Book a tutor
SearchResourcesRevision notesFlashcardsMind mapsExam questionsTopic testsPracticalsGCSE Biology coursesAQA GCSE Biology (8461)AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464)Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0)Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0)IGCSE Biology coursesCambridge IGCSE Biology (0610)Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653)Edexcel International GCSE Biology (4BI1)Edexcel International GCSE Science (Double Award) (4SD0)MoreAboutContactBook a tutor

Edexcel International GCSE Biology revision notes

Short notes for every spec point. Pick a topic, then a note.

2

Structure and functions in living organisms

15 subtopics · 70 notes

Cells and levels of organisation
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Levels of organisation
  3. Animal and plant cell structure
  4. Cell differentiation and specialised cells Biology only
  5. Stem cells in medicine Biology only
Biological molecules and enzymes
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids
  3. Practical: food tests
  4. Enzymes as biological catalysts
  5. Temperature, pH and enzyme activity
  6. Practical: temperature, pH and enzyme activity
Movement of substances into and out of cells
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Diffusion
  3. Osmosis
  4. Active transport
  5. Factors affecting the rate of movement
  6. Practical: diffusion and osmosis
Nutrition in flowering plants
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Photosynthesis and its equations
  3. Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis
  4. Leaf structure and adaptations
  5. Mineral ions: magnesium and nitrate
  6. Practical: oxygen from a water plant
  7. Practical: starch, light, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll
Human nutrition
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. A balanced diet and energy needs
  3. Nutrients: sources and functions
  4. The alimentary canal and peristalsis
  5. Digestive enzymes
  6. Bile
  7. Absorption in the small intestine
  8. Practical: energy content of food Biology only
Respiration
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Respiration and ATP
  3. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration equations
  4. Comparing aerobic and anaerobic respiration
  5. Practical: carbon dioxide and heat from respiring seeds
Gas exchange in flowering plants
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Gas exchange, diffusion and stomata
  3. Net gas exchange by day and night Biology only
  4. Practical: light and net gas exchange Biology only
Gas exchange in humans
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. The structure of the thorax
  3. Ventilation: breathing in and out
  4. Alveoli and gas exchange
  5. Smoking, the lungs and the circulatory system
  6. Practical: breathing, carbon dioxide and exercise
The need for transport and transport in plants
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Why multicellular organisms need transport systems
  3. Xylem and phloem
  4. Water uptake by root hair cells Biology only
  5. Transpiration Biology only
  6. Factors affecting transpiration and the potometer Biology only
Blood and the immune system
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Blood: composition, plasma and red blood cells
  3. White blood cells and the immune response
  4. Vaccination and memory cells Biology only
  5. Platelets and blood clotting Biology only
The heart and circulation
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Structure and function of the heart
  3. Heart rate, exercise and adrenaline
  4. Coronary heart disease and its risk factors
  5. Arteries, veins and capillaries
  6. The circulation system
Excretion
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Excretion: lungs, kidneys and skin
  3. The kidney and the urinary system Biology only
  4. The nephron and ultrafiltration Biology only
  5. Selective reabsorption and urine Biology only
  6. ADH and the water content of the blood Biology only
Coordination, homeostasis and plant responses
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Responding to change: stimulus, receptor, effector
  3. Homeostasis
  4. Plant tropisms and auxin
The nervous system and the eye
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. The central nervous system and nerve impulses
  3. Synapses and neurotransmitters
  4. The reflex arc
  5. Structure and function of the eye
  6. Focusing and the pupil reflex
Hormones and temperature control
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Nervous and hormonal communication compared
  3. Adrenaline, insulin and the sex hormones
  4. ADH, FSH and LH Biology only
  5. The skin and temperature control
All structure and functions in living organisms notes (PDF)Download all notes (PDF)91 pages
3

Reproduction and inheritance

5 subtopics · 28 notes

Sexual and asexual reproduction, and reproduction in plants
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Sexual and asexual reproduction
  3. Insect- and wind-pollinated flowers
  4. Fertilisation, seeds and fruits
  5. Germination and food reserves
  6. Practical: conditions for germination
  7. Asexual reproduction in plants
Human reproduction
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Male and female reproductive systems
  3. Oestrogen, progesterone and the menstrual cycle
  4. FSH and LH in the menstrual cycle Biology only
  5. The placenta and amniotic fluid
  6. Puberty and secondary sexual characteristics
DNA, genes and protein synthesis
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. The genome, genes and chromosomes
  3. The structure of DNA Biology only
  4. RNA and protein synthesis Biology only
Inheritance
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Alleles and genetic terms
  3. Codominance Biology only
  4. Polygenic inheritance
  5. Monohybrid inheritance and genetic diagrams
  6. Family pedigrees and probabilities
  7. Sex determination
Cell division, variation and evolution
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Mitosis
  3. Growth, repair, cloning and asexual reproduction
  4. Meiosis, fertilisation and chromosome number
  5. Genetic and environmental variation
  6. Mutations and the phenotype
  7. Causes of mutation Biology only
  8. Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection
  9. Antibiotic resistance
All reproduction and inheritance notes (PDF)Download all notes (PDF)28 pages
4

Ecology and the environment

4 subtopics · 18 notes

The organism in the environment
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Population, community, habitat and ecosystem
  3. Practical: population size with quadrats
  4. Estimating population size
  5. Biodiversity Biology only
  6. Practical: distribution and biodiversity Biology only
  7. Abiotic and biotic factors
Feeding relationships
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Trophic levels
  3. Food chains and food webs
  4. Pyramids of number, biomass and energy
  5. Energy transfer and the 10% rule
Cycles within ecosystems
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. The carbon cycle
  3. The nitrogen cycle Biology only
Human influences on the environment
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Air pollution: sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide
  3. Greenhouse gases and human activities
  4. The enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming
  5. Water pollution by sewage
  6. Eutrophication
  7. Deforestation Biology only
All ecology and the environment notes (PDF)Download all notes (PDF)22 pages
5

Use of biological resources

4 subtopics · 14 notes

Food production: crop plants
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Glasshouses and polythene tunnels
  3. Fertilisers, pesticides and biological control
Food production: micro-organisms and fish farming
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Yeast and bread making
  3. Practical: anaerobic respiration in yeast
  4. Bacteria and yoghurt
  5. Industrial fermenters
  6. Fish farming Biology only
Selective breeding and genetic modification
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Selective breeding of plants and animals
  3. Restriction enzymes, ligase and vectors
  4. Human insulin from genetically modified bacteria
  5. Genetically modified plants
CloningBiology only
  1. Subtopic overview: questions, flashcards and PDFs
  2. Micropropagation (tissue culture) Biology only
  3. Cloning mammals: Dolly the sheep Biology only
  4. Cloned transgenic animals and human proteins Biology only
All use of biological resources notes (PDF)Download all notes (PDF)17 pages