Every IGCSE Biology topic, with free past-paper-style questions and full mark schemes. Pick a chapter to practise its questions, or generate a complete 0610-format paper in seconds, from easy warm-ups to A*-level "brutal" papers.
Generate a free Biology paper →Characteristics of living organisms · Classification · Features of organisms
Xylem & phloem · Water uptake & transpiration · Translocation · Heart & circulation · Blood vessels · Blood
Nervous control · Sense organs · Hormones · Homeostasis · Tropic responses · Drugs
Asexual & sexual reproduction · Reproduction in plants · Reproduction in humans · Sex hormones · Sexually transmitted infections
Chromosomes, genes & proteins · Mitosis & meiosis · Monohybrid inheritance · Variation · Adaptive features · Selection
Paper 1 · Multiple Choice (Core · 40 questions · 45 min); Paper 2 · Multiple Choice (Extended · 40 questions · 45 min); Paper 3 · Theory (Core · structured questions); Paper 4 · Theory (Extended · structured questions); Paper 6 · Alternative to Practical (Core & Extended · 4 questions, Q4 = planning).
A mixed set from across the syllabus. Questions marked A* challenge come from the hardest bank.
Which row matches the cell structure with its function?
| ribosome | mitochondrion | cell wall | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | protein synthesis | aerobic respiration | controls what enters the cell |
| B | protein synthesis | aerobic respiration | prevents the cell bursting |
| C | aerobic respiration | protein synthesis | prevents the cell bursting |
| D | protein synthesis | photosynthesis | controls what enters the cell |
Answer: B
A car moves, uses fuel and gives out waste gases, but it is not alive.
Explain why a car is not a living organism, using two characteristics of life.
Define excretion.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | cannot grow or reproduce; no sensitivity it cannot reproduce B1 it cannot grow (or respond to stimuli by itself / no cells) B1 | 2 |
| (b) | removal of waste products of metabolism and excess substances removal of the waste products of metabolism (toxic materials) B1 and substances in excess of requirements B1 | 2 |
A student places potato cylinders, each of initial mass 2.50 g, in sucrose solutions of different concentrations for 1 hour, then reweighs them.
| sucrose concentration / mol/dm³ | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| final mass / g | 2.80 | 2.65 | 2.45 | 2.27 | 2.13 |
Define osmosis.
Calculate the percentage change in mass at 0.8 mol/dm³.
Explain why the potato in 0.0 mol/dm³ gained mass.
Explain why percentage change in mass is used rather than change in mass.
Estimate the concentration of sucrose that has the same water potential as the potato cells. Explain your answer.
Describe the appearance of a plant cell placed in a concentrated sugar solution, and explain why.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | net movement of water through partially permeable membrane from dilute to concentrated solution net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to lower water potential (concentrated solution) B1 through a partially permeable membrane B1 | 2 |
| (b) | −15.0% (2.13 − 2.50)/2.50 × 100 M1 −15.0% A1 | 2 |
| (c) | water potential higher outside; water enters by osmosis; cells become turgid water potential of the water is higher than in the potato cells B1 water enters the cells by osmosis through the partially permeable membrane B1 cells become turgid B1 | 3 |
| (d) | cylinders may differ in starting mass; allows comparison to allow comparison when the starting masses are different B1 | 1 |
| (e) | about 0.35 mol/dm³ about 0.35 mol/dm³ B1 where there is no change in mass (no net movement of water) B1 | 2 |
| (f) | plasmolysed: membrane pulls away from wall; water leaves vacuole by osmosis cell becomes plasmolysed / flaccid with the cytoplasm pulling away from the cell wall B1 water leaves by osmosis B1 | 2 |
Teeth are involved in mechanical digestion.
Describe the functions of incisors and molars.
Explain how tooth decay is caused.
Explain why mechanical digestion speeds up chemical digestion.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | incisors cut/bite; molars grind incisors: cutting and biting B1 molars: grinding/chewing B1 | 2 |
| (b) | bacteria feed on sugar, produce acid, dissolves enamel bacteria in plaque feed on sugars B1 produce acid B1 acid dissolves the enamel B1 | 3 |
| (c) | larger surface area for enzymes it increases the surface area for enzymes to act on B1 | 1 |
A cheek cell has an actual diameter of 20 µm. It is viewed with a microscope at a magnification of ×400.
Calculate the diameter of the image in mm.
State why micrometres are used to measure cells.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | 8 mm image = actual × magnification = 8000 µm C1 8 mm A1 | 2 |
| (b) | cells are very small Any 1 of: cells are very small; micrometres give convenient numbers B1 | 1 |
The lungs are protected from pathogens and particles.
Describe the role of mucus and cilia.
Explain why the trachea has rings of cartilage.
| Part | Answer and marking points | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| (a) | mucus traps; cilia sweep up mucus traps pathogens and dust B1 cilia beat to move the mucus up to the throat B1 | 2 |
| (b) | keeps airway open to keep the airway open during breathing B1 | 1 |
No. They are original questions written to match the IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus and the style of real Cambridge papers, so you can practise beyond the past papers you have already done.
Yes. Every question on these pages has its answer, and every generated paper comes with a full Cambridge-style mark scheme you can download as a PDF.
Yes. Choose the paper (Paper 1 Multiple Choice, Paper 2 Multiple Choice, Paper 3 Theory, Paper 4 Theory, Paper 6 Alternative to Practical), the topics, the marks and the difficulty, and the generator builds a fresh paper with the same number and style of questions as the real exam.
Riyaz Shaikh has mentored IGCSE, IB and A Level students for 15+ years, one-on-one, online and in Mumbai. The hardest questions on this site are the ones he uses to find a student's weak points.
Meet Riyaz →Original Cambridge-style practice questions written for mentorriyaz.in. These are not Cambridge past paper questions, and this site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Updated 2026-11-04. Paper generator · mentorriyaz.in