Type and hit Enter to search

Biology Cambridge IGCSE Syllabus Updates(2023-2025)

Starting from 2023

-The no. of topics didn’t change, they’re still 21 chapters

-There were no changes in the papers in terms of duration, marks & percentage

There’re 3 papers:

-Paper 2:

  • Duration: 45 min
  • Grades:40 marks
  • % :30% of the total marks
  • Exam Details: 40 MCQ Questions

-Paper 4:     

  • Duration: 1 hour,15 minutes
  • Grades:80 marks
  • % :50% of the total marks
  • Exam Details: Structured questions

-Paper 6:

  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Grades:40 marks
  • % : 20% of the total marks
  • Exam Details: Written paper assessing practical skills

Changes to Year 9 Syllabus:

  • Some of the definitions have been modified.
  • Information added to the core:
    • Characteristics of living organisms(Excretion definition is added)
    • More information was added to Cell structure part
    • More information was added to Diffusion Part
    • The functions of HCl was added to The Chemical Digestion
    • More information was added to the water uptake part
    • Comparing nervous and hormonal control systems has been moved from Supplement to Core
    • Adaptive features of sperm and egg cells has been moved to the Core
    • The process of selective breeding has been moved to the Core
    • Flow of energy through organisms and identification of trophic levels have been moved to the Core
    • Definitions of community and ecosystem have been moved to the Core
    • Identification of the phases of a growth curve has been moved to the Core
  • Information removed from the core section(year 9) and added to Supplement(studied in year 10):
    • The section on Cholera has been moved into the Supplement 
    • References to the formation of urea are now in the Supplement. The term tubule has been replaced by nephron
    • The section on Skin is moved from Core to Supplement
    • Mitosis and Meiosis – all the content is now Supplement
    • Definition of Mutation
  • New titles added to the whole syllabus:
    • Sources of genetic variation have now been added to the Supplement
    • Use of AI and IVF in captive breeding programmes has been added to the Supplement
    • Candidates now need to be familiar with the conditions that need to be controlled in a fermenter

Topics in the current syllabus which will no longer be covered include:

  • Kidney dialysis and kidney transplants
  • Voluntary and involuntary actions
  • Effects of drugs on synapses
  • The explanation for why antibiotics kill bacteria, but not viruses
  • The section on misused drugs
  • Sections of antenatal care, labour and birth and advantages of breast feeding
  • Explanations for the roles of hormones in controlling the menstrual cycle
  • Methods of birth control in humans
  • How HIV affects the immune system
  • Statements about phenotypic and genetic variation
  • Inheritance of sickle-cell anaemia
  • The definitions of fitness and evolution
  • Supplement material on providing sufficient food and causes of famine
  • References to nuclear fall-out, discarded rubbish and chemical waste
  • Details about acid rain and water pollution by female hormones
  • The definition of sustainable development and explanations
  • References to fossil fuels and details of sewage treatment