Cambridge IGCSE & A Level Learning Platform

1

1. Characteristics & classification of living organisms

Study materials and practice for 1. Characteristics & classification of living organisms

Seven characteristics of living organisms

Levels of organisation (cell → tissue → organ → system → organism)

Classification: kingdom to species; binomial nomenclature

Using/constructing dichotomous keys

2

2. Organisation of the organism

Study materials and practice for 2. Organisation of the organism

Cell structure (plant/animal) + specialised cells

Cell organelles and functions

Diffusion, osmosis, active transport

Tissues, organs, organ systems (examples)

3

3. Biological molecules

Study materials and practice for 3. Biological molecules

Carbohydrates: starch, glucose; food tests

Proteins and amino acids; Biuret test

Lipids; emulsion test

DNA as genetic material (overview)

Enzymes as proteins (overview)

4

4. Enzymes

Study materials and practice for 4. Enzymes

Active site & specificity

Temperature and pH effects

Substrate/enzyme concentration and rate graphs

Denaturation and optimum conditions

Digestive enzyme examples

5

5. Plant nutrition

Study materials and practice for 5. Plant nutrition

Photosynthesis equations (word/symbol)

Limiting factors investigations

Leaf structure & stomata; guard cell control

Mineral ions (N, Mg) and deficiency symptoms

Translocation concept (phloem)

6

6. Human nutrition

Study materials and practice for 6. Human nutrition

Balanced diet: macro/micro nutrients

Digestive system organs and roles

Mechanical vs chemical digestion; bile

Absorption in small intestine (villi)

Malnutrition/obesity overview

7

7. Transport in plants

Study materials and practice for 7. Transport in plants

Xylem and transpiration stream

Phloem and translocation

Factors affecting transpiration (potometer)

Stomatal control and water loss

Root hair adaptations

8

8. Transport in humans

Study materials and practice for 8. Transport in humans

Blood components and functions

Heart structure, valves, cardiac cycle basics

Arteries vs veins vs capillaries

Double circulation (pulmonary/systemic)

Tissue fluid and lymph (overview)

9

9. Diseases and immunity

Study materials and practice for 9. Diseases and immunity

Pathogens and transmission routes

Prevention: hygiene, vector control, safe water

Immune response: phagocytosis, antibodies (overview)

Vaccination and herd immunity

Antibiotics vs antivirals; resistance (overview)

10

10. Gas exchange and respiration

Study materials and practice for 10. Gas exchange and respiration

Alveoli and gas exchange adaptations

Mechanism of breathing

Aerobic respiration equations; ATP idea

Anaerobic respiration (muscle/yeast)

Oxygen debt

11

11. Excretion and homeostasis

Study materials and practice for 11. Excretion and homeostasis

Excretion vs egestion; waste products

Kidney and nephron overview; urine formation basics

ADH and osmoregulation (outline)

Thermoregulation: sweating, vasodilation/vasoconstriction

Negative feedback concept

12

12. Coordination and response

Study materials and practice for 12. Coordination and response

Nervous system basics; neurones and synapses (outline)

Reflex arc

Eye structure and accommodation

Endocrine system overview

Blood glucose control (insulin/glucagon outline)

13

13. Reproduction and inheritance

Study materials and practice for 13. Reproduction and inheritance

Asexual vs sexual reproduction

Human reproductive system and menstrual cycle basics

Fertilisation, pregnancy, placenta (overview)

Genes/alleles, genotype/phenotype, dominance

Monohybrid crosses and pedigrees

14

14. Variation, selection and evolution

Study materials and practice for 14. Variation, selection and evolution

Genetic vs environmental variation

Natural selection mechanism

Selective breeding

Adaptations and extinction (overview)

Speciation (intro)

15

15. Organisms and their environment

Study materials and practice for 15. Organisms and their environment

Food chains/webs; trophic levels

Energy transfer; pyramids of biomass

Carbon and nitrogen cycles (outline)

Population growth factors

Conservation and human impacts

16

16. Biotechnology and genetic engineering (overview)

Study materials and practice for 16. Biotechnology and genetic engineering (overview)

Microorganisms in fermentation (e.g., yoghurt, brewing)

Genetic engineering steps and applications (overview)

Ethical/social considerations (overview)

DNA profiling/cloning (overview if in syllabus)

Biology Study Notes