BIOLOGY 0610
Syllabus
Cambridge IGCSE™
Biology 0610
Use this syllabus for exams in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Exams are available in the June and November series.
Exams are also available in the March series in India only.
Version 1
,Why choose Cambridge International?
Cambridge International prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a lasting
passion for learning. We are part of the University of Cambridge.
Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Schools can shape
the curriculum around how they want students to learn – with a wide range of subjects and flexible ways to offer
them. It helps students discover new abilities and a wider world, and gives them the skills they need for life, so they
can achieve at school, university and work.
Our programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created by subject
experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research. They provide a strong platform for
learners to progress from one stage to the next, and are well supported by teaching and learning resources.
Our mission is to provide educational benefit through provision of international programmes and qualifications for
school education and to be the world leader in this field. Together with schools, we develop Cambridge learners
who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged – equipped for success in the modern world.
Every year, nearly a million Cambridge students from 10 000 schools in 160 countries prepare for their future with
the Cambridge Pathway.
‘We think the Cambridge curriculum is superb preparation for university.’
Christoph Guttentag, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Duke University, USA
Quality management
Cambridge International is committed to providing exceptional quality. In line with this commitment, our
quality management system for the provision of international qualifications and education programmes
for students aged 5 to 19 is independently certified as meeting the internationally recognised standard,
ISO 9001:2015. Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/ISO9001
Copyright © UCLES September 2020
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of
the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.
UCLES retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered centres are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own
internal use. However, we cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for
internal use within a centre.
,Contents
1 Why choose this syllabus? ..................................................................................................... 2
2 Syllabus overview .................................................................................................................... 5
Aims 5
Content overview 6
Assessment overview 7
Assessment objectives 8
3 Subject content .......................................................................................................................10
4 Details of the assessment ................................................................................................... 45
Core assessment 45
Extended assessment 45
Practical assessment 46
Apparatus, materials and reagents 48
Safety in the laboratory 50
Mathematical requirements 50
Presentation of data 51
Conventions (e.g. signs, symbols, terminology and nomenclature) 53
Command words 54
5 What else you need to know ...............................................................................................55
Before you start 55
Making entries 56
After the exam 57
How students and teachers can use the grades 57
Grade descriptions 57
Changes to this syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025 58
Important: Changes to this syllabus
For information about changes to this syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025, go to page 58
, Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
1 Why choose this syllabus?
Key benefits
Cambridge IGCSE is the world’s most popular international
qualification for 14 to 16 year olds, although it can be taken by
students of other ages. It is tried, tested and trusted.
Students can choose from 70 subjects in any combination – it is
taught by over 4800 schools in over 150 countries.
Cambridge
Our programmes balance a thorough knowledge and understanding learner
of a subject and help to develop the skills learners need for their
next steps in education or employment.
Cambridge IGCSE Biology develops a set of transferable skills
including handling data, practical problem-solving and applying
the scientific method. Learners develop relevant attitudes, such as
concern for accuracy and precision, objectivity, integrity, enquiry, initiative and inventiveness. They acquire the
essential scientific skills required for progression to further studies or employment.
Our approach in Cambridge IGCSE Biology encourages learners to be:
confident, interested in learning about science, questioning ideas and using scientific language to communicate
their views and opinions
responsible, working methodically and safely when working alone or collaboratively with others
reflective, learning from their experiences and interested in scientific issues that affect the individual, the
community and the environment
innovative, solving unfamiliar problems confidently and creatively
engaged, keen to develop scientific skills, being curious about scientific principles and their application in the world.
‘The strength of Cambridge IGCSE qualifications is internationally recognised and has provided
an international pathway for our students to continue their studies around the world.’
Gary Tan, Head of Schools and CEO, Raffles International Group of Schools, Indonesia
2 www.cambridgeinternational.org/igcse Back to contents page
Syllabus
Cambridge IGCSE™
Biology 0610
Use this syllabus for exams in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Exams are available in the June and November series.
Exams are also available in the March series in India only.
Version 1
,Why choose Cambridge International?
Cambridge International prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a lasting
passion for learning. We are part of the University of Cambridge.
Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Schools can shape
the curriculum around how they want students to learn – with a wide range of subjects and flexible ways to offer
them. It helps students discover new abilities and a wider world, and gives them the skills they need for life, so they
can achieve at school, university and work.
Our programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created by subject
experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research. They provide a strong platform for
learners to progress from one stage to the next, and are well supported by teaching and learning resources.
Our mission is to provide educational benefit through provision of international programmes and qualifications for
school education and to be the world leader in this field. Together with schools, we develop Cambridge learners
who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged – equipped for success in the modern world.
Every year, nearly a million Cambridge students from 10 000 schools in 160 countries prepare for their future with
the Cambridge Pathway.
‘We think the Cambridge curriculum is superb preparation for university.’
Christoph Guttentag, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Duke University, USA
Quality management
Cambridge International is committed to providing exceptional quality. In line with this commitment, our
quality management system for the provision of international qualifications and education programmes
for students aged 5 to 19 is independently certified as meeting the internationally recognised standard,
ISO 9001:2015. Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/ISO9001
Copyright © UCLES September 2020
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of the Cambridge Assessment Group. Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of
the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES), which itself is a department of the University of Cambridge.
UCLES retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered centres are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own
internal use. However, we cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for
internal use within a centre.
,Contents
1 Why choose this syllabus? ..................................................................................................... 2
2 Syllabus overview .................................................................................................................... 5
Aims 5
Content overview 6
Assessment overview 7
Assessment objectives 8
3 Subject content .......................................................................................................................10
4 Details of the assessment ................................................................................................... 45
Core assessment 45
Extended assessment 45
Practical assessment 46
Apparatus, materials and reagents 48
Safety in the laboratory 50
Mathematical requirements 50
Presentation of data 51
Conventions (e.g. signs, symbols, terminology and nomenclature) 53
Command words 54
5 What else you need to know ...............................................................................................55
Before you start 55
Making entries 56
After the exam 57
How students and teachers can use the grades 57
Grade descriptions 57
Changes to this syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025 58
Important: Changes to this syllabus
For information about changes to this syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025, go to page 58
, Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025.
1 Why choose this syllabus?
Key benefits
Cambridge IGCSE is the world’s most popular international
qualification for 14 to 16 year olds, although it can be taken by
students of other ages. It is tried, tested and trusted.
Students can choose from 70 subjects in any combination – it is
taught by over 4800 schools in over 150 countries.
Cambridge
Our programmes balance a thorough knowledge and understanding learner
of a subject and help to develop the skills learners need for their
next steps in education or employment.
Cambridge IGCSE Biology develops a set of transferable skills
including handling data, practical problem-solving and applying
the scientific method. Learners develop relevant attitudes, such as
concern for accuracy and precision, objectivity, integrity, enquiry, initiative and inventiveness. They acquire the
essential scientific skills required for progression to further studies or employment.
Our approach in Cambridge IGCSE Biology encourages learners to be:
confident, interested in learning about science, questioning ideas and using scientific language to communicate
their views and opinions
responsible, working methodically and safely when working alone or collaboratively with others
reflective, learning from their experiences and interested in scientific issues that affect the individual, the
community and the environment
innovative, solving unfamiliar problems confidently and creatively
engaged, keen to develop scientific skills, being curious about scientific principles and their application in the world.
‘The strength of Cambridge IGCSE qualifications is internationally recognised and has provided
an international pathway for our students to continue their studies around the world.’
Gary Tan, Head of Schools and CEO, Raffles International Group of Schools, Indonesia
2 www.cambridgeinternational.org/igcse Back to contents page
