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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

In which part of the cell does anaerobic respiration occur?

  1. Nucleus
  2. Chloroplast
  3. Cytoplasm
  4. Mitochondrion
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: C — 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.
Q2 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the role of chlorophyll?

  1. Transport water
  2. Absorb light energy needed for photosynthesis
  3. Store glucose
  4. Produce CO₂
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Absorb light energy needed for photosynthesis
Chlorophyll is the green pigment in chloroplasts. It absorbs red and blue light (reflects green, hence the colour) and converts light energy to chemical energy.
Q3 · Difficulty 1/3

What is the equation for aerobic respiration?

  1. CO₂ + H₂O → glucose + O₂
  2. Glucose + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + energy
  3. Glucose → lactic acid
  4. Glucose → ethanol + CO₂
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Glucose + O₂ → CO₂ + H₂O + energy
C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy (ATP). Occurs in mitochondria. Requires oxygen.
Q4 · Difficulty 1/3

What does amylase break down?

  1. Proteins
  2. Starch into maltose (a sugar)
  3. Fats
  4. Cellulose
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Starch into maltose (a sugar)
Amylase is a carbohydrase enzyme. It breaks down starch into maltose. Amylase is produced in the salivary glands and pancreas.
Q5 · 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.
Q6 · Difficulty 1/3

Which structures are found in both plant and animal cells?

  1. Cell wall, chloroplasts, vacuole
  2. Nucleus, cell membrane, cytoplasm, mitochondria, ribosomes
  3. Only nucleus and cytoplasm
  4. Cell wall and nucleus only
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Nucleus, cell membrane, cytoplasm, mitochondria, ribosomes
Both cell types have: nucleus (DNA), cell membrane (controls entry/exit), cytoplasm (chemical reactions), mitochondria (respiration), ribosomes (protein synthesis).
Q7 · Difficulty 1/3

What are platelets?

  1. A type of white blood cell
  2. Cell fragments that help blood clot at wound sites
  3. Complete cells that carry oxygen
  4. Cells that fight infection
Show answer & explanation
✓ Answer: B — Cell fragments that help blood clot at wound sites
Platelets are small cell fragments. At a wound, they help form a mesh of fibrin threads (clot) that seals the wound, preventing blood loss and pathogen entry.
Q8 · 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.
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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.