Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Syllabus overview

Content overview
Candidates study the following topics:
1 Characteristics and classification of living organisms
2 Organisation of the organism
3 Movement into 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 Human influences on ecosystems
21 Biotechnology and genetic modification

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

3 Subject content

This syllabus gives you the flexibility to design a course that will interest, challenge and engage your learners.
Where appropriate you are responsible for selecting resources and examples to support your learners’ study. These
should be appropriate for the learners’ age, cultural background and learning context as well as complying with
your school policies and local legal requirements.

All candidates should be taught the Core subject content. Candidates who are only taught the Core subject content
can achieve a maximum of grade C. Candidates aiming for grades A* to C should be taught the Extended subject
content. The Extended subject content includes both the Core and the Supplement.

Scientific subjects are, by their nature, experimental. Learners should pursue a fully integrated course which allows
them to develop their experimental skills by doing practical work and investigations across a range of topics.

Practical work helps students to:

• use equipment and materials accurately and safely
• develop observational and problem-solving skills
• develop a deeper understanding of the syllabus topics and the scientific approach
• appreciate how scientific theories are developed and tested
• transfer the experimental skills acquired to unfamiliar contexts
• develop positive scientific attitudes such as objectivity, integrity, cooperation, enquiry and inventiveness
• develop an interest and enjoyment in science.

1 Characteristics and classification of living organisms

1.1 Characteristics of living organisms

Core Supplement
1 Describe the characteristics of living organisms
by describing:
(a) movement as an action by an organism or
part of an organism causing a change of
position or place
(b) respiration as the chemical reactions in cells
that break down nutrient molecules and
release energy for metabolism
(c) sensitivity as the ability to detect and
respond to changes in the internal or external
environment
(d) growth as a permanent increase in size and
dry mass
(e) reproduction as the processes that make
more of the same kind of organism
(f) excretion as the removal of the waste
products of metabolism and substances in
excess of requirements
(g) nutrition as the taking in of materials for
energy, growth and development

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

1.2 Concept and uses of classification systems

Core Supplement
1 State that organisms can be classified into groups 5 Explain that classification systems aim to reflect
by the features that they share evolutionary relationships
2 Describe a species as a group of organisms that
can reproduce to produce fertile offspring
3 Describe the binomial system of naming species
as an internationally agreed system in which the
scientific name of an organism is made up of two
parts showing the genus and species
4 Construct and use dichotomous keys based on
identifiable features
6 Explain that the sequences of bases in DNA are
used as a means of classification
7 Explain that groups of organisms which share a
more recent ancestor (are more closely related)
have base sequences in DNA that are more
similar than those that share only a distant
ancestor

1.3 Features of organisms

Core Supplement
1 State the main features used to place animals 4 State the main features used to place all
and plants into the appropriate kingdoms organisms into one of the five kingdoms: animal,
plant, fungus, prokaryote, protoctist
2 State the main features used to place organisms 5 State the main features used to place organisms
into groups within the animal kingdom, limited into groups within the plant kingdom, limited
to: to ferns and flowering plants (dicotyledons and
(a) the main groups of vertebrates: mammals, monocotyledons)
birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish
(b) the main groups of arthropods: myriapods,
insects, arachnids, crustaceans
3 Classify organisms using the features identified in 6 Classify organisms using the features identified in
1.3.1 and 1.3.2 1.3.4 and 1.3.5
7 State the features of viruses, limited to a protein
coat and genetic material

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

2 Organisation of the organism

2.1 Cell structure

Core Supplement
1 Describe and compare the structure of a plant
cell with an animal cell, limited to: cell wall, cell
membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts,
ribosomes, mitochondria, vacuoles
2 Describe the structure of a bacterial cell,
limited to: cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm,
ribosomes, circular DNA, plasmids
3 Identify the cell structures listed in 2.1.1 and 2.1.2
in diagrams and images of plant, animal and
bacterial cells
4 Describe the functions of the structures listed in
2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in plant, animal and bacterial cells
5 State that new cells are produced by division of
existing cells
6 State that specialised cells have specific
functions, limited to:
(a) ciliated cells – movement of mucus in the
trachea and bronchi
(b) root hair cells – absorption
(c) palisade mesophyll cells – photosynthesis
(d) neurones – conduction of electrical impulses
(e) red blood cells – transport of oxygen
(f) sperm and egg cells (gametes) – reproduction
7 Describe the meaning of the terms: cell, tissue,
organ, organ system and organism as illustrated
by examples given in the syllabus

2.2 Size of specimens

Core Supplement
1 State and use the formula:
magnification = image size ÷ actual size
2 Calculate magnification and size of biological 3 Convert measurements between millimetres (mm)
specimens using millimetres as units and micrometres (μm)

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

3 Movement into and out of cells

3.1 Diffusion

Core Supplement
1 Describe diffusion as the net movement
of particles from a region of their higher
concentration to a region of their lower
concentration (i.e. down a concentration
gradient), as a result of their random movement
2 State that the energy for diffusion comes from
the kinetic energy of random movement of
molecules and ions
3 State that some substances move into and out of
cells by diffusion through the cell membrane
4 Describe the importance of diffusion of gases and
solutes in living organisms
5 Investigate the factors that influence diffusion,
limited to: surface area, temperature,
concentration gradient and distance

3.2 Osmosis

Core Supplement
1 Describe the role of water as a solvent in 7 Describe osmosis as the net movement of
organisms with reference to digestion, excretion water molecules from a region of higher water
and transport potential (dilute solution) to a region of lower
2 State that water diffuses through partially water potential (concentrated solution), through
permeable membranes by osmosis a partially permeable membrane
3 State that water moves into and out of cells by
osmosis through the cell membrane
4 Investigate osmosis using materials such as
dialysis tubing
5 Investigate and describe the effects on plant 8 Explain the effects on plant cells of immersing
tissues of immersing them in solutions of them in solutions of different concentrations
different concentrations by using the terms: turgid, turgor pressure,
plasmolysis, flaccid
9 Explain the importance of water potential and
osmosis in the uptake and loss of water by
organisms
6 State that plants are supported by the pressure
of water inside the cells pressing outwards on the
cell wall

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

3.3 Active transport

Core Supplement
1 Describe active transport as the movement of 2 Explain the importance of active transport as
particles through a cell membrane from a region a process for movement of molecules or ions
of lower concentration to a region of higher across membranes, including ion uptake by root
concentration (i.e. against a concentration hairs
gradient), using energy from respiration
3 State that protein carriers move molecules or
ions across a membrane during active transport

4 Biological molecules
4.1 Biological molecules

Core Supplement
1 List the chemical elements that make up:
carbohydrates, fats and proteins
2 State that large molecules are made from smaller
molecules, limited to:
(a) starch, glycogen and cellulose from glucose
(b) proteins from amino acids
(c) fats and oils from fatty acids and glycerol
3 Describe the use of:
(a) iodine solution test for starch
(b) Benedict’s solution test for reducing sugars
(c) biuret test for proteins
(d) ethanol emulsion test for fats and oils
(e) DCPIP test for vitamin C
4 Describe the structure of a DNA molecule:
(a) two strands coiled together to form a double
helix
(b) each strand contains chemicals called bases
(c) bonds between pairs of bases hold the
strands together
(d) the bases always pair up in the same way:
A with T, and C with G (full names are not
required)

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

5 Enzymes
5.1 Enzymes

Core Supplement
1 Describe a catalyst as a substance that increases
the rate of a chemical reaction and is not
changed by the reaction
2 Describe enzymes as proteins that are involved
in all metabolic reactions, where they function as
biological catalysts
3 Describe why enzymes are important in all living
organisms in terms of a reaction rate necessary
to sustain life
4 Describe enzyme action with reference to 6 Explain enzyme action with reference to: active
the shape of the active site of an enzyme site, enzyme-substrate complex, substrate and
being complementary to its substrate and the product
formation of products 7 Explain the specificity of enzymes in terms of the
complementary shape and fit of the active site
with the substrate
5 Investigate and describe the effect of changes 8 Explain the effect of changes in temperature on
in temperature and pH on enzyme activity enzyme activity in terms of kinetic energy, shape
with reference to optimum temperature and and fit, frequency of effective collisions and
denaturation denaturation
9 Explain the effect of changes in pH on
enzyme activity in terms of shape and fit and
denaturation

6 Plant nutrition
6.1 Photosynthesis

Core Supplement
1 Describe photosynthesis as the process by
which plants synthesise carbohydrates from raw
materials using energy from light
2 State the word equation for photosynthesis as: 10 State the balanced chemical equation for
carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen photosynthesis as:
in the presence of light and chlorophyll 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2
3 State that chlorophyll is a green pigment that is
found in chloroplasts
4 State that chlorophyll transfers energy from light
into energy in chemicals, for the synthesis of
carbohydrates
continued

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

6.1 Photosynthesis continued

Core Supplement
5 Outline the subsequent use and storage of the
carbohydrates made in photosynthesis, limited
to:
(a) starch as an energy store
(b) cellulose to build cell walls
(c) glucose used in respiration to provide energy
(d) sucrose for transport in the phloem
(e) nectar to attract insects for pollination
6 Explain the importance of:
(a) nitrate ions for making amino acids
(b) magnesium ions for making chlorophyll
7 Investigate the need for chlorophyll, light
and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, using
appropriate controls
8 Investigate and describe the effects of varying
light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration and
temperature on the rate of photosynthesis
9 Investigate and describe the effect of light and
dark conditions on gas exchange in an aquatic
plant using hydrogencarbonate indicator solution
11 Identify and explain the limiting factors of
photosynthesis in different environmental
conditions

6.2 Leaf structure

Core Supplement
1 State that most leaves have a large surface area
and are thin, and explain how these features are
adaptations for photosynthesis
2 Identify in diagrams and images the following
structures in the leaf of a dicotyledonous plant:
chloroplasts, cuticle, guard cells and stomata,
upper and lower epidermis, palisade mesophyll,
spongy mesophyll, air spaces, vascular bundles,
xylem and phloem
3 Explain how the structures listed in 6.2.2 adapt
leaves for photosynthesis

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

7 Human nutrition
7.1 Diet

Core Supplement
1 Describe what is meant by a balanced diet
2 State the principal dietary sources and describe
the importance of:
(a) carbohydrates
(b) fats and oils
(c) proteins
(d) vitamins, limited to C and D
(e) mineral ions, limited to calcium and iron
(f) fibre (roughage)
(g) water
3 State the causes of scurvy and rickets

7.2 Digestive system

Core Supplement
1 Identify in diagrams and images the main organs
of the digestive system, limited to:
(a) alimentary canal: mouth, oesophagus,
stomach, small intestine (duodenum and
ileum) and large intestine (colon, rectum,
anus)
(b) associated organs: salivary glands, pancreas,
liver and gall bladder
2 Describe the functions of the organs of the
digestive system listed in 7.2.1, in relation to:
(a) ingestion – the taking of substances, e.g. food
and drink, into the body
(b) digestion – the breakdown of food
(c) absorption – the movement of nutrients from
the intestines into the blood
(d) assimilation – uptake and use of nutrients by
cells
(e) egestion – the removal of undigested food
from the body as faeces

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

7.3 Physical digestion

Core Supplement
1 Describe physical digestion as the breakdown of
food into smaller pieces without chemical change
to the food molecules
2 State that physical digestion increases the
surface area of food for the action of enzymes in
chemical digestion
3 Identify in diagrams and images the types of
human teeth: incisors, canines, premolars and
molars
4 Describe the structure of human teeth, limited
to: enamel, dentine, pulp, nerves, blood vessels
and cement, and understand that teeth are
embedded in bone and the gums
5 Describe the functions of the types of human
teeth in physical digestion of food
6 Describe the function of the stomach in physical
digestion
7 Outline the role of bile in emulsifying fats and
oils to increase the surface area for chemical
digestion

7.4 Chemical digestion

Core Supplement
1 Describe chemical digestion as the break down
of large insoluble molecules into small soluble
molecules
2 State the role of chemical digestion in producing
small soluble molecules that can be absorbed
3 Describe the functions of enzymes as follows: 6 Describe the digestion of starch in the digestive
(a) amylase breaks down starch to simple system:
reducing sugars (a) amylase breaks down starch to maltose
(b) proteases break down protein to amino acids (b) maltase breaks down maltose to glucose on
(c) lipase breaks down fats and oils to fatty acids the membranes of the epithelium lining the
and glycerol small intestine

4 State where, in the digestive system, amylase, 7 Describe the digestion of protein by proteases in
protease and lipase are secreted and where they the digestive system:
act (a) pepsin breaks down protein in the acidic
5 Describe the functions of hydrochloric acid conditions of the stomach
in gastric juice, limited to killing harmful (b) trypsin breaks down protein in the alkaline
microorganisms in food and providing an acidic conditions of the small intestine
pH for optimum enzyme activity
8 Explain that bile is an alkaline mixture that
neutralises the acidic mixture of food and gastric
juices entering the duodenum from the stomach,
to provide a suitable pH for enzyme action

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

7.5 Absorption

Core Supplement
1 State that the small intestine is the region where
nutrients are absorbed
3 Explain the significance of villi and microvilli in
increasing the internal surface area of the small
intestine
4 Describe the structure of a villus
5 Describe the roles of capillaries and lacteals in
villi
2 State that most water is absorbed from the small
intestine but that some is also absorbed from the
colon

8 Transport in plants
8.1 Xylem and phloem

Core Supplement
1 State the functions of xylem and phloem: 3 Relate the structure of xylem vessels to their
(a) xylem – transport of water and mineral ions, function, limited to:
and support (a) thick walls with lignin (details of lignification
(b) phloem – transport of sucrose and amino are not required)
acids (b) no cell contents
2 Identify in diagrams and images the position of (c) cells joined end to end with no cross walls to
xylem and phloem as seen in sections of roots, form a long continuous tube
stems and leaves of non-woody dicotyledonous
plants

8.2 Water uptake

Core Supplement
1 Identify in diagrams and images root hair cells
and state their functions
2 State that the large surface area of root hairs
increases the uptake of water and mineral ions
3 Outline the pathway taken by water through the
root, stem and leaf as: root hair cells, root cortex
cells, xylem, mesophyll cells
4 Investigate, using a suitable stain, the pathway of
water through the above-ground parts of a plant

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

8.3 Transpiration

Core Supplement
1 Describe transpiration as the loss of water vapour
from leaves
2 State that water evaporates from the surfaces of
the mesophyll cells into the air spaces and then
diffuses out of the leaves through the stomata as
water vapour
4 Explain how water vapour loss is related to:
the large internal surface area provided by the
interconnecting air spaces between mesophyll
cells and the size and number of stomata
5 Explain the mechanism by which water moves
upwards in the xylem in terms of a transpiration
pull that draws up a column of water molecules,
held together by forces of attraction between
water molecules
3 Investigate and describe the effects of variation 6 Explain the effects on the rate of transpiration of
of temperature and wind speed on transpiration varying the following factors: temperature, wind
rate speed and humidity
7 Explain how and why wilting occurs

8.4 Translocation

Core Supplement
1 Describe translocation as the movement of
sucrose and amino acids in phloem from sources
to sinks
2 Describe:
(a) sources as the parts of plants that release
sucrose or amino acids
(b) sinks as the parts of plants that use or store
sucrose or amino acids
3 Explain why some parts of a plant may act as a
source and a sink at different times

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 Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

9 Transport in animals
9.1 Circulatory systems

Core Supplement
1 Describe the circulatory system as a system of
blood vessels with a pump and valves to ensure
one-way flow of blood
2 Describe the single circulation of a fish
3 Describe the double circulation of a mammal
4 Explain the advantages of a double circulation

9.2 Heart

Core Supplement
1 Identify in diagrams and images the structures of 7 Identify in diagrams and images the
the mammalian heart, limited to: muscular wall, atrioventricular and semilunar valves in the
septum, left and right ventricles, left and right mammalian heart
atria, one-way valves and coronary arteries 8 Explain the relative thickness of:
(a) the muscle walls of the left and right
ventricles
(b) the muscle walls of the atria compared to
those of the ventricles
9 Explain the importance of the septum in
separating oxygenated and deoxygenated blood
10 Describe the functioning of the heart in terms
of the contraction of muscles of the atria and
ventricles and the action of the valves
2 State that blood is pumped away from the heart
in arteries and returns to the heart in veins
3 State that the activity of the heart may be
monitored by: ECG, pulse rate and listening to
sounds of valves closing
4 Investigate and describe the effect of physical 11 Explain the effect of physical activity on the heart
activity on the heart rate rate
5 Describe coronary heart disease in terms of
the blockage of coronary arteries and state
the possible risk factors including: diet, lack of
exercise, stress, smoking, genetic predisposition,
age and sex
6 Discuss the roles of diet and exercise in reducing
the risk of coronary heart disease

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Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus for 2023, 2024 and 2025. Subject content

9.3 Blood vessels

Core Supplement
1 Describe the structure of arteries, veins and 4 Explain how the structure of arteries and veins
capillaries, limited to: relative thickness of wall, is related to the pressure of the blood that they
diameter of the lumen and the presence of valves transport
in veins
2 State the functions of capillaries 5 Explain how the structure of capillaries is related
to their functions
3 Identify in diagrams and images the main blood 6 Identify, in diagrams and images, the main blood
vessels to and from the: vessels to and from the liver as: hepatic artery,
(a) heart, limited to: vena cava, aorta, pulmonary hepatic veins and hepatic portal vein
artery and pulmonary vein
(b) lungs, limited to: pulmonary artery and
pulmonary vein
(c) kidney, limited to: renal artery and renal vein

9.4 Blood

Core Supplement
1 List the components of blood as: red blood cells,
white blood cells, platelets and plasma
2 Identify red and white blood cells in 5 Identify lymphocytes and phagocytes in
photomicrographs and diagrams photomicrographs and diagrams
3 State the functions of the following components 6 State the functions of:
of blood: (a) lymphocytes – antibody production
(a) red blood cells in transporting oxygen, (b) phagocytes – engulfing pathogens by
including the role of haemoglobin phagocytosis
(b) white blood cells in phagocytosis and
antibody production
(c) platelets in clotting (details are not required)
(d) plasma in the transport of blood cells, ions,
nutrients, urea, hormones and carbon dioxide
4 State the roles of blood clotting as preventing 7 Describe the process of clotting as the conversion
blood loss and the entry of pathogens of fibrinogen to fibrin to form a mesh

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