Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

Cambridge International AS & A Level

Further Mathematics 9231
For examination from 2022
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023 v1
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Contents

Introduction.......................................................................................................................................................................4
Question 1........................................................................................................................................................................6
Example Candidate Response − Example 1...................................................................................................................6
Question 2........................................................................................................................................................................7
Example Candidate Response − Example 1...................................................................................................................7
Question 3........................................................................................................................................................................8
Example Candidate Response − Example 1...................................................................................................................8
Question 4........................................................................................................................................................................9
Example Candidate Response − Example 1...................................................................................................................9
Question 5......................................................................................................................................................................10
Example Candidate Response − Example 1.................................................................................................................10
Question 6......................................................................................................................................................................11
Example Candidate Response − Example 1.................................................................................................................11
Question 7......................................................................................................................................................................12
Example Candidate Response − Example 1.................................................................................................................12
Question 8......................................................................................................................................................................13
Example Candidate Response − Example 1.................................................................................................................13
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

Introduction
The main aim of this booklet is to exemplify standards for those teaching Cambridge International AS & A Level
Further Mathematics 9231 and to show how different levels of candidates’ performance relate to the subject’s
curriculum and assessment objectives.
In this booklet, candidate responses have been chosen from the June 2022 series to exemplify a range of answers for
all the questions on the question paper.
For each question, the response is annotated with a clear explanation of where and why marks were awarded or
omitted. In this way, it is possible for you to understand what candidates have done to gain their marks and what they
could do to improve their answers.
This document provides illustrative examples of candidate work with examiner commentary. These help teachers to
assess the standard required to achieve marks beyond the guidance of the mark scheme. Please also refer to the
June 2022 Examiner Report for further detail and guidance.
The questions and mark schemes used here are available to download from the School Support Hub. These files are:

9231 June 2022 Question Paper 23

9231 June 2022 Mark Scheme 23

Past exam resources and other teaching and learning resources are available on the School Support Hub:
www.cambridgeinternational.org/support

4
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

How to use this booklet

This booklet goes through the paper one question at a time. The candidate answers are set in a table. In the left-hand
column are the candidate answers, and in the right-hand column are the examiner comments.

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 The first derivative seen here

is correct and most candidates
could derive this using their prior
1 knowledge from 9709.

2 The second derivative is

2 also correct and the answer is
given to candidates on the List of
formulae (MF19) provided.

3 Working is shown and the

correct term is accepted for the
3 answer, although the question
asked for just the coefficient.

Answers are by real candidates in exam Examiner comments are

conditions. These show you the types of answers for alongside the answers. These
each level. Discuss and analyse the answers with your explain where and why marks
learners in the classroom to improve their skills. were awarded. This helps you
to interpret the standard of
Cambridge exams so you can
help your learners to refine their
exam technique.

5
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

Question 1

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 The argument given for the

third root is outside the range
specified in the question. This
highlights a common error
1 candidates make when the question
2 is not read carefully.

2 The first two roots have the

correct argument, but the modulus
of z should be the cube root of 14.
This common error can be avoided
by showing clear working, starting
from z3 in exponential form with the
correct argument and modulus.

Total mark awarded =

3 out of 5

6
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

Question 2

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 The first derivative seen here

1 is correct and most candidates
could derive this using their prior
knowledge from Cambridge
2 International AS & A Level
Mathematics 9709.

2 The second derivative is also

correct and the answer is given to
candidates on the List of formulae
(MF19) provided.

3
3 Working is shown and the
correct term is accepted for the
answer, although the question
asked for just the coefficient.
Mark for (a) = 4 out of 4

4 Good working is shown above,

and the correct integral is formed
using the formula for arc length;
4 this is not provided on the List
of formulae and candidates are
5 required to memorise it.

5 At this stage, it was common

to see the integral of sec written
incorrectly, as shown here, or the
answer written using a calculator
with no working. Note that the
integral is provided to candidates on
the List of formulae (MF19).
Mark for (b) = 2 out of 4

Total mark awarded =

6 out of 8

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

Question 3

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 1 This part of the question was

answered well with the candidate
showing full working when
expanding and factorising.
Mark for (a) = 4 out of 4

2 The candidate maintains

2
accuracy and uses correct
notation when manipulating the
characteristic equation.

3 The candidate spends time

substituting in for the matrices,
which was not required to answer
the question. This again highlights
the importance of reading the
question carefully and leaving the
answer in the required form.
Mark for (b) = 2 out of 3
3
Total mark awarded =
6 out of 7

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

Question 4

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 1 Most candidates used

parametric differentiation correctly.
However, it is required to show
enough working to justify the given
answer and the response here
highlights the point where many
candidates stopped prematurely.
Mark for (a) = 3 out of 4

2 The answer from part (a) is

correctly differentiated with respect
to t using prior knowledge from
Cambridge International AS & A
Level Mathematics 9709.
2
3 As for many candidates,
applying the chain rule to find the
second derivative is problematic
3 and, here, we see a misconception
that the first derivative of x with
respect to t needs to be squared.
Mark for (b) = 2 out of 5

Total mark awarded =

5 out of 9

9
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

Question 5

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 1 As seen here, most candidates

divided both sides of the equation
by and found the integrating
factor correctly by using partial
fractions or completing the square.

2 2 Many candidates made an error

when applying integration by parts
to the right-hand side. The incorrect
multiplication of when finding v
here emphasises the need to check
all working thoroughly, particularly
for high-tariff questions such as this.

3 Most candidates gained

method marks for substituting the
initial conditions and making y the
3 subject. However, as seen here,
the later accuracy marks were
often lost due to errors, such as the
one described above, from earlier
working.

Total mark awarded =

6 out of 9

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

Question 6

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 A correct expression is formed

here for the sum of the areas of
the rectangles and enough terms,
including the last, are written down.

2 Since the answer is given,

application of the laws of logarithms
needs to be explicit. As seen here,
some candidates did not show
enough working to gain the last two
marks for this part.
1 Mark for (a) = 2 out of 4

3 The correct rectangles are used

2 and enough terms, including the
last, are written down.

4 The last term here has not

3 been multiplied by and the
logarithms have been incorrectly
combined on the last line. Mistakes
such as these were common and
4 this again emphasises the need
for candidates to check their work
carefully.
Mark for (b) = 2 out of 4

5 Errors in the previous part often

made it impossible for candidates to
show that the difference is
5
proportional to , and hence justify
the given limit. An answer such
as the one seen here is a clear
indication that the answer to part (b)
is wrong.
Mark for (c) = 0 out of 2

Total mark awarded =

4 out of 10

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

Question 7

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 As seen here, most candidates

1 took the most efficient approach of
substituting y=c to find the particular
integral.

2 There was some inaccuracy

2
when solving linear equations to
find the values of the constants
and some problems with notation.
Where errors occurred, such as in
this response, it was quite common
to see the particular integral set to
zero, giving an incorrect solution.
Mark for (a) = 4 out of 8

3 Those who were unsuccessful

with part (a) were usually unable
to derive and solve an equation of
the form sinh(ax)=b, which was the
required approach for this part. The
response shown here emphasises
the importance of sense-checking
answers. When arriving at an
impossible answer, such as the
one shown here, candidates should
check their work for the whole
question.
Mark for (b) = 0 out of 3

3
Total mark awarded =
4 out of 11

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Example Candidate Responses – Paper 2

Question 8

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 1 Almost all candidates

recognised the integral, although
it was common to see the arbitrary
constant omitted.
Mark for (a) = 2 out of 2

2 2 As seen here, most candidates

integrated by parts first, using the
result from part (a) to inform their
choice of parts. To progress further,
it is required to apply a standard
trigonometric identity provided to
candidates on the List of formulae
(MF19).
Mark for (b) = 1 out of 5

3 After expanding using the

binomial expansion, terms are
grouped together clearly. As in this
response, there were often errors in
the denominators of the determined
3 constants which again emphasises
the importance of checking working
thoroughly.
Mark for (c) = 3 out of 5

4 The candidate applies the

reduction formula from part (b) and
the result from part (c). As seen
here, inaccuracy from part (c) led to
4 an incorrect answer here.
Mark for (d) = 2 out of 4

Total mark awarded =

8 out of 16

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© Cambridge University Press & Assessment 2023 v1