Cambridge O Level

MATHEMATICS (SYLLABUS D) 3171/22

Paper 2 May/June 2021
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 100

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 2021 series for most Cambridge
IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level components.

This document consists of 10 printed pages.

© UCLES 2021 [Turn over

3171/22 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
PUBLISHED

Generic Marking Principles

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.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• 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.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• 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.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed instructions or in the
application of generic level descriptors.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

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).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

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.

© UCLES 2021 Page 2 of 10

3171/22 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
PUBLISHED

Maths-Specific Marking Principles

1 Unless a particular method has been specified in the question, full marks may be awarded for any correct
method. However, if a calculation is required then no marks will be awarded for a scale drawing.

2 Unless specified in the question, answers may be given as fractions, decimals or in standard form. Ignore
superfluous zeros, provided that the degree of accuracy is not affected.

3 Allow alternative conventions for notation if used consistently throughout the paper, e.g. commas being
used as decimal points.

4 Unless otherwise indicated, marks once gained cannot subsequently be lost, e.g. wrong working
following a correct form of answer is ignored (isw).

5 Where a candidate has misread a number in the question and used that value consistently throughout,
provided that number does not alter the difficulty or the method required, award all marks earned and
deduct just 1 mark for the misread.

6 Recovery within working is allowed, e.g. a notation error in the working where the following line of
working makes the candidate’s intent clear.

© UCLES 2021 Page 3 of 10

3171/22 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
PUBLISHED

Abbreviations

cao correct answer only

dep dependent
FT follow through after error
isw ignore subsequent working
oe or equivalent
SC Special Case
nfww not from wrong working
soi seen or implied

Question Answer Marks Partial Marks

1(a)(i) 6 points plotted correctly 2 B1 for 3, 4 or 5 points plotted correctly

1(a)(ii) Positive 1

1(a)(iii) Ruled line of best fit 1

1(a)(iv) Reading at d = 30 1 FT their ruled straight line of best fit with

positive gradient

1(b)(i) 2 2 36 + 19
36.7 or 36.66 to 36.67 or 36 M1 for [×100] oe
3 150

1(b)(ii) 22.2[3...] nfww 3 B1 for correct midpoints soi

M1 for
(5 × 25 + 15×28 + 22.5 × 42 + 27.5×36 +
45×19) ÷ 150

2(a) 635.25 3 B1 for 8.25 [hours] oe or 41.25 [hours] oe

M1 for their 8.25 × 15.40 [× 5] oe

2(b) 503.2[0] 3 B2 for 12.58 or 40.8[0]

 7.5 
or M2 for 13.6 − × 13.6  × 40 oe
 100 
7.5
or M1 for 13.6 − × 13.6 soi or
100
7.5
× 40 × 13.6 soi
100

© UCLES 2021 Page 4 of 10

3171/22 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks Partial Marks

2(c) 2.02 final answer nfww 5 2.1

M2 for 750 + 750 × × 5 oe
100
2.1
or M1 for 750 × × 5 oe
100

5
 p 
M1 for 750 1 +  = their 828.75 oe
 100 

p k
M1 for 1 + =5 , k numeric
100 750

or B1 for p = 2.016[9] to 2.017[1]

3(a) 5.5 or 5 ½ 1

3(b) Correct smooth curve 3 B2FT for 8 or 9 points correctly plotted

or B1FT for 6 or 7 points correctly plotted

3(c) Tangent drawn at x = 2 B1 Dependent on curve drawn between x = 1.5 and

x=3

–3.8 to –2.2 B1 Dependent on close attempt at tangent

3(d) Ruled line y = x + 2 M2 M1 for short or unruled line or x + 2 seen

or either line y = x + k or y = mx + 2 drawn,
m≠0

–2.3 to –2.1 A2 B1 for 3 correct values with no/incorrect line

0.4 to 0.7 drawn or for two FT x values where their ruled
1.5 to 1.8 straight line, but not y = 0 or y = –1.5x + 1,
crosses their curve

4(a)(i) 2 B1 for Venn diagram with 1 or 2 errors,

P F omissions or repeats or for correct Venn
5 2 1 6
7 3 9 diagram with ( P ∪ F )′ blank
4 8 10

4(a)(ii) 2, 3 1 FT their Venn diagram provided P ∩ F

contains at least one element

4(a)(iii) 8 1

4(b)(i) 3 1
oe
10

4(b)(ii) 1 2 2 2
final answer M1 for × oe
25 10 10

© UCLES 2021 Page 5 of 10

3171/22 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks Partial Marks

4(b)(iii) 8 3 7 6 3 2 3 7 7 3
oe nfww M2 for 1 − × or × + × + × oe
15 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9
3 2 3 7 7 3
or M1 for × or × or × oe
10 9 10 9 10 9
51
After 0 scored, SC1 for answer oe
100

5(a) 0.52 − 0.152 oe M2 1

M1 for ( 0.95 − 0.65 ) soi or 0.52 – (their 0.15)2
OR 2
  0.15   d or
sin cos −1   = oe
  0.5   0.5   their 0.15   d
sin cos −1   = oe
  0.5   0.5

0.4769... or 0.4770 A1

5(b) 3.4[0] or 3.403… nfww 3 M1 for [area of ABCD =]

1
× ( 0.65 + 0.95 ) × 0.477 [×k ] , k =integer oe
2

M1 for [area of rectangular sides =]

0.65 × 1.60 and 0.50 × 1.60 [×2]

© UCLES 2021 Page 6 of 10

3171/22 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks Partial Marks

5(c)(i) 0.15[×2] × 0.3 M2

[ x =] oe
0.3 x
0.477 M1 for = oe or
0.477 0.15[×2]
OR   0.15[×2]   x
tan  tan −1   = oe or
1   0.477   0.3
2
0.3( w + 0.65) + 12 0.177( w + 0.95)
1
0.3( w + 0.65) + 12 0.177( w + 0.95) oe
= 12 0.477(0.65 + 0.95) oe 2

[w =] 2 × 0.09434 + 0.65 A1
= 0.838 to 0.839
OR
0.3816 − 0.0975 − 0.084075
[ w =]
0.2385
oe
= 0.838 to 0.839

5(c)(ii) 1.34 to 1.344 1

6(a) 1 [minutes] 28 [seconds] 4  0.750 0.425 

final answer nfww M3 for 60  −  [×60] oe
 12.2 11.5 

or B2 for 3 min 41[.3…] sec or 2 min 13[.0…]

sec or
221[.3…] sec or 133[.0…] sec

0.750 0.425 0.425 0.750

or M2 for − oe or −
12.2 11.5 11.5 12.2
oe or
 figs75[0] figs425 
60  −  [×60]
 figs122 figs115 

figs 75[0] figs 425

or M1 for or soi
figs122 figs115

After 0 scored SC1 for answer 1[min] 49[sec]

6(b)(i) 407[.0...] 2 285

M1 for tan 35 = oe
AD

6(b)(ii) [0]67.4 to [0]67.5 5 285

M1 for BD = oe
sin 35

theirBD 2 + 7502 − 4252

M2 for cos [ ]= oe
2 × theirBD × 750
or M1 for 4252 = theirBD2+7502–
2×theirBD×750cos[ ] oe

M1 for bearing = 35 + their32.48

© UCLES 2021 Page 7 of 10

3171/22 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks Partial Marks

7(a)(i) 6n – 5 oe final answer 2 B1 for 6n + k oe as final answer

7(a)(ii) 6n is always even, 5 is odd, 1 Dep on correct expression in(a)(i) and FT an

even – odd = odd oe equivalent explanation

7(b) 2n 3 B1 for [numerator sequence =] 2n oe

2
oe final answer B2 for [denominator =] (n + 2)2 oe
( n + 2) or B1 for quadratic expression for denominator
sequence
Maximum 2 marks if answer incorrect

7(c) 27 nfww final answer 4 B3 for [k = ] 26.8[0] to 26.81 nfww

OR

B1 for 3k 2 − 6k − 1995[= 0] oe 3-term expression

[=0]

M2 for correct substitution into quadratic

formula
− ( −6 ) ± ( −6 )2 − 4 × 3 × −1995
oe
2×3
or M1 for ( −6 )2 − 4 × 3 × −1995 or
− ( −6 ) ± p
2×3
2
or 3 ( k − 1) = 1995 + 3 oe

After 0 scored, SC2 for u26 = 1877 and u27 =

2030 or
3(27)2 – 6(27) + 5 and final answer 2030

8(a)(i) 5.39 or 5.385 to 5.386 2 M1 for ( 3 − −2 )2 + ( 3 − 1)2 oe

8(a)(ii) (5, –2) nfww 2   2

B1 for  BC =    soi
 −5 
After 0 scored, SC1 for answer (1, 8) or (0, –4)

8(b)(i) (1, 6) 1

8(b)(ii) y = 4 x + 2 nfww final answer 4 8−4

M1 for [gradient PQ =] oe
−7 − 9
M1 for [gradient perpendicular =]
1
−
their ( −0.25 )
M1 for substituting their (1, 6) in
y = (their 4) x + c oe

© UCLES 2021 Page 8 of 10

3171/22 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks Partial Marks

9(a) Statements, reasons and conclusion 3 B2 for two pairs of equal sides/angles with
correct reasons
Usually, three of these with the or B1 for
appropriate conclusion one pair of equal sides/angles with correct
1 AX = BY midpoints, AB = BC reason or
2 AO = BO equal radii for two pairs of equal sides with no or incorrect
3 OX = OY equal chords are reasons
equidistant from the centre or for one pair of equal sides and one pair of
4 ∠AXO = ∠BYO, perpendicular equal angles with no or incorrect reasons
bisector of chord

9(b)(i) 122[.0] to 122.1 nfww 3  3.5 

M2 for 2 × sin −1   soi or for
 4 
42 + 42 − 7 2
cos [ ] =
2× 4× 4
3.5
or M1 for sin [ ] = oe
4
or for 7 2 = 42 + 42 − 2 × 4 × 4 × cos [ ]
9(b)(ii) 20.49 to 20.55 4 M3 for
 their122 1 
 × π × 42 − × 42 × sin ( their122 )  [×2]
 360 2 
oe
OR
their122
M1 for × π × 42 soi or
360
their116
× π × 42 soi
360
1
M1 for × 42 × sin ( their122 ) soi
2

© UCLES 2021 Page 9 of 10

3171/22 Cambridge O Level – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
PUBLISHED

Question Answer Marks Partial Marks

10(a) 11(x – 4) = 5x + 1 soi or B1

11x – 44 = 5x + 1 soi

1 15 B2 B1 for x = 7.5 seen

7.5 or 7 or final answer or M1FT for 11x – 5x = 1 + 44 or better
2 2

10(b) 4b − a 3 B1 for ac + a = 4b – bc or better

oe final answer nfww M1FT for isolation of terms in c
a+b
M1FT for factorising and completing to c =
Maximum 2 marks if final answer not correct

10(c) 13 − 17 x 13 − 17 x 3 B1 for 5 (1 − x ) − 4 ( 3x − 2 ) oe isw

or
(1 − x)(3 x − 2) −3 x 2 + 5 x − 2 B1 for denominator (1 − x )( 3x − 2 ) oe isw
final answer

© UCLES 2021 Page 10 of 10