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Edexcel International GCSE Science (Double Award) specification checklist

All 141 spec points of 4SD0 that our notes cover, topic by topic. Rate each one red, amber or green as you revise, and follow the link to the note when you need it.

Edexcel International GCSE Science (Double Award) (4SD0) specification checklist · clockitwithsci.com

Official specification (PDF)

The numbers are Edexcel's own spec references for 4SD0. Teachers: you are welcome to print this checklist and share it with your classes.

1The nature and variety of living organisms

Characteristics and variety of living organisms · 1.1–1.4
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
1.1Characteristics of living organisms
1.2Plants and animals; Fungi and protoctists
1.3Bacteria
1.4Viruses and pathogens

2Structure and functions in living organisms

Cells and levels of organisation · 2.1–2.6B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.1Levels of organisation
2.2Animal and plant cell structure
2.3Animal and plant cell structure
2.4Animal and plant cell structure
Biological molecules and enzymes · 2.7–2.14B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.7Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids
2.8Carbohydrates, proteins and lipids
2.9Practical: food tests
2.10Enzymes as biological catalysts
2.11Temperature, pH and enzyme activity
2.12Practical: temperature, pH and enzyme activity
2.13Temperature, pH and enzyme activity
2.14BPractical: temperature, pH and enzyme activity
Movement of substances into and out of cells · 2.15–2.17
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.15Diffusion; Osmosis; Active transport
2.16Factors affecting the rate of movement
2.17Practical: diffusion and osmosis
Nutrition in flowering plants · 2.18–2.23
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.18Photosynthesis and its equations
2.19Photosynthesis and its equations
2.20Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis
2.21Leaf structure and adaptations
2.22Mineral ions: magnesium and nitrate
2.23Practical: oxygen from a water plant; Practical: starch, light, carbon dioxide and chlorophyll
2.42BLeaf structure and adaptations
Human nutrition · 2.24–2.33B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.24A balanced diet and energy needs
2.25Nutrients: sources and functions
2.26A balanced diet and energy needs
2.27The alimentary canal and peristalsis
2.28The alimentary canal and peristalsis
2.29Digestive enzymes
2.30Bile
2.31Bile
2.32Absorption in the small intestine
Respiration · 2.34–2.39
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.34Respiration and ATP
2.35Respiration and ATP
2.36Comparing aerobic and anaerobic respiration
2.37Aerobic and anaerobic respiration equations
2.38Aerobic and anaerobic respiration equations
2.39Practical: carbon dioxide and heat from respiring seeds
Gas exchange in flowering plants · 2.40B, 2.41B, 2.43B–2.45B, 2.70
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.40BGas exchange, diffusion and stomata
2.41BGas exchange, diffusion and stomata
2.43BGas exchange, diffusion and stomata
2.70Gas exchange, diffusion and stomata
Gas exchange in humans · 2.46–2.50
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.46The structure of the thorax
2.47Ventilation: breathing in and out
2.48Alveoli and gas exchange
2.49Smoking, the lungs and the circulatory system
2.50Practical: breathing, carbon dioxide and exercise
The need for transport and transport in plants · 2.51–2.58B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.51Why multicellular organisms need transport systems
2.52Why multicellular organisms need transport systems
2.53Xylem and phloem
2.54Xylem and phloem
Blood and the immune system · 2.59–2.64B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.59Blood: composition, plasma and red blood cells
2.60Blood: composition, plasma and red blood cells
2.61Blood: composition, plasma and red blood cells
2.62White blood cells and the immune response
The heart and circulation · 2.65–2.69
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.65Structure and function of the heart
2.66Heart rate, exercise and adrenaline
2.67Coronary heart disease and its risk factors
2.68Arteries, veins and capillaries
2.69The circulation system
Excretion · 2.71–2.79B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.71Excretion: lungs, kidneys and skin
Coordination, homeostasis and plant responses · 2.80–2.85
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.80Responding to change: stimulus, receptor, effector
2.81Homeostasis
2.82Responding to change: stimulus, receptor, effector
2.83Plant tropisms and auxin
2.84Plant tropisms and auxin
2.85Plant tropisms and auxin
The nervous system and the eye · 2.87–2.92
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.87The central nervous system and nerve impulses
2.88The central nervous system and nerve impulses
2.89Synapses and neurotransmitters
2.90The reflex arc
2.91Structure and function of the eye
2.92Focusing and the pupil reflex
Hormones and temperature control · 2.86, 2.93–2.95B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
2.86Nervous and hormonal communication compared
2.93The skin and temperature control
2.94Adrenaline, insulin and the sex hormones

3Reproduction and inheritance

Sexual and asexual reproduction, and reproduction in plants · 3.1–3.7
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
3.1Sexual and asexual reproduction
3.2Sexual and asexual reproduction
3.3Insect- and wind-pollinated flowers
3.4Fertilisation, seeds and fruits
3.5Practical: conditions for germination
3.6Germination and food reserves
3.7Asexual reproduction in plants
Human reproduction · 3.8–3.13
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
3.8Male and female reproductive systems
3.9Oestrogen, progesterone and the menstrual cycle
3.11The placenta and amniotic fluid
3.12The placenta and amniotic fluid
3.13Puberty and secondary sexual characteristics
DNA, genes and protein synthesis · 3.14–3.18B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
3.14The genome, genes and chromosomes
3.15The genome, genes and chromosomes
Inheritance · 3.19–3.27
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
3.19Alleles and genetic terms
3.20Alleles and genetic terms
3.22Polygenic inheritance
3.23Monohybrid inheritance and genetic diagrams
3.24Family pedigrees and probabilities
3.25Family pedigrees and probabilities
3.26Sex determination
3.27Sex determination
Cell division, variation and evolution · 3.28–3.39
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
3.28Mitosis
3.29Growth, repair, cloning and asexual reproduction
3.30Meiosis, fertilisation and chromosome number
3.31Meiosis, fertilisation and chromosome number
3.32Meiosis, fertilisation and chromosome number
3.33Genetic and environmental variation
3.34Mutations and the phenotype
3.35BMutations and the phenotype
3.36BMutations and the phenotype
3.38Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection
3.39Antibiotic resistance

4Ecology and the environment

The organism in the environment · 4.1–4.5
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
4.1Population, community, habitat and ecosystem
4.2Practical: population size with quadrats; Estimating population size
4.5Abiotic and biotic factors
Feeding relationships · 4.6–4.9
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
4.6Trophic levels
4.7Food chains and food webs; Pyramids of number, biomass and energy
4.8Energy transfer and the 10% rule
4.9Energy transfer and the 10% rule
Cycles within ecosystems · 4.10–4.11B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
4.10The carbon cycle
Human influences on the environment · 4.12–4.18B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
4.12Air pollution: sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide
4.13Greenhouse gases and human activities
4.14Greenhouse gases and human activities
4.15The enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming
4.16Water pollution by sewage
4.17Eutrophication

5Use of biological resources

Food production: crop plants · 5.1–5.4
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
5.1Glasshouses and polythene tunnels
5.2Glasshouses and polythene tunnels
5.3Fertilisers, pesticides and biological control
5.4Fertilisers, pesticides and biological control
Food production: micro-organisms and fish farming · 5.5–5.9B
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
5.5Yeast and bread making
5.6Practical: anaerobic respiration in yeast
5.7Bacteria and yoghurt
5.8Industrial fermenters
Selective breeding and genetic modification · 5.10–5.16
SpecWhat to know (the note)Not yetNearlyConfident
5.10Selective breeding of plants and animals
5.11Selective breeding of plants and animals
5.12Restriction enzymes, ligase and vectors
5.13Restriction enzymes, ligase and vectors
5.14Human insulin from genetically modified bacteria
5.15Genetically modified plants
5.16Restriction enzymes, ligase and vectors

Ticks are not saved, so print the checklist to keep track. Look up any word you are unsure of in the glossary, and when a topic is green, try it on past papers.