Description
This IGCSE Biology course will help students develop an understanding of biological facts, concepts and principles. Learners will gain new skills required for their use in different situations.
Support
The course will be delivered online including Tutor Support for two years. All assignments are marked by one of our professional Tutors who will offer regular feedback and guide you through your course. Postal assignments cannot be accepted without prior permission from the tutor and you must have access to email in order to contact your Tutor.
Throughout your course, you'll have the support of a Tutor to guide you. Additionally, you can reach out to the Student Support Team for help with any other questions you may have. You can be assured that you will receive unlimited support for your home study course, so there is no need to struggle or feel isolated during your studies.
Assessment
The course contains a number of assignments which your tutor will mark and give you valuable feedback on. You will also have access to a range of online resources.
Students will be required to arrange and pay for their examinations at an approved centre when an examination forms part of the course. We can provide an extensive list of these centres for you.
Differences between Cambridge and Edexcel Exam boards.
Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSEs are international qualifications. Cambridge and Edexcel IGCSEs can be taken worldwide including the United Kingdom. Both exam boards offer a similar specification however different courses can have a different structure. Both the Cambridge and Edexcel courses are full International GCSE qualifications.
Fees
Course fees for payment in full include:
- Assessment and feedback on all assignments.
- Access to your personal Tutor via our online portal.
- Access to a range of online resources, student materials, assessments, assignments, eBooks etc
- Practice exam papers to prepare you for the real thing.
- Tutor references and predicted grades once a satisfactory amount of work has been completed.
- Help finding an exam centre for you to sit your exam
Cambridge (2022)
Cambridge Course Code(s)
IGCSE Biology (9-1): 0970
IGCSE Biology: 0610
(Please note, there is no difference in the course teachings for the two specifications, there only difference is the grade you will receive once you have taken the exams. 0970 is graded 9-1, 9 being the highest while 0610 is graded A* to G, A* being the highest.)
Cambridge Exams: June & November
Cambridge Study Hours: 130 hours
This IGCSE Biology CAIE Course will help students to understand the technological world in which we live and take an informed interest in science and scientific developments. Students will gain an understanding of the basic principles of biology through a mix of theoretical and practical studies. As you progress through the course, you will understand how science is studied and practised, and become aware that the results of scientific research can have both good and bad effects on individuals, communities and the environment.
Specification for 2022 – Modules
Characteristics and classification of living organisms
- Characteristics of living organisms
- Concept and use of a classification system
- Features of organisms
- Dichotomous keys
Organisation of the organism
- Cell structure and organisation
- Levels of organisation
- Size of specimens
Movement in and out of cells
- Diffusion
- Osmosis
- Active transport
Biological molecules
Enzymes
Plant nutrition
- Photosynthesis
- Leaf structure
- Mineral requirements
Human nutrition
- Diet
- Alimentary canal
- Mechanical digestion
- Chemical digestion
- Absorption
Transport in plants
- Transport in plants
- Water uptake
- Transpiration
- Translocation
Transport in animals
- Transport in animals
- Heart
- Blood and lymphatic vessels
- Blood
Diseases and immunity
Gas exchange in humans
Respiration
- Respiration
- Aerobic respiration
- Anaerobic respiration
Excretion in humans
Coordination and response
- Nervous control in humans
- Sense organs
- Hormones in humans
- Homeostasis
- Tropic responses
Drugs
- Drugs
- Medicinal drugs
- Misused drugs
Reproduction
- Asexual reproduction
- Sexual reproduction
- Sexual reproduction in plants
- Sexual reproduction in humans
- Sex hormones in humas
- Methods of birth control in humans
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Inheritance
- Inheritance
- Chromosomes, genes and proteins
- Mitosis
- Meiosis
- Monohybrid inheritance
Variation and selection
- Variation
- Adaptive features
- Selection
Organisms and their environment
- Energy flow
- Food chains and food webs
- Nutrient cycles
- Population size
Biotechnology and genetic engineering
- Biotechnology and genetic engineering
- Biotechnology
- Genetic engineer
Human influences on ecosystems
- Food supply
- Habitat destruction
- Pollution
- Conservation
Exam Papers:
All students will take three papers. Learners who have studied the Core subject content, should be entered for Paper 1, Paper 3 and Paper 6. These learners will be eligible for grades 1 to 5.
Paper 1: Multiple Choice (Core)
Written examination: 45 minutes
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: Multiple- choice questions based on the Core subject content.
40 marks
30% of grade
Paper 3: Theory (Core)
Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: short- answer and structured questions based on the Core subject content.
80 marks
50% of grade
Paper 6: Alternative to practical
Written examination: 1 hour
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: Questions will be based on Experimental Skills
40 marks
20% of grade
Learners who have studied the Extended subject content (Core and Supplement), and who are expected to achieve a grade 4 or above, should be entered for Paper 2, Paper 4 and Paper 6. These learners will be eligible for grades 1 to 9.
Paper 2: Multiple Choice (Extended)
Written examination: 45 minutes
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: Multiple- choice questions based on the extended subject content (Core and Supplement)
40 marks
30% of grade
Paper 4: Theory (Extended)
Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: short- answer and structured questions based on the extended subject content (Core and Supplement)
80 marks
50% of grade
Paper 6: Alternative to practical
Written examination: 1 hour
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: Questions will be based on Experimental Skills
40 marks
20% of grade
Cambridge (2023-)
Cambridge Course Code(s)
IGCSE Biology (9-1): 0970
IGCSE Biology: 0610
(Please note, there is no difference in the course teachings for the two specifications, there only difference is the grade you will receive once you have taken the exams. 0970 is graded 9-1, 9 being the highest while 0610 is graded A* to G, A* being the highest.)
Cambridge Exams: June & November
Cambridge Study Hours: 130 hours
This IGCSE Biology CAIE Course will help students to understand the technological world in which we live and take an informed interest in science and scientific developments. Students will gain an understanding of the basic principles of biology through a mix of theoretical and practical studies. As you progress through the course, you will understand how science is studied and practised, and become aware that the results of scientific research can have both good and bad effects on individuals, communities and the environment.
Specification for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Characteristics and classification of living organisms
- Characteristics of living organisms
- Concept and uses of classification systems
- Features of organisms
Organisation of the organism
- Cell structure
- Size of specimens
Movement into and out of cells
- Diffusion
- Osmosis
- Active transport
Biological molecules
Enzymes
Plant nutrition
- Photosynthesis
- Leaf structure
Human nutrition
- Diet
- Digestive system
- Physical digestion
- Chemical digestion
- Absorption
Transport in plants
- Xylem and phloem
- Water uptake
- Transpiration
- Translocation
Transport in animals
- Circulatory systems
- Heart
- Blood vessels
- Blood
Diseases and immunity
Gas exchange in humans
Respiration
- Respiration
- Aerobic respiration
- Anaerobic respiration
Excretion in humans
Coordination and response
- Coordination and response
- Sense organs
- Hormones
- Homeostasis
- Tropic responses
Drugs
Reproduction
- Asexual reproduction
- Sexual reproduction
- Sexual reproduction in plants
- Sexual reproduction in humans
- Sexual hormones in humans
- Sexual transmitted infections
Inheritance
- Chromosomes, genes and proteins
- Mitosis
- Meiosis
- Monohybrid inheritance
Variation and selection
- Variation
- Adaptive features
- Selection
Organisms and their environment
- Energy flow
- Food chains and food webs
- Nutrient cycles
- Populations
Human influences on ecosystems
- Food supply
- Habitat destruction
- Pollution
- Conservation
Biotechnology and genetic modification
- Biotechnology and genetic modification
- Biotechnology
- Genetic modification
Exam Papers:
All students will take three papers. Learners who have studied the Core subject content, should be entered for Paper 1, Paper 3 and Paper 6. These learners will be eligible for grades 1 to 5.
Paper 1: Multiple Choice (Core)
Written examination: 45 minutes
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: Multiple- choice questions based on the Core subject content.
40 marks
30% of grade
Paper 3: Theory (Core)
Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: short- answer and structured questions based on the Core subject content.
80 marks
50% of grade
Paper 6: Alternative to practical
Written examination: 1 hour
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: Questions will be based on Experimental Skills
40 marks
20% of grade
Learners who have studied the Extended subject content (Core and Supplement), and who are expected to achieve a grade 4 or above, should be entered for Paper 2, Paper 4 and Paper 6. These learners will be eligible for grades 1 to 9.
Paper 2: Multiple Choice (Extended)
Written examination: 45 minutes
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: Multiple- choice questions based on the extended subject content (Core and Supplement)
40 marks
30% of grade
Paper 4: Theory (Extended)
Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: short- answer and structured questions based on the extended subject content (Core and Supplement)
80 marks
50% of grade
Paper 6: Alternative to practical
Written examination: 1 hour
Availability: June and October
Assessment overview: Questions will be based on Experimental Skills
40 marks
20% of grade
Edexcel Exam Board
Edexcel Course Code(s): 4BI1
Edexcel Exams: January and June
Edexcel Study Hours: 130 hours
This IGCSE Biology Edexcel Course will help you get a good understanding of the world of living things, from how basic a cell works to the complexities of an ecosystem. Students enjoy this course as they learn about things relevant to their lives such as diet and exercise, homeostasis and the environment. They can also understand more about the real facts behind issues like global warming. This specification is graded from 9 to 1.
Edexcel Modules
The nature and variety of living organisms
(a) Characteristics of living organisms
(b) Variety of living organisms
Structure and functions in living things
(a) Level of organisation
(b) Cell structure
(c) Biological molecules
(d) Movement of substances into and out of cells
(e) Nutrition
(f) Respiration
(g) Gas exchange
(h) Transport
(i) Excretion
(j) Co-ordination and response
Reproduction and inheritance
(a) Reproduction
(b) Inheritance
Ecology and the environment
(a) The organism in the environment
(b) Feeding relationships
(c) Cycles within ecosystems
(d) Human influences on the environment
Use of biological resources
(a) Food production
(b) Selective breeding
(c) Genetic modification (genetic engineering)
(d) Cloning
Exam Papers
Paper 1
Written examination: 2 hours
Availability: January and June
Assessment overview: Assesses core content that is not in bold and does not have a ‘B’ reference. Questions may come from any topic area across the specification.
110 marks
61.1% of the total international GCSE
Paper 2
Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes
Availability: January and June
Assessment overview: Assesses all the content, including content that is in bold and has a ‘B’ reference. Questions may come from any topic area across the specification. Bold statements cover some sub-topics in greater depth.
70 marks
38.9% of the total International GCSE
