Biology
5
specification units
38
named subtopics
Year 8–Year 11
year groups
Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Biology is organised here into 5 specification units covering 38 named subtopics, studied across Year 8–Year 11. The units are The nature and variety of living organisms, Structures and functions in living organisms, Reproduction and inheritance, Ecology and the environment and Use of biological resources.
Each subtopic is tagged on the question bank, so you can practise one skill at a time, sit a full Edexcel IGCSE past paper, or build a mixed worksheet from several units at once. Answers are checked against the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE mark scheme, awarding method, accuracy and final-answer marks separately so you can see exactly where marks were lost.
Structures and functions in living organisms is the widest unit on this specification with 13 subtopics, so it is usually the highest-value place to start revision.
The nature and variety of living organisms
- Characteristics of living organisms
- Variety of living organisms
- Eukaryotes and prokaryotes
- Plants, animals and fungi
- Bacteria, protoctists and viruses
Structures and functions in living organisms
- Levels of organisation
- Cell structure
- Biological molecules
- Movement of substances into and out of cells
- Nutrition in flowering plants
- Photosynthesis and mineral requirements
- Nutrition in humans: diet and digestion
- Respiration: aerobic and anaerobic
- Gas exchange in plants and humans
- Transport in plants: xylem and phloem
- Transport in humans: blood and circulation
- Excretion in plants and humans
- Coordination and response
Reproduction and inheritance
- Asexual and sexual reproduction
- Reproduction in flowering plants
- Reproduction in humans
- Chromosomes, genes and DNA
- Mitosis and meiosis
- Monohybrid inheritance and genetic diagrams
- Sex determination and variation
- Mutation, natural selection and evolution
Ecology and the environment
- The organism in the environment
- Feeding relationships and food webs
- Pyramids of number, biomass and energy
- The carbon cycle
- The nitrogen cycle
- Human influences on the environment
Use of biological resources
- Food production from crop plants
- Food production using microorganisms
- Fish farming
- Selective breeding
- Genetic modification
- Cloning and micropropagation
How to revise Edexcel IGCSE Biology
- 1
Diagnose with one mixed set
Start with a mixed set drawn from all 5 units to find where Biology marks are actually being lost, rather than revising what already feels comfortable.
- 2
Drill unit by unit
Work through the subtopics in order, from The nature and variety of living organisms to Use of biological resources, doing short focused sets rather than long unfocused sessions.
- 3
Sit a full past paper under timing
Once two or three units are solid, sit a complete Edexcel IGCSE Biology paper to timing and mark it against the official mark scheme.
- 4
Re-practise only the dropped marks
Convert every dropped mark into a targeted set on that subtopic, then re-test it a week later to check the fix stuck.
Continue with Biology
Every board and level we cover for this subject
Predicted papersPractice papers built from the topics that recur most
Past paper practiceSit whole papers online with examiner-grade marking
Other specifications for this subject
Biology — frequently asked questions
Everything students and parents ask about revising Edexcel IGCSE Biology.
The fastest route is past-paper-first revision: practise exam-style questions by topic, mark every answer against the real Pearson Edexcel IGCSE mark scheme, then drill the topics where you lose marks. On MathsGradeUp you can do all of this for Biology in one place — topic practice, full past papers and instant examiner-grade feedback.
Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Biology is mapped to the official specification and covers 5 units, including The nature and variety of living organisms, Structures and functions in living organisms, Reproduction and inheritance, Ecology and the environment, Use of biological resources. Every unit is broken down into subtopics so you can target exactly what you need to revise.
Yes. You can open full Edexcel IGCSE Biology past papers, write directly on them with pen and maths tools, save your work, export a PDF, and submit for examiner-grade marking against the mark scheme.
Yes — our predicted papers for Biology are assembled from the topics that recur most in Pearson Edexcel IGCSE exams and the topics you have practised least. They are a revision aid built from the specification, not leaked content.
Each answer is checked against the real Pearson Edexcel IGCSE mark scheme, awarding method, accuracy and final-answer marks the way a real examiner would. You see exactly where marks were earned or dropped, with feedback you can act on.
Biology on the Pearson Edexcel IGCSE specification is aimed at Years 8–11. You can filter practice by year group and topic so the questions always match where you are in the course.
Yes. The Biology content follows the current Pearson Edexcel IGCSE specification, including all units and subtopics, so what you practise reflects what you will actually be examined on.
Yes — Biology practice, past papers and marking are free during our early launch period. Subscription plans may be introduced later, but launch users get full access now.
You do not just get an answer to copy. Biology marking guides you with hints, worked steps and mark-scheme-based feedback so you understand the method and pick up the marks yourself next time. Calculation-style questions are tagged so you can practise both structured and extended-response answers.
Yes. Parents and tutors can see completed Biology practice, accuracy, weak topics and overall exam readiness, making it easy to support revision and focus on the right areas.
Short, regular sessions beat occasional long ones. Aim for a few focused Biology sessions a week, always finishing by marking your work so each session ends with clear next steps. The progress dashboard shows what to revise next.