Cambridge IGCSE Biology Syllabus Checklist — 0610 & 0970, Core and Extended
The complete Cambridge IGCSE Biology syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028 — every learning objective from all 21 topics, reorganised as an interactive revision checklist. Tick each point as you master it (progress is saved on this device), and see instantly which content is Core and which is Extended-only Supplement. Works for both the A*–G route (0610) and the 9–1 route (0970): the content is identical.
Core vs Extended — how the Cambridge IGCSE Biology papers work
Core candidates sit Paper 1 (Multiple Choice, 45 min, 40 marks, 30%) and Paper 3 (Theory, 1 h 15, 80 marks, 50%). Both test Core content only, and grades C–G are available.
Extended candidates sit Paper 2 (Multiple Choice, 45 min, 40 marks, 30%) and Paper 4 (Theory, 1 h 15, 80 marks, 50%). These test the Core and the Supplement — the points badged SUPPLEMENT below — and grades A*–G are available. Aiming for A*–C? You need everything on this page.
Everyone also sits one practical component worth 20%: Paper 5 (Practical Test, 1 h 15) or Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical, 1 h). Both assess the same experimental skills — the points badged PRACTICAL are the investigations you must know.
Test yourself — free Cambridge IGCSE Biology quiz
Ticked Topic 1? Try the free trial quiz on the characteristics of living organisms before you move on. It's the same format as the chapter quizzes inside the full course.
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Every past-paper question sorted by these exact syllabus topics
Cambridge IGCSE Biology Papers 2, 4 and 6 from 2019–2026, fully solved and classified topic by topic — so when you tick "Enzymes" here, you can practise every enzyme question the examiners have ever set.
Get the Classified Solved Past Papers → See sample pagesAbout the Cambridge IGCSE Biology syllabus (0610 and 0970)
The Cambridge IGCSE Biology syllabus is published by Cambridge International (Cambridge Assessment International Education). The current version covers examinations in 2026, 2027 and 2028 and is organised into 21 topics, from characteristics and classification of living organisms through to biotechnology and genetic modification. Every examinable idea is written as a numbered learning objective (for example 5.1.4), which is exactly what this checklist tracks — 389 points in total.
There are two syllabus codes with identical content: 0610 is graded A*–G and 0970 is the 9–1 graded version used mainly by UK schools. Whichever your school enters you for, this is your syllabus. The content is split into Core (all candidates) and Supplement (Extended candidates only, shown in the right-hand column of the official document). Extended candidates need both.
Practical skills are assessed on Paper 5 or Paper 6 rather than through coursework, so the syllabus lists specific investigations — food tests, osmosis, enzyme rates, photosynthesis, transpiration, heart rate and germination among them — which are badged PRACTICAL above.
Use this page as your master revision tracker: study each topic in the Cambridge IGCSE Biology course, tick each point once you can answer exam questions on it, then confirm it with real questions from the classified solved past papers (2019–2026). Prefer a teacher? Join the live IGCSE Biology classes. Sitting Edexcel instead? Use the Edexcel IGCSE Biology specification checklist.
Cambridge IGCSE Biology syllabus — FAQ
What is the difference between 0610 and 0970?
Nothing in the content. 0610 is Cambridge IGCSE Biology graded A*–G; 0970 is Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Biology graded 9–1. The syllabus topics, papers and questions are the same, so this checklist covers both.
Which years does this syllabus cover?
The current syllabus is for examinations in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Cambridge publishes it as one document for all three years.
What is the difference between Core and Extended in IGCSE Biology?
Core candidates sit Papers 1 and 3 on Core content only and can achieve grades C–G. Extended candidates sit Papers 2 and 4 on Core plus Supplement content and can achieve A*–G. The Supplement points are badged SUPPLEMENT in this checklist.
Which papers do I sit for Cambridge IGCSE Biology?
Three: a multiple-choice paper (1 Core or 2 Extended, 30%), a theory paper (3 Core or 4 Extended, 50%) and a practical paper (5 Practical Test or 6 Alternative to Practical, 20%).
Is the syllabus the same as a specification?
Yes. Cambridge calls the document a syllabus; Edexcel calls theirs a specification. Both mean the official list of everything that can be examined.
How many topics are in the Cambridge IGCSE Biology syllabus?
21 topics: characteristics and classification, organisation of the organism, movement in and out of cells, biological molecules, enzymes, plant nutrition, human nutrition, transport in plants, transport in animals, diseases and immunity, gas exchange, respiration, excretion, coordination and response, drugs, reproduction, inheritance, variation and selection, organisms and their environment, human influences on ecosystems, and biotechnology and genetic modification.
See how precise biological terms turn understanding into marks in Cambridge IGCSE and Edexcel International A Level Biology. The video shows how concise notes, highlighted key terms, flashcards and quizzes help you build stronger past-paper answers.
Turn this syllabus checklist into an A*
The complete Cambridge IGCSE Biology course: notes written in mark-scheme language for the 2026–2028 syllabus, chapter quizzes and flashcards, video lessons and every past paper solved. Or join Mr Hosni's live weekly classes and revise it together.
Explore the IGCSE Biology Course → Join Live IGCSE Biology Classes Flip through the notes