Subjects » Biology

The IGCSE Biology course covers 3 main topic areas.

Section I:Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms

This topic looks at the characteristics of living organisms and how and why living organisms are classified into groups. It deals with the classification of a range of organisms including,flowering plants, the vertebrate classes and the invertebrates, arthropods,mollusks,annelids, nematodes, as well as some microorganisms like bacteria,fungi and viruses.

Section II:The Organisation and Maintenance of the Organism

This deals with how organisms are organized at the different levels, cell tissues,organ system and organism level and how selected plant and animal cells are specialized for their functions.It also covers the functioning of the following systems both individually and together in the organism,respiratory and gaseous exchange in plants and animals,transport, nervous endocrine,lymphatic,homeostasis and excretion.

Health issues like AIDS,diet,exercise,smoking,alcohol and other drugs are also covered and provide students with a basis to be able to make informed lifestyle choices.

Section III:Development of the Organisms and the Continuity of Life

The topic covers aspects of Reproduction, genetics, inheritance, growth and development in both plants and animals.Sexually transmissible diseases and birth control are also covered here.

Section IV:Relationships of organisms with one another and with their environment

This topic involves a look at the balance of nature and how man in particular is affecting this balance through different activities.

Examinations

Students write 3 papers. Paper 1, 2 and 5 or paper 1,3 and 5.

Paper 1:30% weighting -Multiple Choice written by all students.

Paper 2:50% weighting -Structured paper for students expected to get a C grade and below

Paper 3:50% weighting -Structured and essay type questions for students doing the extended curriculum of the course

Paper 5:20% weighting - A practical exam covering observational skills

Students expecting to go into Life Science - orientated careers, eg.

Medicine,Nursing,Pharmacy,Biotechnology,Forensics,Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, must take Biology among their subject choices.