IGCSE Biology 0610 · 2026 / 2027 / 2028 Syllabus

The full syllabus, mapped.

All 21 topics of Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610, in syllabus order. Every topic has lessons with interactive 3D labs, a question bank and revision notes. Practical trainers for Paper 5 and Paper 6 are ready too.

21
Main Topics
61
Sub-Topics
73
Lessons Published
22
Labs Live
Paper 1/2 Multiple choice · 40 marks
Paper 3/4 Theory · 1h 15m · 80 marks
Paper 5 Practical Test · 1h 15m · 40 marks
Paper 6 Alternative to Practical · 1h · 40 marks
PRACTICAL SKILLS

Practical papers.

Trainers for the practical papers, marked the way examiners mark. See every practical trainer.

TOPIC 01

Characteristics and classification.

What makes something alive, how living things are named and grouped, and how to build and use dichotomous keys.

1.1Characteristics of living organisms
1.2Concept and uses of classification systems
1.3Features of organisms
LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 02

Organisation of the organism.

Plant, animal and bacterial cells, specialised cells, and calculating magnification and the actual size of specimens.

LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 03

Movement into and out of cells.

Diffusion, osmosis and active transport, with the potato and plant-tissue investigations that test them.

3.3Active transport
LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 04

Biological molecules.

The chemical elements and building blocks of carbohydrates, fats and proteins, food tests, and the structure of DNA.

LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 05

Enzymes.

Biological catalysts: the active site, specificity, and the effects of temperature and pH, investigated in the lab.

LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 06

Plant nutrition.

Photosynthesis, limiting factors and how the structure of a leaf is adapted to make food.

6.2Leaf structure
LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 07

Human nutrition.

A balanced diet, the digestive system, physical and chemical digestion, and absorption.

7.3Physical digestion
7.4Chemical digestion
LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 08

Transport in plants.

Xylem and phloem, water uptake, transpiration and translocation.

8.1Xylem and phloem
LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 09

Transport in animals.

Circulatory systems, the heart, blood vessels and the components of blood.

9.1Circulatory systems
LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 10

Diseases and immunity.

Pathogens, how disease spreads, the body's defences, antibodies and vaccination.

LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 11

Gas exchange in humans.

The breathing system, the features of gas exchange surfaces, and the effect of exercise on breathing.

LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 12

Respiration.

Aerobic and anaerobic respiration: where the energy comes from and how yeast and muscles use it.

12.2Aerobic respiration
12.3Anaerobic respiration
TOPIC 13

Excretion in humans.

Removing the waste products of metabolism: the kidneys, urea and the liver.

LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 14

Coordination and response.

Nerves, the eye, hormones, homeostasis and tropic responses in plants.

14.1Coordination and response
14.5Tropic responses
TOPIC 15

Drugs.

Medicinal drugs, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance.

TOPIC 16

Reproduction.

Asexual and sexual reproduction in plants and humans, sex hormones and sexually transmitted infections.

16.1Asexual reproduction
16.2Sexual reproduction
16.6Sexually transmitted infections
TOPIC 17

Inheritance.

Chromosomes, genes and proteins, mitosis and meiosis, and monohybrid crosses.

17.1Chromosomes, genes and proteins
TOPIC 18

Variation and selection.

Continuous and discontinuous variation, adaptive features, natural and artificial selection.

18.2Adaptive features
LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 19

Organisms and their environment.

Energy flow, food chains and webs, the carbon and nitrogen cycles, and populations.

19.2Food chains and food webs
LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 20

Human influences on ecosystems.

Food supply, habitat destruction, pollution and conservation.

20.2Habitat destruction
LABSInteractive labs for this topic
TOPIC 21

Biotechnology and genetic modification.

Using microorganisms in biotechnology, and how genes are transferred between organisms.

21.1Biotechnology and genetic modification
21.3Genetic modification
LABSInteractive labs for this topic