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About Edexcel GCSE Biology
Edexcel GCSE Biology is code 1BI0, with a qualification number of 601/8610/0, written for first teaching from September 2016 and first certification in 2018. It has two written papers. Paper 1 carries the codes 1BI0/1F and 1BI0/1H, Paper 2 carries 1BI0/2F and 1BI0/2H, and each paper is a written examination of 1 hour and 45 minutes worth 100 marks and 50% of the qualification. Both papers are available at foundation tier and higher tier, and a student must sit both at the same tier.
Each paper consists of ten questions and students must answer all of them. The questions mix multiple choice, short answer, calculations and extended open-response, and calculators may be used. Because the paper has a fixed number of questions, a student can plan their time per question before they open the paper, which is not true of specifications that leave the question count open.
The two papers divide the nine topics. Paper 1 covers Topic 1 Key concepts in biology together with Topic 2 Cells and control, Topic 3 Genetics, Topic 4 Natural selection and genetic modification and Topic 5 Health, disease and the development of medicines. Paper 2 covers Topic 1 again together with Topic 6 Plant structures and their functions, Topic 7 Animal coordination, control and homeostasis, Topic 8 Exchange and transport in animals and Topic 9 Ecosystems and material cycles. Topic 1 therefore sits in both papers, so the same content is examined twice.
One figure on this specification is unusually precise. Twenty-seven marks of each paper are overlap questions that appear in both the foundation and the higher tier paper. A student on either tier is therefore working through a common core of 27 marks before the tier-specific material begins, which is a useful thing to know when deciding which tier to enter.
Practical work is examined, not assessed separately. There are eight mandatory core practicals and students must carry out all eight, but they are tested inside the written papers rather than marked on their own. The centre must submit a Practical Science Statement to Pearson by 15 April in the year the student sits the examinations, and failure to provide it is treated as malpractice or maladministration.
Who Edexcel GCSE Biology Is For
This course suits Year 11 students sitting Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0 who want the tier decision and the eight core practicals handled deliberately rather than left to the final term.
- Year 11 students sitting Edexcel GCSE Biology 1BI0
- Students choosing between Foundation and Higher who want to know what the 27 overlap marks mean
- Students who have done the eight core practicals but cannot answer questions about them
- Students who lose time because they have not planned ten questions across 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Private candidates, who can enter only if they carry out the mandatory core practicals at the centre
Edexcel GCSE Biology: The Board We Cover
Edexcel is the board this page covers. Every fact here comes from Pearson's own 1BI0 specification, Issue 4.
Edexcel
Edexcel's GCSE Biology is code 1BI0, two papers of 1 hour and 45 minutes and 100 marks at 50% each. Each paper has ten questions, 27 marks are shared between the tiers, and eight core practicals are examined rather than marked separately.
How Centaurus Helps Edexcel GCSE Biology Students Excel
The Tier Decision Explained
Twenty-seven marks of each paper appear in both tiers, so the choice between Foundation and Higher is made on the remaining material rather than in the dark.
Eight Core Practicals Tracked
Five of the eight sit in Paper 1 content and three in Paper 2, and every one of them can be examined in writing.
Ten Questions Planned
A fixed question count of ten across 1 hour and 45 minutes makes time per question a calculation a student can do before the exam.
Paper 1 and Paper 2 Mapped
Topic 1 is examined in both papers while every other topic appears once, so revision follows the same pattern.
The Practical Statement Diarised
The centre must submit the Practical Science Statement by 15 April in the exam year, and missing it is treated as malpractice.
24/7 Progress Reporting
Families get access to the Centaurus Academy LMS, with attendance, progress and lesson notes available to parents, students and teachers at any time.
Why Centaurus Stands Out
Choosing the right Edexcel GCSE Biology support makes a real difference. Here is how Centaurus Academy compares with typical online providers.
Meet our Team Of Experts
Our expert tutors bring deep subject knowledge and a passion for teaching — helping every student reach their full potential.
What Parents Say About Us
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I'm very satisfied with the dedication and teaching approach. My child has gained confidence and improved significantly in understanding math concepts, thanks to the teacher's clear explanations and supportive guidance.
Edexcel GCSE Biology: Frequently Asked Questions
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