Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

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 – 1..................................................................................................................................6
Example Candidate Response – 2..................................................................................................................................7
Question 2........................................................................................................................................................................8
Example Candidate Response – 1..................................................................................................................................8
Example Candidate Response – 2..................................................................................................................................9
Question 3......................................................................................................................................................................10
Example Candidate Response – 1................................................................................................................................10
Question 4......................................................................................................................................................................11
Example Candidate Response – 1................................................................................................................................11
Example Candidate Response – 2................................................................................................................................12
Question 5......................................................................................................................................................................13
Example Candidate Response – 1................................................................................................................................13
Example Candidate Response – 2................................................................................................................................15
Question 6......................................................................................................................................................................17
Example Candidate Response – 1................................................................................................................................17
Example Candidate Response – 2................................................................................................................................18
Question 7......................................................................................................................................................................19
Example Candidate Response – 1................................................................................................................................19
Example Candidate Response – 2................................................................................................................................21
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

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 33

9231 June 2022 Mark Scheme 33

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 3

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 This was a very common

1 error. The force acting on P
is a resistive force and the
acceleration is measured in a
positive direction, so there needs
to be a minus sign in the N2L
equation.

2 The method of simplifying

2 the integrand is correct, but a
coefficient of 3 has been dropped
at this step.
Examiner comments are
Answers are by real candidates in exam alongside the answers. These
conditions. These show you the types of answers for explain where and why marks
each level. Discuss and analyse the answers with your were awarded. This helps you
learners in the classroom to improve their skills. to interpret the standard of
Cambridge exams so you can
help your learners to refine their
exam technique.

5
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Question 1

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 From the first line of working,

1 the candidate clearly divides the
lamina into two triangles and
a rectangle. The areas of the
three parts have been calculated
2 correctly. However, it is always wise
to draw a diagram to illustrate the
3 situation. Those candidates who
omitted to draw a diagram often
made the error which this candidate
has made in the second line of
working.

2 The distance required here is

the distance of the centre of mass
of the triangle OCD, where D is
the point (3, 0), from the y-axis. It
should be two-thirds of the length
of OD, measured from O, that is
2. It was a common error for this
distance to be taken as one-third of
the length of OD from O. A diagram
would have been likely to help the
candidate to avoid this error.

3 The moments equation is

correct apart from the error already
noted in line 2 of the working

Total mark awarded =

2 out of 4

6
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Example Candidate Response – 2 Examiner comments

1 The candidate considers the

area of the lamina by imagining it as
a rectangle with a triangle
subtracted at each end. These
areas are correct. The centre of
mass of the rectangle is also
correct. However, the centres of
1 mass of the two triangles are
incorrect. This illustrates a common
error when finding the centres of
mass of the component areas of the
lamina. The centre of mass of a
triangular lamina is two-thirds of the
distance from a vertex along one of
the sides. So, for triangle 1 this
2
should be of 3 and for triangle 2 it

should be of 6. The distances

in the table should be 1 for triangle
1 and 13 for triangle 2. This
example illustrates the type of
error made in finding the centres of
mass of the component parts of a
composite lamina.

2 The moments equation is

correct following through with
the errors in the distances of the
centres of mass from the y-axis.

Total mark awarded =

2 out of 4

7
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Question 2

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 1 The candidate forms the

energy-work done equation.
Each term is correct, and the sign
attached to each is correct. Three
marks are awarded at this stage.
2
2 The candidate does some
simplification and obtains a correct
homogeneous equation in x and
a. This is the point where some
candidates stopped, not recognising
that multiplication through by 24
will give a quadratic equation which
can easily be factorised. This type
of quadratic equation, with one
variable, x, and one fixed quantity
(here, a) given in the question is
common in Mechanics. It can be
solved, either by factorisation or by
use of the formula to give x in terms
of a.

Total mark awarded =

3 out of 5

8
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Example Candidate Response – 2 Examiner comments

1 1 The candidate attempts to form

the energy-work done equation for
this situation. There is a loss in
Kinetic Energy, a gain in Elastic
Potential Energy and work done
against friction. The first two of
these are correct, but the last is not.
This is a common error, where the
frictional force, mg, is used instead
of the work done term. The frictional
force needs to be multiplied by the
distance moved by the particle, in
this case, x. A mark is awarded for
the correct Elastic Potential Energy
term, but no further marks for an
energy-work done equation in which
one of the terms is simply a force.

Total mark awarded =

1 out of 5

9
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Question 3

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 This equation is correct. The

1 horizontal and vertical components
of the velocity are squared and
added and equated to the given
speed.

2 2 The simplification of the

left-hand-side is correct, but 15
squared, on the right-hand-side is
not equal to 625. Errors in this part
were not common, but this is an
example of the type of arithmetic
error that was seen.
Mark for (a) = 4 out of 5

3 The method in this part

3
is correct, but the arithmetical
error in part (a) has led to further
inaccuracy.
Mark for (b) = 1 out of 3

Total mark awarded =

5 out of 8

10
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Question 4

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 This is an attempt to use

Newton's second law (N2L) at the
point A, but it lacks an acceleration
1 term. This would suggest that
the candidate thinks that there is
no initial velocity. However, this
2 initial velocity does appear in the
energy equation, so there is an
inconsistency. The first step in
answering any question on vertical
circular motion is to draw a diagram
with all the given information added.

2 This is an attempt to use

N2L at the point B. It includes the
3 tension, the correct component
of the weight and the correct
acceleration term. However, there
is a sign error. The final term should
be positive. This error was often
seen when a candidate attempts
to solve the problem without first
drawing a diagram. It cannot be
emphasised enough that a diagram
is an essential tool in solving a
mechanics problem involving
motion in a vertical circle. A simple
diagram with the particle shown in
two different positions and forces
added will greatly reduce the
possibility of sign errors.

3 This is a correct expression of

the energy equation.
Mark for (a) = 3 out of 6

4 The method mark is awarded

4 here. The candidate uses the
incorrect value from part (a) in a
correct equation found in part (a).
Mark for (b) = 1 out of 2

Total mark awarded =

4 out of 8

11
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Example Candidate Response – 2 Examiner comments

1 This is a correct application of

1 N2L at the second position of the
string, named B.

2 This is an energy equation

with the energy at B equated to the
energy at A. There is an error in
calculating the potential energies.
The potential energy at A, on the
2 left-hand-side, is measured from
the lowest point in the circular path,
whereas the potential energy at
B is measured from the centre of
the circle. Either of these ‘base’
positions would be fine, but they
must be consistent. In this case, the
term on the right-hand-side should
3 be mga(1 - cos α). Sign errors were
common in the energy equation.

3 This is a correct application of

4 N2L at position A.

4 This uses the information that

5 the magnitude of the tension in the
string at B is 10 times its magnitude
at A.

5 The candidate uses their

equations concisely to find an
expression for T in terms of m and
g. Other candidates had no clear
6 strategy for elimination and were
unable to complete this step.
Mark for (a) = 4 out of 6

6 Because of an earlier error,

this is an incorrect, and simpler,
connection between the two cosines
and no marks can be awarded.
Mark for (b) = 0 out of 2

Total mark awarded =

4 out of 8

12
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Question 5

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 1 This is a correct application of

N2L to this problem.

2 The integration is correct and

the constant c has been found
correctly.

3 The following lines illustrate

2 incorrect work which do not
legitimately obtain the given answer.
3 Manipulations of this type and
others were commonly seen as
candidates showed a determination
4
to arrive at the given answer
regardless of errors.
5
4 The division by 2 on the
previous line is incomplete, so this
line is incorrect.

5 The incorrect 18 now becomes

the correct 9 and this might have
been credited as ‘recovery’ except
that another error has occurred in
the power of the exponential. The
first term should have 2x and not x2.
Mark for (a) = 3 out of 4

13
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Example Candidate Response – 1, continued Examiner comments

6 The basic integration is correct,

6
but a factor of 3 has been dropped
from the denominator of the left-
hand-side.

7 This candidate has found an

7
expression for t but then proceeds
to find x in terms of t. A common
error is for candidates to leave t
in terms of x as their final answer.
Sometimes this may be sufficient,
but candidates must read the
question carefully to see what is
required, here x in terms of t.

8 8 This answer is correct apart

from the missing 3 in the power
of the exponential. The final
line comes from some incorrect
manipulation of the log terms, but is
disregarded.
Mark for (b) = 2 out of 4

Total mark awarded =

5 out of 8

14
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Example Candidate Response – 2 Examiner comments

1 This was a very common error.

The force acting on P is a resistive
1 force and the acceleration is
measured in a positive direction, so
there needs to be a minus sign in
the N2L equation.

2 2 The method of simplifying the

integrand is correct, but a coefficient
of 3 has been dropped at this step.

3 3 A method mark can be awarded

because although there are two
errors in the integration, these are
an arithmetical error and a sign
error, so the method required for
the integration is as intended in the
question.

4 4 This is incorrect. The candidate

has simply written down the
given answer to the question and
abandoned the previous incorrect
work.
Mark for (a) = 1 out of 4

15
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Example Candidate Response – 2, continued Examiner comments

5 The form of the integrated term

5
is correct, but a factor of 3 has been
dropped.

6 6 This answer would be correct

except for the earlier error. This type
of error was common. A candidate
shows that they know how to set
up the mechanics, and how to
integrate, but then spoils their
answer with arithmetic or algebraic
errors.
Mark for (b) = 2 out of 4

Total mark awarded =

3 out of 8

16
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Question 6

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 The candidate uses

1 conservation of linear momentum
2 and Newton’s law of restitution to
find the components of the velocity
after the impact. This is always a
good starting point, and candidates
who did not do this rarely made any
3 progress in the whole question.
4
2 The candidate finds the
components of the velocity and
squares and adds them to give the
square of the velocity.

3 A transcription error has

occurred here, with the power of the
e omitted.

4 This incorrect answer was seen

quite often following inaccurate
work.
Mark for (a) = 3 out of 4

5 5 The method here is correct, but

the answer is incorrect because of
the error in part (a).

6 Again, the method here is

correct.
Mark for (b) = 2 out of 2
6
Total mark awarded =
5 out of 8

17
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Example Candidate Response – 2 Examiner comments

1 The candidate uses

conservation of linear momentum
and Newton's law of restitution to
find the components of the velocity
after the impact.

2 This is an incorrect application

1 of the given information about
the kinetic energy. The candidate
uses only one component of the
velocity, before and after the impact,
instead of the velocity which must
include both components. Another
common error at this point was for
2 the 40% to be on the wrong side of
the equation. Either of these errors
3
leads to the loss of most of the
marks in this part of the question.

3 This result is not required in this

part, but it is worth noting that it will
prove useful in part (b).
Mark for (a) = 1 out of 4

4 This is the expression referred

to in the comment in part (a), with
4 the value for tan θ substituted. Now
that e has been found, the value of
the angle alpha can be deduced.
This is inaccurate because of the
error in part (a).

5 It is worth noting that this is

the result from part (a) again, and
with the angle γ now found, the
final answer can be deduced. This
candidate’s answer is incorrect
following their earlier error, but the
method marks can be awarded.
Mark for (b) = 2 out of 4
5
Total mark awarded =
3 out of 8

18
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Question 7

Example Candidate Response – 1 Examiner comments

1 1 A good start, with the normal

reactions, friction forces and
weights annotated on the diagram.

2 It is advisable for candidates to

give some indication of where their
equations are coming from, rather
than leave the examiner to interpret.
This is a correct equation from
2 taking moments about the centre.

3 This is a correct equation

from resolution of all the forces
3
perpendicular to AB.

4 This is a correct equation from

4 resolution of all the forces parallel
to AB.

5 The candidate now has three

5 equations (two resolutions and one
moments) and these are sufficient
to obtain the required result. The
question asks for the ratio R : N
in terms of the coefficient of
friction and this should prompt the
candidate to eliminate the other
quantities and to isolate the terms
in R and N. It was not unusual to
see candidates display a good
understanding of the topic by
writing down correct resolution and/
or moments equations, but then
not have a strategy for combining
them to achieve the goal set in the
question.
Mark for (a) = 3 out of 6

19
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Example Candidate Response – 1, continued Examiner comments

6 6 This step is correct, but

the candidate makes no further
progress because they have not
obtained the ratio R : N in part
(a). With the given value of the
coefficient of friction, this would
have enabled completion of this part
of the question. The second part
of a question often builds on work
done in an earlier part.
Mark for (b) = 1 out of 3

Total mark awarded =

4 out of 9

20
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Example Candidate Response – 2 Examiner comments

1 1 The candidate has added the

normal reactions, the friction forces
and the weights at points D and
E. This is an essential first step
in approaching any question on
equilibrium of a rigid body system.
Candidates who did not do this
rarely made any real progress in
this question.

2 The candidate has made

a significant error here. It is not
legitimate to resolve perpendicular
to each rod, individually. These
results are not correct: they are
2
based on an erroneous
misunderstanding that parts of
the system can be considered
in isolation. This is not so. All
resolutions of forces must include
3
all the forces acting on the whole
rigid body. This invalid approach
was adopted by the majority of
candidates. These attempted
resolution equations should involve
also the forces at E.

3 This is a correct moments

equation. The most efficient solution
would have been to take moments
also about B. These two moments
equations are sufficient to solve the
problem.

21
Example Candidate Responses – Paper 3

Example Candidate Response – 2, continued Examiner comments

4 Although this answer is correct,

4
it comes from incorrect work.
Mark for (a) = 2 out of 6

5 5 Incorrect equations are used

here.
Mark for (b) = 0 out of 3

Total mark awarded =

2 out of 9

22
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