How to ace the IGCSE Biology: Advice from an Expert Tutor
What Is IGCSE Biology?
The IGCSE is a secondary qualification based on the British curriculum. Although originally created by Cambridge Assessment International Education, it is now offered by multiple exam boards in the UK and across the world. Similarly to the chemistry course, IGCSE biology is offered as one of science subjects.
IGCSE students who take all three sciences—biology, chemistry, and physics—are given the Triple Award, or take these subjects as a combined science. Alternatively, students can take IGCSE biology and chemistry or physics, and be given the Double Award. Finally, those who take IGCSE biology only will be given the Single Award. Importantly, students do not need the Double or Triple Awards to pass their IGCSEs, though taking biology at Single Award or as part of the combined science course will make them a less competitive candidate for science-based university courses.
How Is IGCSE Biology Assessed?
The IGCSE syllabus is aimed at students who are between 14-16 years old, and is spread across two years. The IGCSE biology exams are graded out of 9, and biology students will need a 5 (equivalent to a C in the old system) to pass. Certain topics will be covered in more depth in one exam board compared to another, even though the general theories, terms, and skills assessed will be largely the same.
Regardless of the exam board, the IGCSE biology exams comprise multiple written papers that will assess students on their understanding and application of biology concepts as well as the scientific method.
Tips and Stratigies for IGCSE Biology
The IGCSE biology syllabus requires students to have a solid understanding of animal biology, plant biology, and ecology. It relies more heavily on memorisation than both IGCSE chemistry and IGCSE physics, so it is important for students to ensure that they have a solid understanding of all the key terms and concepts. Instead of re-reading their textbooks or re-writing their notes over and over again, IGCSE biology candidates should use flashcards, quizzes and practice questions in a targeted manner.
Proper study skills and time management skills do not come to us overnight. Instead, IGCSE biology learners should try to develop these throughout the biology course rather than waiting until study leave.
Useful Resources for IGCSE Biology
Candidates should use the relevant IGCSE biology syllabuses and examiner’s reports to guide themselves through the studying and revision process. These often provide useful insights into where students tend to lose marks in their biology exams, as well as what examiners will be looking for when they are grading the papers.
Whilst there are a plethora of resources and practice questions for IGCSE biology online, students should also be discerning when incorporating these resources into their revision process. Specifically, they should be targeting the topics and skills that they are less confident with, and think about how they can be performing better at these, rather than attempting to review as many topics as possible.
Effective Use of IGCSE Biology Past Papers
Whilst some IGCSE candidates understand the benefits of completing biology past paper questions when they are revising, at BartyED we emphasise targeted practice on top of that.
What that means is that not only are we using IGCSE past paper questions, but we are teaching students to pay attention to the marks awarded as well as the command terms used in each question. For instance, an ‘explain’ question would demand a different type of answer to a ‘describe’ question in biology. Paying attention to these details is an essential part of using biology past papers effectively.
Common Mistakes in IGCSE Biology
Whilst some IGCSE biology candidates will find group study sessions more helpful, others may find active recall methods more beneficial to them—put simply, not knowing how best to revise is the first common mistake we see in IGCSE learners. For a subject like biology, apart from making well-organised and comprehensive revision notes, the use of flashcards and mnemonics is also crucial.
Moreover, we find that those taking IGCSE biology tend to forget the importance of memorising diagrams. For a course like IGCSE biology, learning about the functioning and relationship between different systems and elements are just as important as memorising the key terms and concepts themselves.
How a BartyED Biology Tutor Can Help
IGCSE biology requires careful preparation, just like the other examinations. When students come to BartyED for biology support, our expert biology tutors not only try to fill in the student’s knowledge gaps and consolidate areas of weakness, but also work closely on academic management.
Our tutors are highly trained and experienced in guiding students to success across a number of subjects and curricula, including IGCSE biology. If you or your child feel like you would benefit from our comprehensive support in biology, or any other IGCSE, reach out to us today via our Contact page to find out more.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The IGCSEs are a secondary qualification based on the British curriculum, often offered by international schools around the world. Biology is one of their science offerings, alongside Physics and Chemistry. IGCSE biology students learn about ecology, animal biology, and plant biology, among other topics.
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IGCSE biology is assessed through a number of different written exam papers. The exact number and content of each exam varies according to the IGCSE exam board. Regardless, the IGCSE biology is then graded on a scale of 1-9, with a 5 being the passing grade.
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The key mistake students make in IGCSE biology is trying to cram information before the exam. This is likely to be ineffective, as IGCSE biology requires students to have a lot of information memorised, making it difficult to employ last-minute cramming. Instead, students should spread out their work throughout their IGCSE biology course.
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There are many ways to prepare for an IGCSE biology exam. Candidates should try to use a combination of different recall techniques, including active recall, flashcarding, and group study sessions.