Larger number of returns could lead to higher business costs [k] Can outline two separate costs if both
All customers can see negative reviews [k] clearly related to Pamela/business.
1(d) Explain two methods Pamela’s business can use to maintain customer 6 To use words from the stem as
loyalty. application, the reference must be
appropriate (i.e. make sense) in
Award 1 mark for identification of each relevant method (max 2). relation to the point being made.
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business (max 2). The following words are likely to be
appropriate for this question:
Award 1 mark for each relevant explanation (max 2). Gift shop
(celebration) Cards/toys/candy
Points might include: 5 employees
Communicate with customers e.g. newsletters, social media [k] so that they Entrepreneur
remember your business [an] when they next need candy (sweets) / toys / 30 years ago
cards [app] Competitive pricing
Offer rewards to existing customers / introduce a loyalty scheme [k] using Marketing budget
money from the marketing budget [app] so consumers have an incentive to Sales promotion
return [an]
Train staff / offer good quality service [k] from all 5 employees [app] Other appropriate examples in context
Extra services or examples such as delivery / credit facilities [k] can still be credited.
Ask for feedback / carry out market research [k] so the items you are selling
match customer needs [an]
Resolve complaints quickly [k] so that customers don’t go to other businesses
[an]
Introduce new products / high quality products [k] satisfying the customers’
needs [an]
Brand loyalty [k]
1(e) Do you think being a risk-taker is a more important characteristic of a 6 This is a general question so there are
successful entrepreneur than being creative? Justify your answer. no marks for application.
Creative:
New ideas [k] leading to increased sales/revenue [an]
Creativity adds value [k] so higher prices can be charged [an].
Creativity alone does not guarantee success [k] if customers do not purchase
[an]
Award 2 marks for a full definition. Award 1 mark for a partial definition.
Businesses owned by shareholders, but they can sell shares to the public and
their shares are tradeable on the stock exchange [2]
OR
Often a large company, owned by shareholders who have limited liability. The
company can sell its shares to the general public [2]
OR
A company that sells its shares to the general public through a stock exchange
(because the company can sell shares to anyone, it can raise massive amounts of
money) [2]
OR
A business whose shares can be freely bought and sold to the general public [2]
2(b) Calculate the margin of safety for CTF’s children’s beds. Show your 2
working.
Correct method but incorrect answer e.g. Current outputbreak-even output [1]
Award only 1 mark if 4000 is written as part of the answer but is not given as the
final answer.
2(c) Outline two ways an increase in inflation might affect CTF. 4 To use words from the stem as
application, the reference must be
Award 1 mark for each relevant way (max 2). appropriate (i.e. make sense) in
relation to the point being made.
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business (max 2).
The following words are likely to be
Points might include: appropriate for this question:
Employees might ask for pay rise [k] reducing its margin of safety [app] Public limited company (PLC)
Increase in raw material costs[k] for manufacturing (beds) [app] (children’s) Beds
Prices may have to increase [k] Factory/manufacturer
Fewer sales / customers cannot afford to buy [k] the beds [app] Margin of safety / 4000
Batch production
Other appropriate responses should also be credited. Environmental pressures
14 000 (break-even output)
18 000 (current output)
25 000 (capacity)
2(d) Explain two possible advantages to CTF of using batch production. 6 To use words from the stem as
application, the reference must be
Award 1 mark for identification of each relevant advantage (max 2). appropriate (i.e., make sense) in
relation to the point being made.
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business (max 2).
The following words are likely to be
Award 1 mark for each relevant explanation (max 2) appropriate for this question:
Public limited company (PLC)
Points might include: (children’s) Beds
Flexible [k] easy to change the type of beds [app] to adapt to customer Factory/manufacturer
demands [an] Margin of safety / 4000
Economies of scale / materials can be bought in bulk [k] which can help Environmental pressures
reduce average costs [an] improving the margin of safety [app] 14 000 (break-even output)
Production may not be affected to any great extent if machinery breaks down 18 000 (current output)
[k] so some output made [an] so help reach its break-even output of 14 000 25 000 (capacity)
[app]
Variety of products [k] which could lead to increased sales [an] Other appropriate examples in context
Variety of tasks can motivate workers [k] leading to less absenteeism / lower can still be credited.
labour turnover [an] at the factory [app]
Spread risk (as can make more than one type of product) [k] Advantages should focus on
advantages to the business not
Other appropriate responses should also be credited. employees. Answers such as variety of
work on own are too vague [tv].
2(e) Do you think manufacturing businesses should always respond to 6 This is a general question so there are
environmental pressures? Justify your answer. no marks for application.
Award 2 marks for a full definition. Award 1 mark for a partial definition.
(Total sum of) money invested into the business by the owners of the
company [2]
OR
Share capital plus reserves [2]
OR
Total assets minus total liabilities [2]
3(b) Identify two financial statements a public limited company is legally 2 Only award the first two responses
required to publish each year. given.
Award 1 mark for each financial statement. Do not award cash-flow forecast.
Two from:
Income statement (Profit and loss)
Statement of financial position (Balance sheet)
Cash-flow statement/statement of cash flows
Statement of changes in equity
3(c) State whether each of the following are classified as a current asset or a 4
current liability.
Overdraftcurrent liability
Trade receivablescurrent asset
Trade payablescurrent liability
Cash in bankcurrent asset
3(d) Explain one way each of the following stakeholder groups might use VCG’s 6 To use words from the stem as
accounts: application, the reference must be
appropriate (i.e., make sense) in
Award 1 mark for identification of each relevant way (max 2). relation to the point being made.
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business (max 2). The following words are likely to be
appropriate for this question:
Award 1 mark for each relevant explanation (max 2). Bags or examples such as
briefcase / travel bag
Points might include: (second) Factory
Shareholders: $2m (revenue)
Help assess business performance / profits [k] to see whether they will $800 000 (equity)
receive a dividend / return on their investment [an] from this bag manufacturer $300 000 (current assets)
[app] $250 000 (current liabilities)
Help decide whether to continue to invest [k] as the business is looking to 1.2 (current ratio)
open a second factory [app] which could mean less dividends paid [an] Highquality
Assess the liquidity [k] they do not want to invest in a business with serious 50 / Skilled workers
cash or liquidity problems [an]
To compare performance over time [k] and how much the $800 000 in equity Other appropriate examples in context
increases [app] to decide whether they should take their money and invest can still be credited.
elsewhere [an]
Compare performance between different businesses [k] to decide whether it Candidates must quote the numbers to
is a good investment [an] be awarded application for use of
Table 3.1 information.
Suppliers:
Can see the total value / level of debt [k] current liabilities $250 000 [app] to Calculation of current ratio is not [an]
help decide whether they should offer (more) credit [an] as it does not answer the question.
Assess whether the business has sufficient cash [k] within current assets of
$300 000 [app] for the business to be able to repay them when debts become
due [an]
Assess profitability / level of sales [k] successful business may need more
materials so maintains or increase revenue for the supplier [an] especially as
make high-quality products [app]
3(e) Do you think access to labour is the most important factor for a 6 This is a general question so there are
manufacturing business to consider when deciding where to locate a new no marks for application.
factory? Justify your answer.
For evaluation to be awarded
Award up to 2 marks for identification of relevant points. justification will usually follow on from
relevant analysis of points.
Award up to 2 marks for relevant development of points.
Award 2 marks for a justified decision as to whether access to labour is the most
important factor for a manufacturing business to consider when deciding where to
locate a new factory.
Access to labour:
Skilled labour may be difficult to find/recruit [k] which could increase
recruitment/labour costs [an] but can use machinery to reduce the need for
labour [an]
Labour intensive production requires access to labour [k] without labour they
cannot operate[an]
Can depend on type of workers required (k) unskilled workers may be easy to
find [an]
4(a) Identify two objectives for a business organisation in the public sector. 2 Only award the first two responses
given.
Award 1 mark per objective.
Award 2 marks for a full definition. Award 1 mark for a partial definition.
4(c) Outline two ways MBH can use ideas from Herzberg’s theory to motivate its 4 To use words from the stem as
employees. application, the reference must be
appropriate (i.e. make sense) in
Award 1 mark for each relevant point. relation to the point being made.
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business. The following words are likely to be
appropriate for this question:
Points might include: 440 / doctors
Could give employees more responsibility [k] in the hospital [app] (5) Hospitals / or related words
Offer more interesting work [k] as many are skilled employees [app] 5600 employees
Offer more praise for good work [k] Public sector
Give chances for promotion [k] as there is a tall organisational structure [app] Communication barriers
Phone/email
Other appropriate responses should also be credited. Long chain of command
Tall organisational structure
Skilled employees
4(d) Explain how MBH might reduce or remove each of the following 6 To use words from the stem as
communication barriers: application, the reference must be
appropriate (i.e. make sense) in
Award 1 mark for identification of each relevant way (max 2). relation to the point being made.
Award 1 mark for each relevant reference to this business (max 2). The following words are likely to be
appropriate for this question:
Award 1 mark for each relevant explanation (max 2). 440 / doctors
(5) Hospitals / or related words
Points might include: 5600 employees
Messages lost: Public sector
Ask for feedback [k] to ensure that the message is received [an] by all 5 Phone/email
hospitals [app] Long chain of command
Make sure the medium of communication is suitable/works [k] Tall organisational structure
Delayering/ flattening the structure [k] because it is a long chain of command Externally recruited
[app]
Other appropriate examples in context
Use of jargon: can still be credited.
Use simple language [k] on the phone/email [app] so easy for everyone /
receiver to understand [an]
Make sure language is appropriate to the receiver [k] to make sure there is no
misunderstanding [an]
Providing opportunities for the receiver to ask questions [k]
4(e) Do you think an organisation should always use external recruitment when 6 This is a general question so there are
recruiting skilled employees? Justify your answer. no marks for application.
Award 2 marks for a justified decision as to whether an organisation should Advantages of external recruitment
always use external recruitment when recruiting skilled employees. can be disadvantages of internal but
do not award the same point twice as
Points might include: mirror answers are not accepted.
External recruitment:
Bring in new skills / ideas [k] which could help improve productivity /
effectiveness / efficiency of business [an]
Can bring in valuable knowledge and experience of competition [k] gaining a
competitive edge [an]
Wider choice of applicants [k] increases possibility of finding best person for
job [an]
No knowledge of how business works / current operations [k] so might need
induction training [an]
Avoids risk of upsetting employees when someone internal is promoted [k]
Higher recruitment costs [k]
More time spent / takes longer to fill vacancy [k]
Required if no suitable candidates in the business [k]
Internal recruitment :
Can help motivate other employees [k] which could lead to fewer people
leaving / reduce absenteeism [an]
Internal promotion can create another vacancy that then needs to be filled [k]