IGCSE Biology syllabus can feel overwhelming for students because of the wide range of content and details it covers. Many students struggle to keep up with all the information and often feel stressed, especially before exams. Understanding what needs to be learned and staying focused is key to handling the subject more easily, helping to reduce pressure during preparation.
In this article, we will discuss key aspects of the Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) Syllabus to help students preparing for their exams. We will also cover important details such as the Weighting for Assessment Objectives as a percentage of the overall qualification and how each component is weighed in the exams. You can also download the official IGCSE Biology syllabus PDF for more detailed information. This syllabus is applicable for exams in 2023 to 2025, with exam series in March, June, and November in India.
IGCSE Biology Syllabus Overview |
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Topic Number | Topic Name |
1 | Characteristics and classification of living organisms |
2 | Organisation of the organism |
3 | Movement into and out of cells |
4 | Biological molecules |
5 | Enzymes |
6 | Plant Nutrition |
7 | Human nutrition |
8 | Transport in plants |
9 | Transport in animals |
10 | Diseases and immunity |
11 | Gas exchange in humans |
12 | Respiration |
13 | Excretion in humans |
14 | Coordination and response |
15 | Drugs |
16 | Reproduction |
17 | Inheritance |
18 | Variation and selection |
19 | Organisms and their environment |
20 | Human influences on ecosystems |
21 | Biotechnology and genetic modification |
IGCSE Biology Assessment Highlights |
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Assessment Type | Paper | Duration | Marks | Question Type | Weightage | Externally Assessed |
Core Assessment | Paper 1: Multiple Choice (Core) | 45 minutes | 40 | Four-option multiple-choice questions | 30% | Yes |
Paper 3: Theory (Core) | 1 hour 15 minutes | 80 | Short-answer and structured questions | 50% | Yes | |
Extended Assessment | Paper 2: Multiple Choice (Extended) | 45 minutes | 40 | Four-option multiple-choice questions | 30% | Yes |
Paper 4: Theory (Extended) | 1 hour 15 minutes | 80 | Short-answer and structured questions | 50% | Yes | |
Practical Assessment | Paper 5: Practical Test | 1 hour 15 minutes | 40 | Based on experimental skills in Section 4 | 20% | Yes |
Paper 6: Alternative to Practical | 1 hour | 40 | Based on experimental skills in Section 4 | 20% | Yes |
Weighting for Assessment Objectives as a percentage of the qualification) | |
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Assessment Objective | Weighting in IGCSE % |
AO1 Knowledge with understanding | 50% |
AO2 Handling information and problem-solving | 30% |
AO3 Experimental skills and investigations | 20% |
Total | 100% |
Weighting for Assessment Objectives (as a percentage of each component) | |||
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Assessment Objective | Papers 1 and 2 | Papers 3 and 4 | Papers 5 and 6 |
AO1 Knowledge with understanding | 63% | 63% | – |
AO2 Handling information and problem-solving | 37% | 37% | – |
AO3 Experimental skills and investigations | – | – | 100% |
Total | 100% | 100% | 100% |
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