Syllabus

Cambridge IGCSE™ (9–1)

Biology 0970
Use this syllabus for exams in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
Exams are available in the June and November series.

This syllabus is not available in all administrative zones.

Please check the syllabus page at www.cambridgeinternational.org/0970 to see if this syllabus is
available in your administrative zone.

Version 1
For the purposes of screen readers, any mention in this document of Cambridge IGCSE
refers to Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education.
 Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Biology 0970 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

3 Subject content

This syllabus gives you the flexibility to design a course that will interest, challenge and engage your learners.
Where appropriate you are responsible for selecting resources and examples to support your learners’
study. These should be appropriate for the learners’ age, cultural background and learning context as well as
complying with your school policies and local legal requirements.

All candidates should be taught the Core subject content. Candidates who are only taught the Core subject
content can achieve a maximum of grade 5. Candidates aiming for grades 9 to 5 should be taught the
Extended subject content. The Extended subject content includes both the Core and the Supplement.

Scientific subjects are, by their nature, experimental. Learners should pursue a fully integrated course which
allows them to develop their experimental skills by doing practical work and investigations across a range of
topics.

Practical work helps students to:

use equipment and materials accurately and safely
develop observational and problem-solving skills
develop a deeper understanding of the syllabus topics and the scientific approach
appreciate how scientific theories are developed and tested
transfer the experimental skills acquired to unfamiliar contexts
develop positive scientific attitudes such as objectivity, integrity, cooperation, enquiry and inventiveness
develop an interest and enjoyment in science.

1 Characteristics and classification of living organisms

1.1 Characteristics of living organisms

Core Supplement
1 Describe the characteristics of living organisms
by describing:
(a) movement as an action by an organism or
part of an organism causing a change of
position or place
(b) respiration as the chemical reactions in
cells that break down nutrient molecules
and release energy for metabolism
(c) sensitivity as the ability to detect and
respond to changes in the internal or
external environment
(d) growth as a permanent increase in size and
dry mass
(e) reproduction as the processes that make
more of the same kind of organism
(f) excretion as the removal of the waste
products of metabolism and substances in
excess of requirements
(g) nutrition as the taking in of materials for
energy, growth and development

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 Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Biology 0970 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

1.2 Concept and uses of classification systems

Core Supplement
1 State that organisms can be classified into 5 Explain that classification systems aim to reflect
groups by the features that they share evolutionary relationships
2 Describe a species as a group of organisms
that can reproduce to produce fertile offspring
3 Describe the binomial system of naming
species as an internationally agreed system
in which the scientific name of an organism is
made up of two parts showing the genus and
species
4 Construct and use dichotomous keys based on
identifiable features
6 Explain that the sequences of bases in DNA are
used as a means of classification
7 Explain that groups of organisms which share a
more recent ancestor (are more closely related)
have base sequences in DNA that are more
similar than those that share only a distant
ancestor

1.3 Features of organisms

Core Supplement
1 State the main features used to place animals 4 State the main features used to place all
and plants into the appropriate kingdoms organisms into one of the five kingdoms:
animal, plant, fungus, prokaryote, protoctist
2 State the main features used to place 5 State the main features used to place
organisms into groups within the animal organisms into groups within the plant
kingdom, limited to: kingdom, limited to ferns and flowering plants
(a) the main groups of vertebrates: mammals, (dicotyledons and monocotyledons)
birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish
(b) the main groups of arthropods: myriapods,
insects, arachnids, crustaceans
3 Classify organisms using the features identified 6 Classify organisms using the features identified
in 1.3.1 and 1.3.2 in 1.3.4 and 1.3.5
7 State the features of viruses, limited to a protein
coat and genetic material

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 Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Biology 0970 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

2 Organisation of the organism

2.1 Cell structure

Core Supplement
1 Describe and compare the structure of a plant
cell with an animal cell, limited to: cell wall, cell
membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, chloroplasts,
ribosomes, mitochondria, vacuoles
2 Describe the structure of a bacterial cell,
limited to: cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm,
ribosomes, circular DNA, plasmids
3 Identify the cell structures listed in 2.1.1 and
2.1.2 in diagrams and images of plant, animal
and bacterial cells
4 Describe the functions of the structures listed
in 2.1.1 and 2.1.2 in plant, animal and bacterial
cells
5 State that new cells are produced by division of
existing cells
6 State that specialised cells have specific
functions, limited to:
(a) ciliated cells – movement of mucus in the
trachea and bronchi
(b) root hair cells – absorption
(c) palisade mesophyll cells – photosynthesis
(d) neurones – conduction of electrical
impulses
(e) red blood cells – transport of oxygen
(f) sperm and egg cells (gametes) –
reproduction
7 Describe the meaning of the terms: cell,
tissue, organ, organ system and organism as
illustrated by examples given in the syllabus

2.2 Size of specimens

Core Supplement
1 State and use the formula:
magnification = image size ÷ actual size
2 Calculate magnification and size of biological 3 Convert measurements between
specimens using millimetres as units millimetres (mm) and micrometres ( m)

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 Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Biology 0970 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Subject content

3.3 Active transport

Core Supplement
1 Describe active transport as the movement 2 Explain the importance of active transport as
of particles through a cell membrane from a process for movement of molecules or ions
a region of lower concentration to a region across membranes, including ion uptake by
of higher concentration (i.e. against a root hairs
concentration gradient), using energy from
respiration
3 State that protein carriers move molecules
or ions across a membrane during active
transport

4 Biological molecules
4.1 Biological molecules

Core Supplement
1 List the chemical elements that make up:
carbohydrates, fats and proteins
2 State that large molecules are made from
smaller molecules, limited to:
(a) starch, glycogen and cellulose from glucose
(b) proteins from amino acids
(c) fats and oils from fatty acids and glycerol
3 Describe the use of:
(a) iodine solution test for starch
(b) Benedict’s solution test for reducing sugars
(c) biuret test for proteins
(d) ethanol emulsion test for fats and oils
(e) DCPIP test for vitamin C
4 Describe the structure of a DNA molecule:
(a) two strands coiled together to form a
double helix
(b) each strand contains chemicals called
bases
(c) bonds between pairs of bases hold the
strands together
(d) the bases always pair up in the same way:
A with T, and C with G (full names are not
required)

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