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CIE · IGCSE · Biology

Free CIE IGCSE Biology
Practice Paper

8 mixed-difficulty practice questions in the style of real CIE IGCSE papers — answers, mark-scheme-style explanations, and the official exam structure all on one page.

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What the real CIE IGCSE Biology paper looks like

Paper 1 (Multiple Choice)
40 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each. 45 minutes. Tests breadth of knowledge.
Paper 2 (Core) / Paper 4 (Extended)
Structured written paper. 1 hour 30 minutes (Core) or 1 hour 45 minutes (Extended). Tests depth of understanding and application.
Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical)
Written paper assessing practical skills for candidates without lab access. 1 hour. Worth ~20% of the total.
Total exam time: ~3 hours, depending on tier (Core vs Extended).
Grading: Grades: A* (highest) to G (lowest), with U (ungraded). Most universities require C or above.

Mini practice paper: 8 questions

Mixed-difficulty questions from across the Biology syllabus. Tap "Show answer" after each to check yourself.

Q1 · Difficulty 1/3

What is deforestation?

  1. Planting trees
  2. Large-scale removal of trees, causing habitat destruction, soil erosion, flooding, and increased CO₂
  3. A natural forest fire
  4. Sustainable forestry
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Large-scale removal of trees, causing habitat destruction, soil erosion, flooding, and increased CO₂
Deforestation removes habitats (reducing biodiversity), releases stored carbon (climate change), removes roots (soil erosion), and reduces water absorption (flooding).
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3

What role does the diaphragm play in breathing?

  1. It filters air
  2. It contracts (flattens) to increase chest volume for inhalation, relaxes (domes up) for exhalation
  3. It warms the air
  4. It produces mucus
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — It contracts (flattens) to increase chest volume for inhalation, relaxes (domes up) for exhalation
Inhalation: diaphragm contracts and flattens, intercostal muscles raise ribs → volume increases → pressure decreases → air rushes in.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the water cycle?

  1. Water purification
  2. The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection driven by solar energy
  3. Water flowing in rivers only
  4. Rain only
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection driven by solar energy
Sun heats water → evaporation → water vapour rises and cools → condensation (clouds) → precipitation (rain/snow) → collection in rivers, lakes, oceans → cycle repeats.
Q4 · Difficulty 1/3

Why does exercise increase breathing rate?

  1. To cool down
  2. Muscles need more oxygen for increased respiration and more CO₂ must be removed
  3. To reduce heart rate
  4. To absorb more food
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Muscles need more oxygen for increased respiration and more CO₂ must be removed
During exercise, muscles respire faster, needing more O₂ and producing more CO₂. Faster, deeper breathing increases gas exchange to meet demand.
Q5 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the greenhouse effect?

  1. Plants growing in greenhouses
  2. Greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane) trapping heat in the atmosphere, warming Earth
  3. Ozone depletion
  4. Acid rain
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane) trapping heat in the atmosphere, warming Earth
The natural greenhouse effect keeps Earth warm enough for life. Enhanced greenhouse effect from human activity (burning fossil fuels, farming) causes global warming.
Q6 · Difficulty 1/3

What does lipase break down?

  1. Starch
  2. Proteins
  3. Fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol
  4. Sugars
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol
Lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. It is produced in the pancreas and works in the small intestine, aided by bile which emulsifies fats.
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3

Which human activity directly reduces biodiversity by destroying the physical habitat of many species simultaneously?

  1. Rotating crops between different fields each season
  2. Large-scale deforestation for agricultural land
  3. Controlled burning of small crop residues on farmland
  4. Selective fishing using nets with large mesh sizes
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Large-scale deforestation for agricultural land
Large-scale deforestation removes the complex structural habitat of forests, eliminating food sources, nesting sites and microclimates for numerous species simultaneously, directly reducing biodiversity. Selective fishing with large mesh sizes is a conservation measure that reduces bycatch. Controlled burning of crop residues has localised, managed impact. Crop rotation improves soil health and does not typically destroy habitats on a large scale.
Q8 · Difficulty 1/3

What is a gene?

  1. A whole chromosome
  2. A short section of DNA that codes for a specific protein
  3. A type of cell
  4. An amino acid
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — A short section of DNA that codes for a specific protein
Genes are located on chromosomes. Each gene codes for a specific protein that determines a characteristic.
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CIE IGCSE Biology FAQ

What does the CIE IGCSE Biology exam look like?
The CIE IGCSE Biology exam is structured across 3 components. Paper 1 (Multiple Choice): 40 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each. 45 minutes. Tests breadth of knowledge. Paper 2 (Core) / Paper 4 (Extended): Structured written paper. 1 hour 30 minutes (Core) or 1 hour 45 minutes (Extended). Tests depth of understanding and application. Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical): Written paper assessing practical skills for candidates without lab access. 1 hour. Worth ~20% of the total. Total exam time: ~3 hours, depending on tier (Core vs Extended).
Can I download a free CIE IGCSE Biology past paper?
Real CIE past papers are published directly by CIE on their official website. Kramizo doesn't redistribute copyrighted past papers, but we do generate free AI-written practice papers in the exact same style — same command words, same difficulty tier, same mark conventions. Use this practice paper as warm-up, then time yourself on official past papers before exam day.
How is CIE IGCSE Biology graded?
Grades: A* (highest) to G (lowest), with U (ungraded). Most universities require C or above. Kramizo's practice questions are tagged with difficulty 1-3 mapping roughly to the lower, middle, and top grade boundaries you'll encounter in the real exam.