Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) is assessed by two 1 hour 45 minute papers, each worth 100 marks, at Foundation or Higher tier, with eight core practicals tested in the exams. Our Edexcel GCSE Biology course follows the 1BI0 specification and covers key concepts in biology, cells and control, genetics, natural selection and genetic modification, health and disease, plant structures, animal coordination, exchange and transport, and ecosystems. You prepare for both 1 hour 45 minute papers and the core practicals. Lessons are live and one-to-one with a verified subject tutor, who works through exam-style questions with you, marks your answers against the Edexcel mark scheme and shows you where marks are won and lost. Suitable for foundation and higher tier students in Year 10 and Year 11, and for resits.
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In short: this course gives one-to-one online tutoring for Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) at Foundation and Higher tier. A verified biology tutor teaches every topic, the core practicals and exam technique, using Edexcel past papers and mark schemes.
Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) is the separate-science GCSE in biology from Pearson Edexcel, usually taken at the end of Year 11. It is graded 9 to 1 and offered at Foundation tier (grades 5 to 1) and Higher tier (grades 9 to 4).
This course covers the full 1BI0 specification one to one with a verified biology tutor, so lessons focus on the topics and question types that cost you marks.
Official specification: Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0).
For wider support, see our biology tutoring page, or the AQA GCSE Biology course if your school follows AQA.
Pearson Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) is assessed by two written papers, each lasting 1 hour 45 minutes, worth 100 marks and 50% of the GCSE. Both papers are taken at the same tier: Foundation (grades 1 to 5) or Higher (grades 4 to 9).
| Paper | Content | Time | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Topics 1–5: key concepts in biology; cells and control; genetics; natural selection and genetic modification; health, disease and the development of medicines | 1 hour 45 minutes | 100 | 50% |
| Paper 2 | Topic 1 plus Topics 6–9: plant structures and their functions; animal coordination, control and homeostasis; exchange and transport in animals; ecosystems and material cycles | 1 hour 45 minutes | 100 | 50% |
The assessment objectives are weighted 40% knowledge and understanding (AO1), 40% application (AO2) and 20% analysis, interpretation and evaluation (AO3), each within three percentage points. Each paper carries roughly 20, 20 and 10 percentage points of these.
| Objective | What it tests | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas and techniques | 40% |
| AO2 | Applying knowledge and understanding | 40% |
| AO3 | Analysing, interpreting and evaluating information and evidence | 20% |
Practical questions appear on both papers, so tutors cover the method, variables, risks and typical exam questions for each core practical, including microscopy, enzyme activity and pH, osmosis in potatoes, food tests, the effect of light intensity on photosynthesis, respiration rate, field sampling with quadrats, and decomposition.
Here is a typical maths-skills question: an image of a cell is 30 mm long at × 1,500 magnification. Calculate the real length in micrometres.
| Step | Working |
|---|---|
| Formula | Real size = image size ÷ magnification |
| Calculation | 30 mm ÷ 1,500 = 0.02 mm |
| Convert | 0.02 mm × 1,000 = 20 µm |
Students most often lose biology marks with vague wording, describing graphs without data, unit errors, confusing processes and weak extended answers.
| Mark-loser | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Vague wording | Name the structure or process each time |
| Graphs without data | Quote values with units |
| Unit errors | Convert mm to µm by multiplying by 1,000 |
| Processes confused | Compare similar processes side by side |
| Weak 6-mark answers | Use a logical sequence and key terms |
On Edexcel Combined Science (1SC0), biology is a subset of the same topics in two 1 hour 10 minute biology papers. Tell your tutor which course and tier you're on and lessons will follow it exactly.
Lessons are live and one to one on video with a shared whiteboard. Your tutor starts with a quick diagnostic, plans lessons around your weakest topics, sets exam-style questions between sessions and marks them against the Edexcel mark scheme. Suitable for Year 10 and 11 students, resit candidates and home-schooled students. For specific questions, try homework help or see our Biology subject page.
A GCSE biology tutor online gives you live 1-to-1 lessons on the Edexcel 1BI0 topics, with practice on core practicals and extended answers at Foundation or Higher tier.
This course suits Year 10 and Year 11 students taking separate GCSE Biology.
Prerequisites: basic science and maths, and English reading.
Course length: 45 one-hour lessons across 9 topics.
| Stage | Topics | What you can do afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Key concepts; cells and control; genetics | Explain cells, cell division and inheritance |
| 2 | Natural selection; health, disease and medicines | Explain evolution, disease and treatments |
| 3 | Plant structures; animal coordination and homeostasis | Explain plant transport, hormones and control |
| 4 | Exchange and transport; ecosystems and material cycles | Explain circulation, gas exchange and ecosystems |
Where it leads: see the AQA GCSE Biology course if your school follows AQA.
The Edexcel GCSE Biology specification code is 1BI0. Edexcel Combined Science is 1SC0.
Two papers, each 1 hour 45 minutes and worth 100 marks.
Topics 1 to 5: key concepts, cells and control, genetics, natural selection and genetic modification, and health, disease and medicines.
Topic 1 plus topics 6 to 9: plant structures, animal coordination and homeostasis, exchange and transport, and ecosystems.
There are eight core practicals, and questions on them can appear on either paper.
It's manageable with regular revision, but students often lose marks on extended answers, practicals and maths skills, which tutoring targets.
Foundation gives access to grades 5 to 1 and Higher to grades 9 to 4.
Yes. Tutors follow the 1SC0 specification and your tier.
The price depends on the tutor and session length. You see the hourly rate before booking, with no subscription.
Yes. Tutors use Edexcel-style questions and mark them against the mark scheme.
Each paper is 1 hour 45 minutes and worth 100 marks, 50% of the GCSE.
Most schools use a student book endorsed or approved by Pearson for Edexcel GCSE Biology, alongside the official specification and a good revision guide. Choose a book written for the current specification so the content and terminology match your exam. Your tutor links lessons to your textbook chapters and fills any gaps with exam-style practice.
No. Both papers must be taken at the same tier: Foundation (grades 1–5) or Higher (grades 4–9).
Pearson publishes recent Edexcel GCSE Biology past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports on its website, and schools can access more through their secure portals. Use them under timed conditions, then mark your answers carefully with the mark scheme. Your tutor sets past-paper questions topic by topic, then full timed papers closer to your exam.
Yes. Tutors help resit students focus on the topics and question types that will lift their grade.
Work topic by topic: learn the key terms, then answer past-paper questions under timed conditions and mark them with the official mark scheme. Spend extra time on the core practicals and maths skills such as percentages and magnification, which appear on both papers. Your tutor builds a weekly plan around your weakest topics and your exam date.
Pearson sets new grade boundaries after every exam series, based on how hard that year's papers were, so the marks needed for a grade 7 or 9 change each year. Use past boundaries only as a rough guide. Your tutor marks your practice papers against the most recent published boundaries so you know roughly where you stand.
Practical activities you complete in class, which are assessed through exam questions.
Magnification = image size ÷ real size; keep units consistent and convert mm to µm by multiplying by 1,000.
Pearson publishes the Edexcel GCSE Biology specification on its website. It lists the topics, the skills you are assessed on and the structure of each paper, so use the current version for your exam year. Your tutor uses it to check that your revision covers exactly what you can be asked.
Yes. You can learn with a 1-to-1 GCSE biology tutor online through live video lessons. Your tutor explains each topic, works through the core practicals and shows you how to structure extended answers, then uses past papers to find and fix your weak areas.
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