Pearson
Edexcel
Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2023
Pearson Edexcel GCE
In Chemistry (9CH0)
Paper 03: General and Practical
Principles in Chemistry
1
,General Marking Guidance
All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the first candidate in
exactly the same way as they mark the last.
Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for what they
have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their perception of
where the grade boundaries may lie.
There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be used appropriately.
All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners should always award
full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the mark scheme. Examiners should also be
prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s response is not worthy of credit according to
the mark scheme.
Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles by which
marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to a candidate’s
response, the team leader must be consulted.
Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with an
alternative response.
Mark schemes will indicate within the table where, and which strands of QWC, are
being assessed. The strands are as follows:
i) ensure that text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate so
that meaning is clear
ii) select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and to complex
subject matter
iii) organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary when appropriate
2
,Using the Mark Scheme
Examiners should look for qualities to reward rather than faults to penalise. This does NOT mean giving credit for incorrect or inadequate answers, but it does mean
allowing candidates to be rewarded for answers showing correct application of principles and knowledge. Examiners should therefore read carefully and consider
every response: even if it is not what is expected it may be worthy of credit.
The mark scheme gives examiners:
an idea of the types of response expected
how individual marks are to be awarded
the total mark for each question
examples of responses that should NOT receive credit.
/ means that the responses are alternatives and either answer should receive full credit.
( ) means that a phrase/word is not essential for the award of the mark, but helps the examiner to get the sense of the expected answer.
Phrases/words in bold indicate that the meaning of the phrase or the actual word is essential to the answer.
ecf/TE/cq (error carried forward) means that a wrong answer given in an earlier part of a question is used correctly in answer to a later part of the same question.
Candidates must make their meaning clear to the examiner to gain the mark. Make sure that the answer makes sense. Do not give credit for correct words/phrases
which are put together in a meaningless manner. Answers must be in the correct context.
Quality of Written Communication
Questions which involve the writing of continuous prose will expect candidates to:
write legibly, with accurate use of spelling, grammar and punctuation in order to make the meaning clear
select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and to complex subject matter
organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary when
appropriate. Full marks will be awarded if the candidate has demonstrated the above
abilities.
Questions where QWC is likely to be particularly important are indicated (QWC) in the mark scheme, but this does not preclude others.
3
, Question Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
Example of equation (1)
1(a) C6H14 + 9½O2 → 6CO2 + 7H2O
correct balancing
Accept decimals/improper fractions
Allow multiples 2:19:12:14
Ignore state symbols even if incorrect
Question
Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
An answer that makes reference to two of the following points: Do not award hydrogen / H2 (2)
1(b)
carbon / C (1) Allow particulates / soot
carbon monoxide / CO (1) Ignore carbon dioxide
nitrogen monoxide / NO / nitrogen dioxide / NO2 / Ignore ‘unburnt hydrocarbons’
nitrogen oxides / NOx / pentane / C5H12 (1)
4
Edexcel
Mark Scheme (Results)
Summer 2023
Pearson Edexcel GCE
In Chemistry (9CH0)
Paper 03: General and Practical
Principles in Chemistry
1
,General Marking Guidance
All candidates must receive the same treatment. Examiners must mark the first candidate in
exactly the same way as they mark the last.
Mark schemes should be applied positively. Candidates must be rewarded for what they
have shown they can do rather than penalised for omissions.
Examiners should mark according to the mark scheme not according to their perception of
where the grade boundaries may lie.
There is no ceiling on achievement. All marks on the mark scheme should be used appropriately.
All the marks on the mark scheme are designed to be awarded. Examiners should always award
full marks if deserved, i.e. if the answer matches the mark scheme. Examiners should also be
prepared to award zero marks if the candidate’s response is not worthy of credit according to
the mark scheme.
Where some judgement is required, mark schemes will provide the principles by which
marks will be awarded and exemplification may be limited.
When examiners are in doubt regarding the application of the mark scheme to a candidate’s
response, the team leader must be consulted.
Crossed out work should be marked UNLESS the candidate has replaced it with an
alternative response.
Mark schemes will indicate within the table where, and which strands of QWC, are
being assessed. The strands are as follows:
i) ensure that text is legible and that spelling, punctuation and grammar are accurate so
that meaning is clear
ii) select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and to complex
subject matter
iii) organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary when appropriate
2
,Using the Mark Scheme
Examiners should look for qualities to reward rather than faults to penalise. This does NOT mean giving credit for incorrect or inadequate answers, but it does mean
allowing candidates to be rewarded for answers showing correct application of principles and knowledge. Examiners should therefore read carefully and consider
every response: even if it is not what is expected it may be worthy of credit.
The mark scheme gives examiners:
an idea of the types of response expected
how individual marks are to be awarded
the total mark for each question
examples of responses that should NOT receive credit.
/ means that the responses are alternatives and either answer should receive full credit.
( ) means that a phrase/word is not essential for the award of the mark, but helps the examiner to get the sense of the expected answer.
Phrases/words in bold indicate that the meaning of the phrase or the actual word is essential to the answer.
ecf/TE/cq (error carried forward) means that a wrong answer given in an earlier part of a question is used correctly in answer to a later part of the same question.
Candidates must make their meaning clear to the examiner to gain the mark. Make sure that the answer makes sense. Do not give credit for correct words/phrases
which are put together in a meaningless manner. Answers must be in the correct context.
Quality of Written Communication
Questions which involve the writing of continuous prose will expect candidates to:
write legibly, with accurate use of spelling, grammar and punctuation in order to make the meaning clear
select and use a form and style of writing appropriate to purpose and to complex subject matter
organise information clearly and coherently, using specialist vocabulary when
appropriate. Full marks will be awarded if the candidate has demonstrated the above
abilities.
Questions where QWC is likely to be particularly important are indicated (QWC) in the mark scheme, but this does not preclude others.
3
, Question Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
Example of equation (1)
1(a) C6H14 + 9½O2 → 6CO2 + 7H2O
correct balancing
Accept decimals/improper fractions
Allow multiples 2:19:12:14
Ignore state symbols even if incorrect
Question
Answer Additional Guidance Mark
Number
An answer that makes reference to two of the following points: Do not award hydrogen / H2 (2)
1(b)
carbon / C (1) Allow particulates / soot
carbon monoxide / CO (1) Ignore carbon dioxide
nitrogen monoxide / NO / nitrogen dioxide / NO2 / Ignore ‘unburnt hydrocarbons’
nitrogen oxides / NOx / pentane / C5H12 (1)
4
