Syllabus
Cambridge IGCSE™
Biology 0610
Use this syllabus for exams in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Exams are available in the June and November series.
Exams are also available in the March series in India.
Version 1
For the purposes of screen readers, any mention in this document of Cambridge IGCSE
refers to Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education.
,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, are 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. Learn more about our research at www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/our-research/
We believe education works best when curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment are closely aligned.
Our programmes develop deep knowledge, conceptual understanding and higher-order thinking skills, to
prepare students for their future. 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.
School feedback: ‘We think the Cambridge curriculum is superb preparation for university.’
Feedback from: 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 education programmes and qualifications
for students aged 5 to 19 is independently certified as meeting the internationally recognised standard,
ISO 9001:2015. Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/about-us/our-standards/
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment September 2023
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Cambridge University Press &
Assessment is a department of the University of Cambridge.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 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
Why choose Cambridge International?......................................................................... 2
1 Why choose this syllabus? ......................................................................................... 4
2 Syllabus overview ........................................................................................................ 7
Aims 7
Content overview 8
Assessment overview 9
Assessment objectives 10
3 Subject content ..........................................................................................................12
4 Details of the assessment ........................................................................................ 49
Core assessment 49
Extended assessment 49
Practical assessment 50
Apparatus, materials and reagents 52
Safety in the laboratory 54
Mathematical requirements 54
Presentation of data 55
Conventions (e.g. signs, symbols, terminology and nomenclature) 57
Command words 58
5 What else you need to know .................................................................................... 59
Before you start 59
Making entries 60
Accessibility and equality 60
After the exam 61
How students and teachers can use the grades 62
Changes to this syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028 63
Important: Changes to this syllabus
The latest syllabus is version 1, published September 2023. There are no significant changes which affect
teaching.
Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2023 are still suitable for use with this
syllabus.
, Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
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 5000 schools in 150 countries.
Cambridge
Our programmes promote a thorough knowledge and learner
understanding 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.
School feedback: ‘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.’
Feedback from: Gary Tan, Head of Schools and CEO, Raffles Group of Schools, Indonesia
Back to contents page www.cambridgeinternational.org/igcse 4
Cambridge IGCSE™
Biology 0610
Use this syllabus for exams in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Exams are available in the June and November series.
Exams are also available in the March series in India.
Version 1
For the purposes of screen readers, any mention in this document of Cambridge IGCSE
refers to Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education.
,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, are 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. Learn more about our research at www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk/our-research/
We believe education works best when curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment are closely aligned.
Our programmes develop deep knowledge, conceptual understanding and higher-order thinking skills, to
prepare students for their future. 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.
School feedback: ‘We think the Cambridge curriculum is superb preparation for university.’
Feedback from: 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 education programmes and qualifications
for students aged 5 to 19 is independently certified as meeting the internationally recognised standard,
ISO 9001:2015. Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/about-us/our-standards/
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment September 2023
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Cambridge University Press &
Assessment is a department of the University of Cambridge.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment 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
Why choose Cambridge International?......................................................................... 2
1 Why choose this syllabus? ......................................................................................... 4
2 Syllabus overview ........................................................................................................ 7
Aims 7
Content overview 8
Assessment overview 9
Assessment objectives 10
3 Subject content ..........................................................................................................12
4 Details of the assessment ........................................................................................ 49
Core assessment 49
Extended assessment 49
Practical assessment 50
Apparatus, materials and reagents 52
Safety in the laboratory 54
Mathematical requirements 54
Presentation of data 55
Conventions (e.g. signs, symbols, terminology and nomenclature) 57
Command words 58
5 What else you need to know .................................................................................... 59
Before you start 59
Making entries 60
Accessibility and equality 60
After the exam 61
How students and teachers can use the grades 62
Changes to this syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028 63
Important: Changes to this syllabus
The latest syllabus is version 1, published September 2023. There are no significant changes which affect
teaching.
Any textbooks endorsed to support the syllabus for examination from 2023 are still suitable for use with this
syllabus.
, Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
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 5000 schools in 150 countries.
Cambridge
Our programmes promote a thorough knowledge and learner
understanding 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.
School feedback: ‘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.’
Feedback from: Gary Tan, Head of Schools and CEO, Raffles Group of Schools, Indonesia
Back to contents page www.cambridgeinternational.org/igcse 4
