Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 Exhaustive Syllabus Notes (2026-2028)

Syllabus Basics and Core Information

• Syllabus Identifier: Cambridge IGCSE™ Biology 0610. Use this syllabus for examinations in the years 2026, 2027, and 2028.
• Exam Series Availability:
  • June and November series (Global).
  • March series (India only).
• Syllabus Version: Version 2, published December 2025. There are no significant changes affecting teaching from version 1.
• Target Audience: Primarily designed for students aged 14 to 16, though it can be taken by other ages.
• Guided Learning Hours: Approximately $130\,\text{hours}$ for the full course, though this varies by school and student experience.
• International Recognition: Benchmarked by UK ENIC as comparable to the UK GCSE standard. Grades $A*$ to $C$ provide a foundation for Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology or Marine Science.

Learner Attributes and Development Goals

Cambridge programmes aim to develop learners who are:

• Confident: Interested in learning about science, questioning ideas, and using scientific language to communicate views and opinions.
• Responsible: Working methodically and safely, whether alone or in a team.
• Reflective: Learning from experiences and interested in scientific issues affecting the individual, community, and environment.
• Innovative: Solving unfamiliar problems with confidence and creativity.
• Engaged: Curious about scientific principles and their application in the world.

Assessment Objectives (AOs)

• AO1: Knowledge with Understanding (Weighting: 50%):
  • Demonstrate knowledge of phenomena, facts, laws, definitions, concepts, and theories.
  • Use scientific vocabulary, terminology, and conventions (symbols, quantities, units).
  • Understand scientific instruments, apparatus, techniques of operation, and safety.
  • Understand technological applications and their social, economic, and environmental implications.
• AO2: Handling Information and Problem-Solving (Weighting: 30%):
  • Locate, select, organise, and present information from various sources.
  • Translate information between forms (e.g., numerical to graphical).
  • Manipulate data and identify patterns/trends.
  • Form conclusions and present reasoned explanations for phenomena.
  • Make predictions and solve quantitative problems.
• AO3: Experimental Skills and Investigations (Weighting: 20%):
  • Select and safely use techniques, apparatus, and materials.
  • Plan experiments and investigations.
  • Make and record observations, measurements, and estimates.
  • Interpret and evaluate experimental data.
  • Evaluate methods and suggest improvements.

Assessment Structure

All candidates take three components. There are two tiers: Core and Extended.

Core Assessment (Grades C to G)

• Paper 1: Multiple Choice (Core): 45 minutes, 40 marks, 30% weighting. 40 four-option questions.
• Paper 3: Theory (Core): 1 hour 15 minutes, 80 marks, 50% weighting. Short-answer and structured questions.
• Practical Component: Paper 5 or Paper 6 (see below).

Extended Assessment (Grades A* to G)

• Paper 2: Multiple Choice (Extended): 45 minutes, 40 marks, 30% weighting. 40 four-option questions based on Core and Supplement content.
• Paper 4: Theory (Extended): 1 hour 15 minutes, 80 marks, 50% weighting. Structured questions based on Core and Supplement content.
• Practical Component: Paper 5 or Paper 6 (see below).

Practical Assessment (All Candidates Select One)

• Paper 5: Practical Test: 1 hour 15 minutes, 40 marks, 20% weighting. Laboratory-based experiments.
• Paper 6: Alternative to Practical: 1 hour, 40 marks, 20% weighting. Written paper testing experimental skills.

Subject Content: Biology Core and Supplement

1. Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms

• Characteristics ($MRS GREN$):
  • Movement: Action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place.
  • Respiration: Chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy for metabolism.
  • Sensitivity: Ability to detect and respond to changes in the internal or external environment.
  • Growth: Permanent increase in size and dry mass.
  • Reproduction: Processes that make more of the same kind of organism.
  • Excretion: Removal of waste products of metabolism and substances in excess of requirements.
  • Nutrition: Taking in materials for energy, growth, and development.
• Classification:
  • Species: A group of organisms that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring.
  • Binomial System: Scientific name composed of two parts: Genus (capitalised) and species (lowercase).
  • Supplement Detail: Sequences of bases in DNA are used for classification. Organisms with a more recent ancestor share more similar DNA base sequences.
• Kingdoms: Five kingdoms include Animal, Plant, Fungus, Prokaryote, and Protoctist.
• Viruses: Limited to a protein coat and genetic material.

2. Organisation of the Organism

• Cell Structures: Cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts, ribosomes, mitochondria, and vacuoles.
• Bacterial Cells: Cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, ribosomes, circular DNA, and plasmids.
• Specialised Cells:
  • Ciliated cells: Mucus movement in trachea/bronchi.
  • Root hair cells: Absorption.
  • Palisade mesophyll cells: Photosynthesis.
  • Neurones: Electrical impulses.
  • Red blood cells: Oxygen transport.
  • Sperm/Egg cells: Reproduction.
• Magnification Formula:
  • $magnification = image\,size \div actual\,size$
  • Must be able to convert between millimetres ($mm$) and micrometres ($\mu m$) ($1\,mm = 1000\,\mu m$).

3. Movement into and out of Cells

• Diffusion: Net movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to lower concentration (down a gradient) due to random kinetic energy.
• Osmosis: Net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to a region of lower water potential (concentrated solution) through a partially permeable membrane.
  • Plant Cells: Turgid, turgor pressure, plasmolysis, and flaccid.
• Active Transport: Movement of particles through a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to higher concentration (against a gradient) using energy from respiration and protein carriers.

4. Biological Molecules and Enzymes

• Composition:
  • Carbohydrates: Starch, glycogen, and cellulose made from glucose.
  • Proteins: Made from amino acids.
  • Fats: Made from fatty acids and glycerol.
• Chemical Tests:
  • Starch: Iodine solution (Yellow/brown to Blue/black).
  • Reducing Sugars: Benedict’s solution (Blue to Green/Yellow/Orange/Brick-red).
  • Proteins: Biuret test (Blue to Purple/Violet).
  • Fats/Oils: Ethanol emulsion (Cloudy-white emulsion).
  • Vitamin C: DCPIP test (Blue to Colourless).
• DNA Structure: Two strands coiled in a double helix; base pairs $A$ with $T$ and $C$ with $G$.
• Enzymes: Biological catalysts (proteins). Action involves a complementary fit between the substrate and the active site (forming an enzyme-substrate complex). Sensitivity to pH and temperature results in denaturation if extremes are reached.

5. Nutrition and Transport

• Photosynthesis: $6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$ (in light and chlorophyll). Uses include starch (storage), cellulose (cell walls), glucose (respiration), and sucrose (transport).
• Human Diet: Requires carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins ($C$ and $D$), minerals (calcium and iron), fibre, and water. Deficiency leads to scurvy (Vit $C$) or rickets (Vit $D$).
• Digestion:
  • Physical: Breakdown to smaller pieces without chemical change (teeth/stomach).
  • Chemical: Breakdown of large insoluble molecules to small soluble ones (enzymes like amylase, protease, lipase).
  • Villi: Increase surface area for absorption; contain capillaries and lacteals.
• Xylem/Phloem: Xylem transports water/minerals (lignified walls); Phloem transports sucrose/amino acids (translocation from source to sink).

6. Health and Response

• Heart: Double circulation in mammals; activity monitored by ECG, pulse, or valve sounds. Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) risk factors: diet, smoking, stress, genetics.
• Immunity:
  • Active Immunity: Defence via antibody production (after infection or vaccination).
  • Passive Immunity: Short-term via antibodies from another individual (e.g., breast milk).
• Gas Exchange: Features include large surface area, thinness, good blood supply, and ventilation.
• Respiration Equations:
  • Aerobic: $C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O$
  • Anaerobic (Yeast): $C_6H_{12}O_6 \rightarrow 2C_2H_5OH + 2CO_2$
  • Anaerobic (Muscles): $glucose \rightarrow lactic\,acid$
• Excretion: Kidneys filter blood ($nephrons$: glomerulus/reabsorption) to remove urea, excess water, and ions.
• Nervous System: CNS (brain/spinal cord) vs. PNS (nerves). Reflex arc: Receptor (\rightarrow) Sensory neurone (\rightarrow) Relay neurone (\rightarrow) Motor neurone (\rightarrow) Effector.
• Hormones: Adrenaline (fight or flight), Insulin/Glucagon (blood glucose control via negative feedback).

7. Inheritance, Variation, and Selection

• Genetics: Gene is a length of DNA coding for protein. Alleles are alternative forms.
• Mitosis: Nuclear division giving genetically identical cells for growth/repair.
• Meiosis: Reduction division producing haploid, genetically different gametes.
• Terms: Genotype (genetic make-up), Phenotype (observable features), Homozygous (identical alleles), Heterozygous (different alleles), Dominant/Recessive.
• Selection: Natural selection involves mutation, variation, struggle for survival, and reproduction. Artificial selection (selective breeding) for desired traits in crops/livestock.

8. Ecology and Biotechnology

• Energy Flow: Sun is the primary source; energy transfer between trophic levels is inefficient ($usually < 5\,levels$).
• Cycles: Carbon cycle (respiration, photosynthesis, combustion) and Nitrogen cycle (fixation, nitrification, denitrification).
• Human Influence: Deforestation, pollution (methane/$CO_2$ affecting greenhouse effect), and eutrophication (nitrate runoff causing producer bloom and decomposer oxygen depletion).
• Biotechnology: Use of yeast for biofuels/bread; pectinase for juice; lactase for lactose-free milk.
• Genetic Modification: Inserting human genes (isolated with restriction enzymes) into bacterial plasmids (cut with same enzymes) using DNA ligase to produce human proteins (like insulin).

Experimental Skills and Data Presentation

Skills Tested

• Identifying independent, dependent, and constant variables.
• Taking readings to appropriate precision (smallest scale division).
• Recording results in tables where the heading and unit are separated by a solidus ($/$).
• Plotting graphs with sharp pencils, using crosses ($\times$) or encircled dots ($\odot$).
• Calculations for magnification: $M = \frac{I}{A}$.

Required Apparatus Knowledge

• Chemistry/Materials: Benedict’s, Biuret, DCPIP, Iodine, Ethanol, Limewater, Hydrogencarbonate indicator.
• Lab Equipment: Beakers, test-tubes, Visking tubing, Petri dishes, balance ($precision\,0.1\,g$), delivery tubes, stop-clocks, scalpels, and hand lenses ($\times 6$ magnification).

Hazard Codes

• C: Corrosive
• MH: Moderate hazard
• HH: Health hazard
• T: Acutely toxic
• F: Flammable
• O: Oxidising
• N: Hazardous to the aquatic environment

Mathematical Requirements

• Arithmetic: Percentages, ratios, standard form, fractions.
• Algebra: Substitution into formulas, solving simple equations.
• Geometry: Area of circles ($\pi r^2$), volume of cylinders ($\pi r^2 h$), and surface area:volume ratios.
• Statistics: Mean, range, and simple probability.
• Graphs: Interpolation, extrapolation, gradients, and intercepts.

Command Words and Meanings