Learner guide for Cambridge IGCSE Biology

How will you be tested?

Paper 2 (40 marks) 45 minutes, 40 multiple-choice questions. 30%.
Paper 4(80 marks) 1 hour 15 minutes, short-answer questions and structured questions.50%
Paper 6 (40 marks) alternative to practical 1 hour two or three questions.20%
General advice: you will need for the exam
 Clear, plastic container, sharpener and a calculator.
 Two pens, pencils (preferably HB or B), a clean eraser, a ruler (which measures in mm).
Paper 2
× One minute to read and answer each question which tests just one topic.
× Do not try to find a pattern in the order of your answers (e.g. A, B, C, D, A, B).
× Don’t let what you have chosen for the previous questions influence your choice.
Paper 4
× Look carefully at the number of marks and command words for each part question.
Do not waste time in a long answer for a question with one or two marks
× If you are asked for an actual number of answers, only give that number. Use the
numbered lines and give one answer per line.
Papers 6
× Read information about an experiment.
× Divide the time of your examination in proportion to the marks given.
× Do not draw in ink because you cannot make changes.
× Use sharp pencil and clean eraser to for drawings, graphs and charts and do not
press too hard. It is hard for an examiner to tell which your final line on a scanned
script

Answering questions
 Clear and legible handwriting on the lines on the question paper.
 Do not write in the left hand side or in the column For Examiner’s use because papers
are scanned and examiners mark it online, your answers may not be visible.
 To change answer put a line through it, and rewrite.
 If you run out of space, use white space in exam paper and put a note e.g. ‘see page 5’.
 Don’t use ‘it’, ‘they’, ‘effect’, ‘affect’ e.g. why magnesium are important for plant
development.
Answer: needed by the plant is vague but needed to make chlorophyll” is a better answer.
 Read the whole of a question and underline or circle key words and read stimulus
material as a photograph, diagram, drawing, and table.
 Use short sentences; you can become confused with long sentences.
 Don’t write same thing in two different ways, “leaf is large, leaf has a large surface
area”.

1 Tips for examinations

Terms:
Correct spelling, take care some biological terms have very similar spelling
Ovum/ova, ovary and ovule, testes and Testa; sucrose and sucrase.
Urea and urine, ureter and urethra, and semen and sperm, mitosis or meiosis.

Extended writing: longer answers to questions that have four or more marks.
× Full sentences even if bullet points used.
× Sequence of events in a logical order.

Command words tell you what to do.

 Name two things only, the first two will be marked.
 Define :give a definition
 State : brief answer – maybe one word or a phrase
 List: number of brief answers given, no extra marks by writing more than number
stated.
 Describe: describe steps in process. Use increase, decrease, constant, peak,
maximum.
 Explain: explain why something happens or how it happens.
 Discuss: give different sides of a story or an argument or advantages and
disadvantages.
 Outline gives the main important points without any detail.
 Predict: state what you think will happen. explanation is not required.
 Suggest: used when there is no one correct answer; you should look through the
information you have been given for some clues as to what to suggest.
 Calculate: percentages, percentage changes, rates and ratios (for genetics). Always give
your working even if not asked with correct units.
 Measure: using a ruler to measure to the nearest mm and write down the unit.
 Determine: explain how an experiment should be set up to take measurements or how
you should make a calculation from some results or data given in a table or graph.
 Estimate: answer (which is usually numerical) should only be approximate.
 Sketch: put a line (straight or curved) on a pair of axes.

Doing calculation:
× You may have to find figures from a table or graph.
× Write out all the working for your calculation and show the units in the calculation.
× If you add the result to a table express your answer in the same way as the figures
given in the table e.g. 5.6, then you’re answer is given to one decimal place, e.g. 7.0, not 7.
2 Tips for examinations
× If you use a calculator, round up or down, do not copy all the figures after the decimal
point.

Making comparisons: of two structures or two processes.

Example: State two ways in which arteries differ from veins.
Incorrect answer as the comparisons is not made between the same features.

Artery Vein
Has thick wall Thick elastic layer
No valves Small amount of muscle

Correct answer: we should start with arteries

Feature Arteries Veins

Thickness of wall Thicker Thinner
Valves Absent Present

Tables: Read the introductory text carefully before you study the table.

Interpret tables
 Look at the column and row headings in a table and understand them and find the units
used.
 Use a ruler to read the table. Start on the left with first column, the independent
variable Now put ruler to the right of the next column and look at the figures in this
second column. Identify any pattern or trend before thinking of an explanation. Move ruler
across to the right of the third column and continue in the same way.
Drawing tables
 Use a ruler; write headings for each column and/or row of the table.
 Write in units after the oblique line, e.g. volume of water / cm3, mass of seed / g.
 There are three acceptable methods of stating units:
Metres per sec or m per s or m s-1
 Do not put units in the table spaces where you write numbers.
 Make sure you use the same number of decimal places in each column or row.

3 Tips for examinations

Line graphs
 X-axis is the independent variable, what has changed.
 Y-axis which is the dependent variable which is measured
Interpret line graph:
 Put ruler against y-axis and move from left to right and follow the trend of the line.
Mark where something happens e.g. dependent variable becomes constant (flat
horizontal line).
 If asked for a trend or pattern, describe overall change Do not describe each point.
Drawing line graphs
 Scale which uses most of the grid provided on the exam paper.
 Simple scale, e.g. 1 large square is equal to 1, 2, 5 or 10 not 3 or 6.
 Label each axis with correct unit, e.g. temperature / °C, time / s
 Draw points lightly by a sharp pencil so you can rub them out if you need to.
 Use a cross (x) or a dot in a circle for your plot points, don’t use a single dot.
 Use two different symbols to plot two lines on a graph, a cross, dot in a circle or plus
(+).
 Label each line or use a key by a pencil
 Don’t use blue or different colors as these do not show up on scanned scripts.
 Join points using a ruler unless asked to do otherwise (e.g. line of best fit)
 Lines of best fit do not have to pass through the point where two axes meet (origin).
 If 0, 0 is a point you can include it e.g., in an investigation of the effect
of the concentration of enzyme on enzyme activity 0, 0 means that there is no enzyme
present so no activity, so 0, 0 could be included.
 Do not extend your line graph beyond the last plotted point.

Draw and/or complete a tally chart:

 Rule up a table and use clear headings.
 Record numbers by putting an oblique line to represent 5. include column for total
numbers.

4 Tips for examinations

Bar charts and histograms
Interpret:
 Look at the x-axis and y-axis to see what has been plotted.
 Move a ruler across the bar graph or histogram, identify the highest and lowest figures.
Drawing bar charts:
 To show discontinuous variables e.g. blood groups.
 Choose a scale which uses most of the grid provided on the exam paper.
 Separate columns of same width and identical spaces between e.g. one large square.
 Draw the chart in pencil and rule the top of each block in the correct place.
 The y-axis should be scaled with equal intervals and labeled with units.
 Putting a label directly underneath each block. Don’t shade or color code blocks.
 Blocks are arranged in descending or ascending order of size.
Drawing histograms:
 To show data on continuous variables, e.g. length of leaves, divide data into classes, as
50-54 mm, 55-59 mm, 60-64 mm. The numbers would be recorded in a tally table.
 Scale which uses most of the grid provided on the exam paper
 Columns touch each other.
 On x axis , Blocks should be labeled either by putting the class ranges (e.g. 60–64, 65–
69 etc.) underneath each block or by putting the lowest number in each range (e.g. 60,
65, 70, etc.) under the left-hand side of the relevant block.
 Y-axis is frequency with equal intervals and labeled with appropriate units.

Magnification:
 Measure the structure in the photograph in millimeters (not centimeters)
 Look for the actual size of the object – you will be given.
Drawing length in the photograph (in mm)
Magnification = ---------------------------------------------
Actual length (in mm)
 1 millimetre = 1000 micrometer (µm)
 Round up or down answer from calculator, don’t give answer to one or more decimal
places.
 Actual size: actual could be given as whole numbers or include one or two decimal places,

5 Tips for examinations

 but no more

Planning investigations:
1. Detect the variable to be changed (from the question) and how you are going to change
it this is the independent variable e.g. to change temperature
2. Detect the variable being measured, and how to measure the dependent variable.
3. What is being kept the same, the controlled variables.
4. Some investigations need to have two parts
 The experimental – This measures the process being studied and contains the living
organism, part of an organism (e.g. a leaf) or enzyme being tested.
 The control: same as the experimental except missing the living organism, will be or
replaced by something non-living. It shows that the results are due to the activity of
the living organism and are not due to the apparatus or an environmental factor e.g. use
boiled enzyme in an experiment to test enzyme activity.
5. Give quantities in appropriate terms e.g. volume in cm3, mass in grams, avoid term
‘amount’.
6. Mention how long your experiment will last.
7. Making measurements: to the nearest unit e.g. mm.
8. Recording observations.
9. Repeat to increase the reliability of the results and minimize error.
Conclusions: use measurements for your conclusions. Do not rely on something learned.

6 Tips for examinations

Drawing: you will be asked to draw diagrams of fruits, insect.
 Make each drawing as big as the space allows.
 Pencil, drawn, clear continuous outline not shading other than using very light dots.
 No arrow heads when labeling, make sure lines point exactly at the labeled part.
 Make sure the points you use to compare diagrams are visible in the diagrams.
 Don't compare sizes unless you're given a
scale.
 You can compare numbers and shape and
proportional sizes.
 Observe details carefully, such as number of
seeds, thickness of a layer in a shell.
Leaf
Onion

Picture of fruit: Fruit wall is the whole thickness = pericarp that is composed of
 Epicarp (actual outer layer)
 Mesocarp (pulp)
 Endocarp (paler layer around the seed cavity).

7 Tips for examinations

Yeast

Virus
A; protein coat
B: RNA

Choice chamber
Advantages to insects living in damp areas:
 Stop drying out
 keep respiratory surfaces moist
 Find their food
 Protection
from predators.

Feather

8 Tips for examinations

Shell picture

Joint

Shell
Testing Ph
Litmus paper only distinguishes between
acid and alkaline, does not show exact pH;
Which is measured by universal indicator or ph
meter?

In acid: Blue turn red in alkali red turned blue

Universal indicator
Strong acid: turn red
Strong alkali: turn violet 1-2 Strong acid Red

3-6 Acid Orange/Yellow

9 Tips for examinations
7 Neutral Green

8-11 Alkaline Blue

> 11 Strong alkaline Violet/Purple

How to test carbon dioxide:
 Bubble gas through lime water it will turn milky.
 Hydrogen carbonate indicator
 Red in water of pH 7,
 Purple when carbon dioxide levels are low
 Yellow when carbon dioxide levels are high.

Difference between mature and dividing plant cells

Dividing Mature
Smaller, square Larger ,rectangular
No nucleus Distinct nucleus
Visible chromosomes No visible chromosomes
Small vacuole Large
Less distinct cell wall Clearly visible

Fungus
 Mycelium : body of fungus
that grow from
spore.
 Hyphae :threads
that grow from
the mycelium :
 Bacteria, fungi are grown on agar plates; contain nutrients as starch, proteins.

10 Tips for examinations

Mathematics: You can use a calculator for all the examination Papers.
Area = length x width, Volume = length x width x height
Decimal point will be placed on the line, e.g. 52.35.
Numbers from 1000 to 9999 will be printed without commas or spaces.
Numbers greater than or equal to 10 000 will be printed without commas.
A space will be left between each group of three whole numbers, e.g. 4 256 789.
Units will be indicated in the singular not in the plural, e.g. 28 kg.

Precautions for food tests: When comparing different foods:

 Keep foods separate and use clean tubes, spatulas for each food.
 Use the same volume of reagents and food and water for each test.
 Compare intensity of colour or timing of colour change or use of colorimeters.

How to use measuring cylinder to obtain accurate measurements of volume.

 Place measuring cylinder on a flat surface and ensure all drops fallen to the bottom;
 Read at eye level and at the bottom of meniscus,

Factors affecting plant experiments:

 Water and concentration of mineral ions
 Light wavelength and duration.
 Carbon dioxide
 Temperature, wind speed and humidity
 Size, age, and species of plant.
 Surface area of the leaf.
 Soil type , pH
 Spacing of plants

Why tests are carried three times

 Increased reliability and reduce anomalies.
 Identify the end point clearly
Safety in lab:
 Tie hair back.
 Safety goggles.
 Lab coat.
 Water bath heating and test tube holder.
check technique

How to estimate total population of yeast in a flask:

 Sample taken on a slide and stain cells;
 Count on slide with high power magnification.

11 Tips for examinations

  Multiply by flask volume;

Revise:
Living things, Transport in plant, Respiration, Enzymes, Blood vessels
Diffusion and osmosis, photosynthesis, Food tests study hardly.
Control: To show that the factor under test is responsible for change observed

Sources of error in experiments and how to improve

 Longer final time period and more frequent readings , and larger sample size
 Repeats to reduce anomalies and calculate mean and plot graph.
 Do a control.
 Control variables
Timing:
Inaccurate timing : Use stop watch
Timing experiments: method to add it at same time or time each experiment separate
Experiment dealing with gas bubbles
1. Gas escaped : Airtight apparatus avoid leakage
2. Inaccurate count of bubbles or different size of bubbles: measure gas volume by gas syringe
Experiments dealing with temperature:
1. Different temperatures : use water bath and thermometer
2. Different starting temperature: Start tests at same time and temperature
Different Ph.: Buffer solution, ph. meter
Experiment that deal with pieces:
1. Only one piece tested: Repeat
2. Cut unevenly or Slice cut too thick: Cut equally , use of sharper cutting tool
3. Pieces not submerged within liquid: pieces must be submerged
4. Pieces placed at different times: Pieces placed in solutions at same time
5. Damage of pieces from handling: use forceps to move pieces e.g. agar
6. Different degree of grinding: Same grinding by pestle and mortar
Concentration of enzyme or substrate: Same concentration by thistle funnel with tap
Experiments that deal with volume : Same volume use burette or pipette
Experiments that deal with color difficult to judge color end point
 Use white tile
 Colorimeter
Contamination of specimens : Use different instruments e.g. burette, knives
Experiments that involve stirring : Use separate glass rods or stirrer
Shaking differ in time or can cause spillage: Shake for same time or shacking machine
In plant experiments :
Same surface area , cut equal pieces

12 Tips for examinations

Same size , age, species, number , mass of seeds
Same species , age , number of leaves , from same height on the plant
Environment of plant, time for collecting O2

13 Tips for examinations