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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

Which structure prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing?

  1. Larynx
  2. Glottis
  3. Uvula
  4. Epiglottis
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — Epiglottis
The epiglottis is a flap of cartilage that folds over the entrance to the trachea when swallowing, directing food into the oesophagus. The larynx is the voice box, and the glottis is the opening between the vocal cords, neither of which performs this sealing function.
Q2 · 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).
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3

A gene mutation occurs in which part of a cell?

  1. The nucleus, in the DNA
  2. The cytoplasm, in the mRNA
  3. The cell membrane, during cell division
  4. The ribosomes, during translation
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: A — The nucleus, in the DNA
Gene mutations are changes to the base sequence of DNA, which is located in the nucleus of the cell. Ribosomes and cytoplasm are sites of protein synthesis, not of the genetic material itself.
Q4 · Difficulty 1/3

Which structure in the brain is responsible for controlling balance and coordinating precise muscular movements?

  1. cerebrum
  2. cerebellum
  3. hypothalamus
  4. medulla oblongata
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — cerebellum
Award 1 mark for identifying the cerebellum, which coordinates balance, posture, and fine motor control. A is incorrect — the cerebrum controls voluntary actions, memory, and intelligence. C is incorrect — the hypothalamus regulates body temperature and monitors blood composition. D is incorrect — the medulla oblongata controls involuntary actions like breathing and heart rate.
Q5 · Difficulty 1/3

What is an allele?

  1. A protein
  2. A type of chromosome
  3. A different version of the same gene
  4. A whole strand of DNA
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — A different version of the same gene
Alleles are different forms of the same gene. For example, the gene for eye colour has alleles for blue, brown, green, etc.
Q6 · Difficulty 1/3

In which part of the cell does anaerobic respiration occur?

  1. Mitochondrion
  2. Nucleus
  3. Chloroplast
  4. Cytoplasm
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: D — Cytoplasm
Anaerobic respiration takes place in the cytoplasm of the cell, as it does not require the specialised membrane systems of the mitochondria. The nucleus stores genetic information. Chloroplasts carry out photosynthesis. Mitochondria are the site of aerobic respiration, not anaerobic.
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3

What do white blood cells do?

  1. Carry oxygen
  2. Defend against pathogens by phagocytosis, producing antibodies, and producing antitoxins
  3. Transport CO₂
  4. Clot blood
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Defend against pathogens by phagocytosis, producing antibodies, and producing antitoxins
White blood cells: phagocytes engulf and digest pathogens; lymphocytes produce antibodies (specific proteins that destroy specific pathogens) and antitoxins.
Q8 · Difficulty 1/3

What determines sex in humans?

  1. Blood type
  2. The mother's diet
  3. Sex chromosomes: XX = female, XY = male
  4. The father's age
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — Sex chromosomes: XX = female, XY = male
Females have XX chromosomes; males have XY. The father's sperm determines sex — it carries either X (girl) or Y (boy). Probability of each sex = 50%.
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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.