Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 is offered at Core and Extended levels; Extended candidates take a multiple-choice paper, a theory paper and a practical or Alternative to Practical paper. Our Cambridge IGCSE Biology course follows the 0610 syllabus: characteristics and classification of organisms, cells, movement into and out of cells, biological molecules, enzymes, plant and human nutrition, transport, disease and immunity, gas exchange, respiration, coordination and response, reproduction, inheritance, variation and selection, organisms and their environment, and biotechnology. You prepare for the multiple-choice, theory and practical papers. Lessons are live and one-to-one with a verified subject tutor, who sets past-paper questions, marks them against the mark scheme and plans revision for the May/June or October/November series. Suitable for international school students, home-schoolers and private candidates.
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What you will learn
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In short: this course gives one-to-one online tutoring for Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) at Core and Extended level. A verified biology tutor teaches the full syllabus, multiple-choice and theory technique, and practical skills for Paper 5 or 6, using Cambridge past papers and mark schemes.
Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) is an international GCSE-level qualification from Cambridge International, taken worldwide by students aged about 14 to 16. It is offered at Core (grades C to G) and Extended (grades A* to G) tiers and is assessed by a multiple-choice paper, a theory paper and a practical paper.
This course covers the whole 0610 syllabus one to one with a verified biology tutor, at the tier you are entered for.
Official specification: Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus (2026–2028).
For wider support, see our biology tutoring page, or the Edexcel IGCSE Biology (4BI1) course if your school follows Pearson.
Cambridge IGCSE Biology (for exams in 2026–2028) is assessed through three papers. Core candidates take Papers 1, 3 and either 5 or 6 (grades C–G); Extended candidates take Papers 2, 4 and either 5 or 6 (grades A*–G). Exams run in June and November, and in March in India.
| Paper | Tier | Time | Marks | Weighting | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Multiple Choice | Core | 45 minutes | 40 | 30% | 40 four-option questions |
| Paper 2 Multiple Choice | Extended | 45 minutes | 40 | 30% | 40 four-option questions |
| Paper 3 Theory | Core | 1 hour 15 minutes | 80 | 50% | Short-answer and structured questions |
| Paper 4 Theory | Extended | 1 hour 15 minutes | 80 | 50% | Short-answer and structured questions |
| Paper 5 Practical Test | Both | 1 hour 15 minutes | 40 | 20% | Practical experiments |
| Paper 6 Alternative to Practical | Both | 1 hour | 40 | 20% | Written questions on practical skills |
Overall, AO1 knowledge with understanding is 50%, AO2 handling information and problem-solving is 30%, and AO3 experimental skills and investigations is 20%. Papers 1 to 4 assess AO1 and AO2, while Paper 5 or 6 assesses AO3 only.
| Objective | What it tests | Overall weighting |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Knowledge with understanding | 50% |
| AO2 | Handling information and problem-solving | 30% |
| AO3 | Experimental skills and investigations | 20% |
| Area | Key topics |
|---|---|
| Cells and organisation | Characteristics and classification, cell structure, diffusion, osmosis and active transport |
| Biological molecules | Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, enzymes |
| Nutrition | Photosynthesis and plant nutrition, human diet and digestion |
| Transport and exchange | Transport in plants and animals, gas exchange, respiration, excretion |
| Coordination and health | Nervous system, hormones, homeostasis, tropisms, disease and immunity, drugs |
| Reproduction and genetics | Reproduction, inheritance, variation and natural selection |
| Ecology and biotechnology | Organisms and their environment, human influences on ecosystems, biotechnology and genetic modification |
Here is a typical calculation: an image of a cell is 30 mm long at × 1,500 magnification. Calculate the actual length in micrometres.
| Step | Working |
|---|---|
| Formula | Actual size = image size ÷ magnification |
| Calculation | 30 mm ÷ 1,500 = 0.02 mm |
| Convert | 0.02 mm × 1,000 = 20 µm |
Students most often lose marks with vague wording, describing graphs without data, unit errors, rushing multiple-choice questions and imprecise practical answers on Paper 6.
| Mark-loser | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Vague wording | Use precise syllabus terms |
| Graphs without data | Quote values with units |
| Unit errors | Convert mm to µm by multiplying by 1,000 |
| Rushed multiple choice | Read every option before choosing |
| Weak Paper 6 answers | Name variables, controls and improvements precisely |
Choose Extended if you are aiming for grades A* to C or plan to study the subject at A Level, because Core caps your grade at C. Core suits students who want a secure pass. Your tutor can review your mock results and help you and your school decide.
Paper 6 tests practical skills in writing. Tutors practise the skills it rewards most:
Lessons are live and one to one on video with a shared whiteboard. Your tutor teaches each topic, then works through Cambridge past papers and mark schemes with you, focusing on command words such as describe, explain and calculate. See also our Biology subject page, Edexcel International GCSE Biology and, for the next step, Edexcel A-Level Biology A (SNAB).
An IGCSE biology tutor online gives you live 1-to-1 lessons on the Cambridge 0610 syllabus, with practice for the theory paper and the alternative to practical paper.
This course suits Cambridge IGCSE students on Core or Extended, at school or as private candidates.
Prerequisites: basic science and maths, and English reading.
Course length: 40 one-hour lessons across the 0610 topics.
| Stage | Topics | What you can do afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classification; cells; movement into and out of cells; molecules; enzymes | Explain cells, diffusion and enzyme action |
| 2 | Plant and human nutrition; transport; disease and immunity | Explain nutrition, circulation and immunity |
| 3 | Gas exchange; respiration; excretion; coordination; drugs | Explain respiration and body control |
| 4 | Reproduction; inheritance; selection; ecology; biotechnology | Solve genetics problems and explain ecosystems |
Where it leads: see our biology tutoring page, or the Edexcel IGCSE Biology course.
The syllabus code is 0610. A 9–1 graded version, 0970, is taken in some UK schools.
Extended candidates can achieve A* to G; Core candidates can achieve C to G.
Three: a multiple-choice paper, a theory paper and a practical or Alternative to Practical paper.
Paper 4 (Extended theory) is 1 hour 15 minutes and worth 80 marks, 50% of the qualification.
Paper 5 is a hands-on practical test; Paper 6 is a written Alternative to Practical paper. Both are worth 20%.
It's a lot of content, but it is very manageable with regular revision, clear diagrams and past-paper practice.
Take the Extended tier, learn the syllabus wording precisely, practise past papers under timed conditions and use mark schemes to sharpen your answers.
Yes. Tutors use past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports.
The price depends on the tutor and session length. You see the hourly rate before booking, with no subscription.
Yes. Lessons are online, and tutors can schedule around your time zone.
Paper 2 (multiple choice), Paper 4 (theory) and either Paper 5 (practical test) or Paper 6 (alternative to practical).
Paper 1 (multiple choice), Paper 3 (theory) and either Paper 5 or Paper 6.
Students most often find inheritance and genetics, transport in plants and animals, and the nervous and hormonal systems hardest, because they combine detailed content with data questions. Paper 6 practical-skills questions also need specific practice. Your tutor targets these topics with past-paper questions and clear diagrams until you can answer them confidently.
45 minutes, 40 four-option questions worth 30%.
A 1-hour written paper (40 marks, 20%) testing practical skills, taken instead of the practical test.
Cambridge International publishes recent Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 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.
In June and November, and in March in India.
Yes. Lessons are online and can be booked in Gulf time zones.
Cambridge International publishes the IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus 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 book one session to see if the tutor suits you, with no subscription.
Yes. You can learn with a 1-to-1 IGCSE biology tutor online through live video lessons from any country. Your tutor explains each 0610 topic, practises data and practical-skills questions and uses past papers so you know how to earn marks on every question type.
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