Description
The International GCSE Biology syllabus offered through our IGCSE Biology Online Course at Cambridge Home School is meticulously designed to empower pupils to comprehend and explore the biological world around them. This prestigious IGCSE Biology Online qualification validates both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of students in the subject.
Our Biology IGCSE Online curriculum not only stands as a valued qualification in itself but also provides a robust stepping stone for progression to A-Level Biology. This, in turn, opens up a plethora of opportunities for further study at university level.
Homework, Assessment and Reporting
Students enrolled in our Online IGCSE Biology programme in the Upper School are expected to complete at least one piece of homework per subject every fortnight for Level 3 and weekly for Level 4. To ensure success, students are encouraged to revise their notes to solidify learning after each lesson. The creation of revision cards and topic-specific notes is crucial for effective preparation for the final exams at the end of the two-year IGCSE Biology Online Course.
Internal assessments for Level 3 are conducted in June, while Level 4 internal mock assessments are scheduled for November and March. Level 3 reports are distributed at the end of the Autumn and Summer terms, and Level 4 reports follow the mock assessments in the Autumn and Spring terms. These reports provide grades for attainment and effort in each subject, along with written comments from Success Coaches and the Head Teacher.
Parents are strongly encouraged to engage in ongoing dialogue with teachers via their family Teams account. This unique approach allows for more comprehensive tracking of student progress throughout the academic year than a traditional annual parent consultation evening would offer.
Click here to see this year’s Assessment and Reporting schedule
1 Characteristics and classification of living organisms
2 Organisation of the organism
3 Movement in and out of cells
4 Biological molecules
5 Enzymes
6 Plant nutrition
7 Human nutrition
8 Transport in plants
9 Transport in animals
10 Diseases and immunity
11 Gas exchange in humans
12 Respiration
13 Excretion in humans
14 Coordination and response
15 Drugs
16 Reproduction
17 Inheritance
18 Variation and selection
19 Organisms and their environment
20 Biotechnology and genetic engineering
21 Human influences on ecosystems
These topics will be taught in Years 10 and 11 to prepare students for their examinations.
Recommended but not mandatory:
- Complete Biology for IGCSE: Endorsed by University of Cambridge International Examinations, by Ron Pickering; Published by Oxford University Press; ISBN: 9780198409847
- Access to a printer, pencil, ruler, rubber, pen, a notebook
Parents are responsible for arranging their child’s examinations at their local registered examination centre. Cambridge Home School students study from every part of the globe and so it is not practical for the school to offer a single venue to sit examinations. Consequently, Cambridge Home School is not registered with Cambridge International Examinations but has partnerships with examination centres registered with Cambridge International Examinations, Edexcel, OCR and AQA, and will support students in locating a suitable venue for sitting their written and practical examinations.
“The conducting of experiments is potentially dangerous and must be supervised by an adult. Cambridge Home School and its teachers do not demand that pupils conduct experiments. Parents and pupils must make the decision on whether to conduct experiments / dangerous activities and must therefore accept responsibility for any outcomes. Cambridge Home School does not accept responsibility for experiments or any other dangerous activity conducted at the homes of its pupils or in any other place.”
If you are intending to study A Level Biology after IGCSE, we recommend that you spend some time in the summer holidays preparing. Here are some suggested activities:
Watch:
Base editing: Revolutionary therapy clears girl’s incurable cancer
YouTube channels to look at for help with studying AQA A Level Biology:
A-Level Biology AQA (new spec)
Read:
The Galapagos giant tortoise Chelonoidis phantasticus is not extinct
Lab-grown meat could be 25 times worse for the climate than beef
Listen:
Subscribe:
Crossword:
What is the focus of the online IGCSE Biology course?
The online IGCSE Biology course is structured to help students understand and explain the biological world. This qualification is highly valued for its emphasis on key theoretical principles and practical skills. Students who complete this course can proceed to A Level Biology and have the opportunity to further their studies at university.
What is the homework policy in the online IGCSE Biology class?
For students in the online IGCSE Biology class, homework is assigned at least once a fortnight for Level 3 and weekly for Level 4. Students are encouraged to create revision cards and notes to prepare for their final exams. These practices help in consolidating learning and ensuring success.
How are students assessed in the online IGCSE Biology course?
In the online IGCSE Biology course, Level 3 internal assessments take place in June, while Level 4 internal mock assessments are conducted in November and March. Reports, including grades for attainment and effort, are issued at the end of certain terms and are accompanied by comments from Success Coaches and the Head Teacher.
What topics are covered in Biology IGCSE online?
The Biology IGCSE online course covers a wide range of topics, including characteristics and classification of living organisms, biological molecules, human nutrition, diseases and immunity, reproduction, and biotechnology. These topics are taught across Years 10 and 11 to prepare students for their exams.
How can parents track their children’s progress in the online IGCSE Biology class?
Parents can utilise their family Teams account to keep an ongoing dialogue with teachers about their children’s progress throughout the year. This approach allows for more detailed tracking compared to an annual parent consultation evening.
General points
Assessment, apart from the final International GCSE exams, will be carried out continuously throughout lessons, via homework or short tests.
Practicals will not be possible due to the online nature of teaching, but students are welcome to carry out safe practicals at home. Students are also encouraged to watch videos of practicals online, for example using YouTube. Students will also be encouraged to think scientifically in an everyday context, making them aware of the science around them and how it can help in solving problems.
The Teachers
Biology at Cambridge Home School Online is taught by Mrs Perkins and Mrs Graham. Click on the names below to find out more about our Biology teachers.