Cambridge GCSE Biology revision

Topic 1: Characteristics and classification of living organisms

We will go through it step by step.

1. 1.1Classification9 questions

Topic 2: Organisation of the organism

There are 4 parts: we start with cell structure and microscopy, and finish with magnification, units and scale calculations.

1. 2.1Cell structure and microscopyFree 62 questions
2. 2.2Required/core practical: Using a light microscope to observe, draw and measure cells63 questions
3. 2.3Cell specialisation and differentiation31 questions
4. 2.4Magnification, units and scale calculations59 questions

Topic 3: Movement into and out of cells

There are 3 parts: we start with transport in cells, and finish with surface area to volume ratio and exchange surfaces.

1. 3.1Transport in cells58 questions
2. 3.2Required/core practical: Osmosis in plant tissue (potato cylinders)24 questions
3. 3.3Surface area to volume ratio and exchange surfaces26 questions

Topic 4: Biological molecules

There are 3 parts: we start with carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and finish with DNA structure.

1. 4.1Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids: structure, monomers and polymersFree 38 questions
2. 4.2Required/core practical: Food tests for sugars, starch, protein and lipids23 questions
3. 4.3DNA structure: nucleotides, base pairing and extracting DNA24 questions

Topic 5: Enzymes

There are 2 parts: we start with enzyme action, and finish with the practical on Effect of pH or temperature on enzyme activity (amylase).

1. 5.1Enzyme action: lock and key model, specificity, temperature, pH and substrate concentration69 questions
2. 5.2Required/core practical: Effect of pH or temperature on enzyme activity (amylase)63 questions

Topic 6: Plant nutrition

There are 3 parts: we start with photosynthesis, and finish with plant mineral ion requirements and deficiency symptoms (nitrate, magnesium).

1. 6.1PhotosynthesisFree 39 questions
2. 6.2Required/core practical: Effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis (including inverse square law)36 questions
3. 6.3Plant mineral ion requirements and deficiency symptoms (nitrate, magnesium)30 questions

Topic 7: Human nutrition

There are 2 parts: we start with diet, exercise and health, and finish with digestive system and enzymes.

1. 7.1Diet, exercise and health: balanced diet, BMI and malnutrition62 questions
2. 7.2Digestive system and enzymesFree 59 questions

Topic 8: Transport in plants

There are 2 parts: we start with plant tissues and transport, and finish with transpiration and stomata.

1. 8.1Plant tissues and transport29 questions
2. 8.2Transpiration and stomata: factors affecting water loss and the potometer37 questions

Topic 9: Transport in animals

There are 3 parts: we start with heart, blood vessels and blood, and finish with treating cardiovascular disease.

1. 9.1Heart, blood vessels and blood69 questions
2. 9.2Non-communicable diseases68 questions
3. 9.3Treating cardiovascular disease: stents, statins, valves and transplants44 questions

Topic 10: Diseases and immunity

There are 4 parts: we start with pathogens and communicable diseases, and finish with communicable diseases in detail.

1. 10.1Pathogens and communicable diseasesFree 27 questions
2. 10.2Human barriers to infection: skin, mucus, cilia, stomach acid and lysozyme19 questions
3. 10.3Human defences and vaccination23 questions
4. 10.4Communicable diseases in detail: cholera, TB, malaria, HIV, Ebola, STIs and Chalara ash dieback26 questions

Topic 11: Gas exchange in humans

We will go through it step by step.

1. 11.1Breathing system and gas exchange in the lungs42 questions

Topic 12: Respiration

There are 2 parts: we start with respiration and metabolism, and finish with the practical on Measuring the rate of respiration (respirometer, germinating seeds, yeast, exercise).

1. 12.1Respiration and metabolism31 questions
2. 12.2Required/core practical: Measuring the rate of respiration (respirometer, germinating seeds, yeast, exercise)32 questions

Topic 13: Excretion in humans

We will go through it step by step.

1. 13.1Kidneys, temperature and plant hormones (Biology only)56 questions

Topic 14: Coordination and response

There are 6 parts: we start with homeostasis and the nervous system, and finish with the practical on Investigating plant responses to light and gravity (tropisms).

1. 14.1Homeostasis and the nervous systemFree 29 questions
2. 14.2The brain and the eye (Biology only)31 questions
3. 14.3Required/core practical: Investigating the effect of a factor on human reaction time24 questions
4. 14.4Hormones and blood glucose65 questions
5. 14.5The endocrine system: pituitary, thyroid, adrenal glands, thyroxine and adrenaline32 questions
6. 14.6Required/core practical: Investigating plant responses to light and gravity (tropisms)36 questions

Topic 15: Drugs

There are 2 parts: we start with antibiotics and drug development, and finish with the practical on Culturing microorganisms, aseptic technique and testing antibiotics/antiseptics.

1. 15.1Antibiotics and drug development29 questions
2. 15.2Required/core practical: Culturing microorganisms, aseptic technique and testing antibiotics/antiseptics31 questions

Topic 16: Reproduction

There are 3 parts: we start with cloning, and finish with hormones in reproduction.

1. 16.1Cloning: tissue culture, cuttings, embryo transplants and adult cell cloning32 questions
2. 16.2Sexual reproduction in flowering plants: pollination, fertilisation, seeds and germination24 questions
3. 16.3Hormones in reproduction30 questions

Topic 17: Inheritance

There are 6 parts: we start with DNA and inheritance, and finish with mendel, the discovery of genes and the development of genetic understanding.

1. 17.1DNA and inheritance18 questions
2. 17.2Protein synthesis: transcription and translation26 questions
3. 17.3Cell division and stem cells60 questions
4. 17.4Reproduction and meiosisFree 10 questions
5. 17.5Mutations and their effects on proteins and phenotype28 questions
6. 17.6Mendel, the discovery of genes and the development of genetic understandingFree 27 questions

Topic 18: Variation and selection

There are 2 parts: we start with variation, evolution and evidence, and finish with speciation and extinction.

1. 18.1Variation, evolution and evidence20 questions
2. 18.2Speciation and extinction30 questions

Topic 19: Organisms and their environment

There are 6 parts: we start with communities and adaptations, and finish with environmental change, species distribution and indicator species.

1. 19.1Communities and adaptationsFree 29 questions
2. 19.2Trophic levels and food production (Biology only)63 questions
3. 19.3Ecosystem organisation and cycles69 questions
4. 19.4The water cycle and the nitrogen cycle20 questions
5. 19.5Required/core practical: Field investigation using quadrats and transects; estimating population size70 questions
6. 19.6Environmental change, species distribution and indicator species33 questions

Topic 20: Human influences on ecosystems

There are 3 parts: we start with biodiversity and human impact, and finish with decomposition.

1. 20.1Biodiversity and human impact25 questions
2. 20.2Eutrophication, bioaccumulation and water pollution69 questions
3. 20.3Decomposition: required practical on rate of decay, composting and biogas29 questions

Topic 21: Biotechnology and genetic modification

There are 2 parts: we start with selective breeding and genetic engineering, and finish with fertilisers, biological control and GM crops.

1. 21.1Selective breeding and genetic engineering10 questions
2. 21.2Fertilisers, biological control and GM crops: benefits and risks16 questions

Topic P: Practical skills (Papers 5 and 6)

There are 5 parts: we start with working scientifically, and finish with statistics and probability.

1. P.1Working scientifically: hypotheses, variables, controls, apparatus and risk assessmentFree 29 questions
2. P.2Evaluating data: accuracy, precision, repeatability, reproducibility, uncertainty and anomalies68 questions
3. P.3Arithmetic skills: standard form, significant figures, fractions, ratios, percentages and percentage change17 questions
4. P.4Tables and graphs: plotting, line of best fit, gradients, tangents and calculating rates26 questions
5. P.5Statistics and probability: mean, median, mode, range, random sampling, correlation and causation, genetic probabilities65 questions

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