Biology IGCSE Overview

We follow the Cambridge IGCSE Syllabus, a two year course, according to the
attached teaching schedule. Assessment is by terminal exams ( Paper 1- multiple
choice, Paper 2 or 3 ( short answer) and a practical exam. Students are assessed
during the course through:
End of topic tests comprising past IGCSE Questions Assessed practicals Y10 Exam,
which mirrors the format of the final exam.
Y11 Mock exam, which mirrors format of the practical exam

Cells, tissues and classification

Practicals

Circuses of living and preserved material.

Make keys to identify leaves.

Examine prepared slides of bacteria and fungi.

Prepare wet mounts of onion and cheek vells.

Osmosis, diffusion and enzymes

Practicals
• Diffusion in liquids ( copper sulphate) and gases ( ammonia).
• Examine the effect of sucrose solutions on onion cells.
• Demo effects of liver and potato on catalase.
• Effects of catalase on hydrogen peroxide.
• Effects of temperature on amylase.
• Investigate either biological washing powders OR pectinase.

Assessed Investigations
Effects of sucrose solutions on potato cells.

Plant nutrition and transport

Practicals

Examine stomata casts.

Examine prepared slides of TS leaf.

Testing leaves for starch( lit unlit / variegated ).

Pondweed / inverted test tube prac.

Examine celery stood in methylene blue.

Examine prepared T/S stem slides.

Which surface of a leaf loses most water ( Vaseline prac)

Use potometers to investigate water loss.

Weighing prac. To determine how the environment influences transpiration.

Assessed Investigations
Photosynthesis – limiting factors
Animal nutrition
Practicals

Prepare food extracts and carry out food tests.

Compare energy content of peas and peanuts.

Model gut / visking tubing prac.

Action of pepsin on egg white / lipase on milk.

Make yoghurt.

Respiration and animal transport

Practicals

Heart dissection.

Examine slides of veins and arteries.

Release of heat by germinating seedlings.

Effect of respiring yeast on methylene blue.

Lung dissection.

Effect of exercise on breathing rate.

Demonstrate spirometer.

Hubble bubble apparatus using limewater and bicarbonate indicator.

Make bread.

Assessed Investigations
Rate of respiration in yeast

Homeostasis and Control

Assessed Investigations

Test ‘urine’ for sugar and salt ( Benedict’s, Diasitx and silver nitrate).

Examine the effect of temperature on the temperature of extremities.

Examine rate of heat loss from insulated / uninsulated & wet / dry beakers.

Investigate taxes using choice chambers.

Investigate response of seedlings to light.

Demonstrate use of clinostats.

Measure reaction times.

Eye dissection.

Examine eye / pupil reflex.
Reproduction
Practicals

Flower dissection.

Investigate optimal conditions for seed germination.

Dissect a bean seed.

Grow bean seeds on blotting paper, record growth and development.

Examine pollen tubes from prepared slides.

Take cuttings.

Prepare onion root tip squash / examine prepared slides.

Assessed Investigations
Seed germination.

Genetics and selection

Practicals

Use genetic corn to determine genetic ratios.

Use beads to model genetic ratios.

Make evolutionary trees of widgets.

Examine albino / variegated / double / wild type organisms

Ecology
Practicals

Effect of sulphur dioxide on seed germination.

Lichen population counts

Carry out Lincoln Index simulation

Assessed Investigations
Generally too close to external exams for students to spend time on extended write
ups.