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IGCSE Biology (0610) Syllabus: Every Chapter & Topic (2026)

PapaMarks Team · July 17, 2026 · 8 min read
#IGCSE #Biology #0610 #Syllabus #Topics #Revision

The Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) syllabus spans 21 chapters, from Characteristics of Living Organisms all the way through to Biotechnology & Genetic Modification. Biology is the broadest of the three sciences, so having the full map in front of you matters more here than anywhere else — you can't see the gaps until you can see the whole thing. This is the complete, ordered list of every chapter and topic, with each one linked to practice.

⚡ The 60-second version
  • The 0610 syllabus runs across 21 chapters and roughly 150 individual topics.
  • Unlike Maths or Physics, marks are evenly spread — no single chapter dominates, so you can't afford big gaps.
  • Biology is terminology-heavy: precise definitions and the right command word win the marks.
  • Aiming for an A*? You'll sit the Extended papers, so lead your practice with Extended-tier questions.
  • This is the complete map; for what comes up most often, see our most-tested IGCSE Biology topics analysis.

Characteristics & Classification of Living Organisms

The foundation of the whole subject: what makes something alive, and how we sort living things into groups.

Organisation of the Organism

Cells as the basic unit of life, how they're organised, and the maths of magnification.

Movement into & out of Cells

How substances cross cell membranes by diffusion, osmosis and active transport.

Biological Molecules

The chemistry of life — carbohydrates, proteins, fats, DNA — and how to test for them.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts, how they work, and what temperature and pH do to them.

Plant Nutrition

Photosynthesis in depth — the equation, limiting factors, leaf structure and the practicals.

Human Nutrition

Diet, the digestive system and the chemical and physical breakdown of food — one of the biggest chapters.

Transport in Plants

Xylem, phloem, transpiration and translocation — how water and food move through a plant.

Transport in Animals

The heart, blood vessels and blood — a large, high-detail chapter with several practicals.

Diseases & Immunity

Pathogens, how the body defends itself, and how disease is controlled and prevented.

Gas Exchange in Humans

The breathing system, gas exchange surfaces and the practicals on inspired vs expired air.

Respiration

Releasing energy from food — aerobic and anaerobic respiration and their equations.

Excretion in Humans

How the body removes waste, focusing on the kidney and the liver.

Coordination & Response

Nervous and hormonal control, the eye, homeostasis and plant tropisms.

Drugs

A short chapter on the role of drugs in medicine.

Reproduction

Asexual and sexual reproduction in plants and humans, plus the sex hormones — a heavily examined chapter.

Inheritance

Chromosomes, protein synthesis, mitosis and meiosis, and genetic crosses.

Variation & Selection

Variation, adaptation, and how natural and artificial selection shape populations.

Organisms & Their Environment

Energy flow, food chains and webs, ecological pyramids and nutrient cycles.

Human Influences on Ecosystems

Food supply, biodiversity, pollution, sustainability and conservation.

Biotechnology & Genetic Modification

The final chapter: how we put bacteria to work and modify genes for our own uses.

🎯
Precise definitions win marks. More than in any other science, Biology rewards the exact wording the mark scheme wants — and because the marks are spread so evenly across the syllabus, breadth beats depth. It's better to know all 21 chapters solidly than three chapters perfectly.

How to use this syllabus map

  1. Audit the whole map first
    Read down every chapter and RAG-rate each topic — red, amber, green. In Biology the gaps are what cost you, so find them before you start revising.
  2. Turn each topic into practice
    Click through to any topic and drill it on real questions. Learn the definition, then answer past-paper questions until the wording is automatic.
  3. Cross-check against the frequency data
    Once you've covered the map, use the most-tested topics to decide where to spend your last revision hours.
  4. Work at Extended level for an A*
    If you're targeting the top grades, make Extended-tier questions the bulk of your practice across every chapter.
📚
Ready to revise? Work through IGCSE Biology 0610 past papers with instant AI marking, see which areas come up most in our most-tested topics analysis, then read how to get an A* in IGCSE Biology 0610.

FAQ

How many topics are in IGCSE Biology 0610?
The Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus is organised into 21 chapters, which break down into roughly 150 individual topics — from Characteristics of Living Organisms through to Biotechnology & Genetic Modification. The full ordered list is mapped above, with every topic linked to practice.
What are the chapters in IGCSE Biology?
The 21 chapters are: Characteristics & Classification of Living Organisms; Organisation of the Organism; Movement into & out of Cells; Biological Molecules; Enzymes; Plant Nutrition; Human Nutrition; Transport in Plants; Transport in Animals; Diseases & Immunity; Gas Exchange in Humans; Respiration; Excretion in Humans; Coordination & Response; Drugs; Reproduction; Inheritance; Variation & Selection; Organisms & Their Environment; Human Influences on Ecosystems; and Biotechnology & Genetic Modification.
Can I skip topics in IGCSE Biology?
Not sensibly. Biology is unusually evenly spread — marks come from more than 20 chapters rather than one or two dominant areas — so skipping a topic is a direct risk to your grade. Broad coverage of the whole map plus precise terminology is the winning approach.
Which Biology topics are most important?
By exam frequency, Reproduction, Inheritance and Human Nutrition are the highest-yielding chapters, and specific topics like Monohybrid Inheritance and Sexual Reproduction appear most often. See our most-tested IGCSE Biology topics analysis for the full ranking — but remember that this map exists because you still need everything else too.
What's the difference between Core and Extended in Biology 0610?
Core covers the foundation content and is capped at grade C; Extended adds extra depth and detail and is required for the higher grades, including A*. If you're aiming for the top, sit the Extended papers and make Extended-tier questions the bulk of your practice across the whole map.

Biology rewards the student who leaves no gaps. Use this map to see the entire 0610 syllabus at a glance, RAG-rate every chapter, and turn each topic into real practice — then lean on the frequency data for the final push. Cover the whole map with precise definitions, and you'll be earning marks wherever the exam lands.

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