COURSES DETAILS

Cambridge IGCSE

Biology enables learners to:

• increase their understanding of the technological world

• take an informed interest in scientific matters

• recognise the usefulness (and limitations) of scientific method, and how to apply this to other disciplines and in everyday life

• develop relevant attitudes, such as a concern for accuracy and precision, objectivity, integrity, enquiry, initiative and inventiveness

• develop an interest in, and care for, the environment

• better understand the influences and limitations placed on scientific study by society, economy, technology, ethics, the community and the environment

• develop an understanding of the scientific skills essential for both further study and everyday life.

Content overview

Candidates study the following topics:

1 Characteristics and classification of living organisms

2 Organisation of the organism

3 Movement in 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 Biotechnology and genetic engineering

21 Human influences on ecosystems

All candidates take three papers.

Candidates who have studied the Core subject content, or who are expected to achieve a grade D or below, should be entered for Paper 1, Paper 3 and either Paper 5 or Paper 6. These candidates will be eligible for grades C to G. Candidates who have studied the Extended subject content (Core and Supplement), and who are expected to achieve a grade C or above, should be entered for Paper 2, Paper 4 and either Paper 5 or Paper 6. These candidates will be eligible for grades A* to G.

Assessment objectives

The assessment objectives (AOs) are:

AO1 Knowledge with understanding

Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• scientific phenomena, facts, laws, definitions, concepts and theories

• scientific vocabulary, terminology and conventions (including symbols, quantities and units)

• scientific instruments and apparatus, including techniques of operation and aspects of safety

• scientific and technological applications with their social, economic and environmental implications.

Subject content defines the factual material that candidates may be required to recall and explain. Candidates will also be asked questions that require them to apply this material to unfamiliar contexts and to apply knowledge from one area of the syllabus to another. Questions testing this objective will often begin with one of the following words: define, state, describe, explain (using your knowledge and understanding) or outline (see the Glossary of terms used in science papers).

AO2 Handling information and problem solving

Candidates should be able, in words or using other written forms of presentation (i.e. symbolic, graphical and numerical), to:

• locate, select, organise and present information from a variety of sources

• translate information from one form to another

• manipulate numerical and other data

• use information to identify patterns, report trends and draw inferences

• present reasoned explanations for phenomena, patterns and relationships

• make predictions and hypotheses • solve problems, including some of a quantitative nature.

Questions testing these skills may be based on information that is unfamiliar to candidates, requiring them to apply the principles and concepts from the syllabus to a new situation, in a logical, deductive way. Questions testing these skills will often begin with one of the following words: predict, suggest, calculate or determine (see the Glossary of terms used in science papers).

AO3 Experimental skills and investigations

Candidates should be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge of how to safely use techniques, apparatus and materials (including following a sequence of instructions where appropriate)

• plan experiments and investigations

• make and record observations, measurements and estimates

• interpret and evaluate experimental observations and data

• evaluate methods and suggest possible improvements.