0610

Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) - March 2025 Past Papers

Download 15 free IGCSE Biology past papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports from the March 2025 Cambridge examination session. Includes question papers for all variants with full solutions.

About IGCSE Biology (0610)

IGCSE Biology examines cell biology, human physiology, plant biology, ecology, genetics, and evolution. Candidates must understand life processes, interpret biological diagrams, and analyze experimental results.

What this exam tests: Key skills include data analysis, drawing conclusions from experiments, and explaining biological mechanisms.

Papers available in variants 11, 12, 13 for different time zones. All variants cover the same Biology syllabus with equal difficulty.

Grade Thresholds

Study Resources for Biology

Prepare for your exam with these complementary resources:

0610 March 2025 Papers

0610 Paper 1 - Multiple Choice (Core)

45 min • 40 marks

Tests broad syllabus knowledge with 40 questions. Each question has four options (A-D). Core tier paper.

All variants (different time zones):

0610 Paper 2 - Multiple Choice (Extended)

45 min • 40 marks

Extended tier multiple choice with more challenging questions covering the full syllabus. 40 questions, 45 minutes.

All variants (different time zones):

0610 Paper 3 - Theory (Core)

1 hr 15 min • 80 marks

Structured and free-response questions testing understanding and application. Core tier, grades available C-G.

All variants (different time zones):

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 3 (6 topics, 80 marks total)

This 0610 Paper 3 from March 2025 tests 6 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Enzymes (Enzymes) worth 16 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Sexual reproduction in plants (16 marks) and Respiration (13 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Enzymes 16/80
Sexual reproduction in plants 16/80
Respiration 13/80
Digestive system 12/80
Selection 12/80
Concept and use of a classification system 11/80

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Biology revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Enzymes to maximize your score.

0610 Paper 4 - Theory (Extended)

1 hr 15 min • 80 marks

Extended tier theory paper with more demanding questions. Full grade range A*-G available with this paper.

All variants (different time zones):

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 4 (6 topics, 80 marks total)

This 0610 Paper 4 from March 2025 tests 6 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Diseases and immunity (Diseases and immunity) worth 17 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Gas exchange in humans (16 marks) and Population size (14 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Diseases and immunity 17/80
Gas exchange in humans 16/80
Population size 14/80
Xylem and phloem 12/80
Enzymes 11/80
Sexual reproduction in humans 10/80

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Biology revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Diseases and immunity to maximize your score.

0610 Paper 5 - Practical Test

1 hr 15 min • 40 marks

Tests practical skills including planning experiments, recording data, and drawing conclusions from results.

All variants (different time zones):

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 5 (2 topics, 40 marks total)

This 0610 Paper 5 from March 2025 tests 2 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Leaf structure (Plant nutrition) worth 23 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Photosynthesis (17 marks)

Mark distribution by topic:

Leaf structure 23/40
Photosynthesis 17/40

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Biology revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Leaf structure to maximize your score.

0610 Paper 6 - Alternative to Practical

1 hr • 40 marks

Written paper testing practical skills through questions about experimental methods, data, and analysis.

All variants (different time zones):

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 6 (2 topics, 40 marks total)

This 0610 Paper 6 from March 2025 tests 2 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Leaf structure (Plant nutrition) worth 23 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Photosynthesis (17 marks)

Mark distribution by topic:

Leaf structure 23/40
Photosynthesis 17/40

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Biology revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Leaf structure to maximize your score.

Other Resources

Additional materials to help you prepare and understand how exams are marked.

Examiner Report

Insights from examiners on how students performed. Learn common mistakes to avoid and what examiners look for in top answers.

Confidential Instructions

Instructions for teachers on practical exams. Useful for understanding experiment setups and expected procedures.

0610 March 2025 - Topics Breakdown by Paper

Each Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) paper tests specific syllabus topics. Below is a breakdown of topics for each paper in March 2025, showing how marks are distributed. Use this to focus your revision on topics relevant to your papers.

0610 Paper 3 (Theory (Core))

80 marks total
Enzymes (Enzymes)
16m
Sexual reproduction in plants (Reproduction)
16m
Respiration (Respiration)
13m
Digestive system (Human nutrition)
12m
Selection (Variation and selection)
12m
Concept and use of a classification system (Characteristics and classification of living organisms)
11m

0610 Paper 4 (Theory (Extended))

80 marks total
Diseases and immunity (Diseases and immunity)
17m
Gas exchange in humans (Gas exchange in humans)
16m
Population size (Organisms and their environment)
14m
Xylem and phloem (Transport in plants)
12m
Enzymes (Enzymes)
11m
Sexual reproduction in humans (Reproduction)
10m

0610 Paper 5 (Practical Test)

40 marks total
Leaf structure (Plant nutrition)
23m
Photosynthesis (Plant nutrition)
17m

0610 Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical)

40 marks total
Leaf structure (Plant nutrition)
23m
Photosynthesis (Plant nutrition)
17m

Study tip: If you're taking the Extended tier, focus on Papers 2, 4, and 6. For Core tier, prepare for Papers 1, 3, and 5/6. Review the topics above for your specific papers and practice past questions from those syllabus areas.

Examiner Insights Coming Soon

Examiner Reports for 2025 sessions are not yet available. Cambridge typically releases Examiner Reports a few months after each examination session. Check back later for insights on common mistakes and examiner tips for 0610 March 2025.

In the meantime, review Examiner Reports from previous years — the feedback on common mistakes and good exam technique applies across all sessions.

About Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610)

Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) is one of the most popular qualifications taken by students worldwide. The March 2025 examination session included 6 paper components, each testing different skills and knowledge areas.

This page contains all 0610 past papers from March 2025, including question papers (QP), mark schemes (MS), and examiner reports (ER). Use these resources to practice under timed conditions and understand how examiners award marks.

Get Biology Study Tips

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0610 Study Tips & FAQ

What are paper variants?

Cambridge releases multiple variants of each paper (e.g., Paper 11, 12, 13) to accommodate different time zones around the world and maintain exam security.

  • Variant 1 (e.g., 11, 21): Usually for Zone 1 (Americas)
  • Variant 2 (e.g., 12, 22): Usually for Zone 2 (Europe, Africa)
  • Variant 3 (e.g., 13, 23): Usually for Zone 3 (Asia, Oceania)

All variants cover the same syllabus and have similar difficulty. Practice with any variant to prepare effectively for your exam.

How to use Mark Schemes effectively

Mark schemes show exactly how examiners award marks for each question. Understanding them helps you write answers that earn full marks.

Example from a Physics mark scheme:

Q: Calculate the speed of a car that travels 150m in 5 seconds. [2]

Mark scheme answer:

• speed = distance / time [1 mark for formula]

• speed = 150 / 5 = 30 m/s [1 mark for correct answer with unit]

Tips:

  • Look for key words that must appear in your answer
  • Note how many points are needed for each mark
  • Check if units are required for the final mark
  • Understand the difference between "state" (brief) and "explain" (detailed)
Understanding Grade Thresholds

Grade thresholds show the minimum marks needed for each grade. They vary each session based on paper difficulty — harder papers have lower thresholds.

Example Grade Thresholds (out of 100 total):

A*
90+
A
80-89
B
70-79
C
60-69

* Actual thresholds vary by subject and session

How to use thresholds:

  • Set realistic target marks based on your goal grade
  • Track your practice paper scores against thresholds
  • Remember: you don't need 100% for an A* — aim for consistency
  • Compare thresholds across sessions to gauge difficulty trends
How is the topic breakdown calculated?

The "Topics Breakdown by Paper" section above shows which syllabus topics are tested in each paper and how many marks they carry. Here's how we calculate this:

Our methodology:

  1. Extract questions: We analyze each question paper (QP) and identify individual questions and their mark allocations (shown in square brackets, e.g., [3]).
  2. Match to syllabus: Each question is matched to the official Cambridge 0610 syllabus topics based on keywords, concepts, and question content.
  3. Sum marks per topic: For each paper, we add up the marks for all questions testing the same topic. For example, if Q1 (4 marks) and Q5b (3 marks) both test "Enzymes", that topic shows as "7 marks" for that paper.

Example: If Paper 3 shows "Photosynthesis - 13 marks", it means questions worth a total of 13 marks (out of the paper's 80 marks) tested the Photosynthesis topic from the Plant Nutrition unit of the syllabus.

How to use this: Look at the paper(s) you'll be taking (e.g., Papers 2, 4, 6 for Extended tier). The topics with the highest marks in YOUR papers are where you should focus your revision. A topic worth 15 marks deserves more study time than one worth 3 marks.

Note: Our topic matching may be inaccurate for questions that span multiple topics. Use this as a guide alongside the official syllabus.

How to Use IGCSE Biology Past Papers

📝 Timed Practice

Complete papers under exam conditions. 0610 Paper 4 is 1 hr 15 min - practice finishing within this time to build exam stamina.

✅ Self-Marking

Use the mark scheme to score your answers. Look for marking points you missed and understand what examiners expect in Biology responses.

📊 Examiner Reports

Read the 0610 examiner report to see common mistakes. Focus revision on topics where candidates typically lose marks.

🎯 Grade Targets

Check grade thresholds to see how many marks you need for your target grade. An A* in IGCSE Biology typically requires 85-90%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I download IGCSE Biology March 2025 past papers?
You can download all IGCSE Biology (0610) March 2025 past papers directly from this page. We provide 15 files including question papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports for all variants (11, 12, 13). Click "View" to open in browser or "Download" to save the PDF.
Are 0610 mark schemes included?
Yes, mark schemes for all 0610 March 2025 papers are included. Each question paper has a corresponding mark scheme showing expected answers and mark allocation.
What papers are available for IGCSE Biology 0610?
IGCSE Biology (0610) has 6 papers: Paper 1 (Multiple Choice (Core)), Paper 2 (Multiple Choice (Extended)), Paper 3 (Theory (Core)), Paper 4 (Theory (Extended)), Paper 5 (Practical Test), Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical). Core tier students take Papers 1, 3, 5/6. Extended tier students take Papers 2, 4, 5/6.
What is the difference between paper variants 11, 12, and 13?
The three variants (11, 12, 13) are different versions of the same paper used in different time zones to prevent cheating. All variants test the same syllabus content at the same difficulty level. You can practice with any variant as they are equally valid for revision.
How can I practice these past papers effectively?
Use our free Exam Hub to practice past papers like real exams. It lets you view question papers and mark schemes side-by-side, so you can self-mark your answers. No sign-up required, works with any PDF, and your files stay completely private.

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We share these materials freely for educational purposes to help students prepare for their examinations. This platform is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge International.

For official examination resources, registration, and support, please visit cambridgeinternational.org.