Pearson Edexcel International GCSE in Biology

Specification 4BI1 · Pearson Edexcel · International GCSE · first assessment June 2019 · graded 9–1

Five topics running from the characteristics of living organisms to the human use of biological resources, assessed by two untiered written papers. Experimental skills are examined through written questions on the specification's required practicals rather than by a practical exam.

Papers and components

• Paper 1: Biology Paper 1 (4BI1/1B) — 61.1% of the qualification, 110 marks, 120 minutes. Whole paper Core content, all five topics — AO1, AO2, AO3
• Paper 2: Biology Paper 2 (4BI1/2B) — 38.9% of the qualification, 70 marks, 75 minutes. Whole paper All content including bold B statements — AO1, AO2, AO3

Assessment objectives

• AO1 (38–42%) — Knowledge and understanding of biology.
• AO2 (38–42%) — Application of knowledge and understanding, analysis and evaluation of biology.
• AO3 (19–21%) — Experimental skills, analysis and evaluation of data and methods in biology.

What to know about this specification

• Total 180 marks: Paper 1 out of 110, Paper 2 out of 70.
• Untiered — one pair of papers for every learner, with the full 9–1 range available.
• Bold statements marked B are examined on Paper 2 only, and cover some sub-topics in greater depth.
• There is no practical examination; experimental skills are assessed in the written papers.
• Graded 9–1, so condensed revision notes on this course are called Grade 9 Notes.
• This is the separate Biology qualification. International GCSE Science (Double Award) and (Single Award) cover reduced content — check which you are entered for.

Topics (23)

• Exam technique for both Biology papers — Paper 1; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 1(a) Characteristics of living organisms — Paper 1 | Whole paper: Core content, all five topics; AO1, AO2
• 1(b) Variety of living organisms — Paper 1 | Whole paper: Core content, all five topics; AO1, AO2
• 2(a) Level of organisation — Paper 1 | Whole paper: Core content, all five topics; AO1, AO2
• 2(b) Cell structure — Paper 1 | Whole paper: Core content, all five topics; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 2(c) Biological molecules — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 2(d) Movement of substances into and out of cells — Paper 1 | Whole paper: Core content, all five topics; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 2(e) Nutrition — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 2(f) Respiration — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 2(g) Gas exchange — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 2(h) Transport — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 2(i) Excretion — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2
• 2(j) Co-ordination and response — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 3(a) Reproduction — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 3(b) Inheritance — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2
• 4(a) The organism in the environment — Paper 1 | Whole paper: Core content, all five topics; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 4(b) Feeding relationships — Paper 1 | Whole paper: Core content, all five topics; AO1, AO2
• 4(c) Cycles within ecosystems — Paper 1 | Whole paper: Core content, all five topics; AO1, AO2
• 4(d) Human influences on the environment — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2
• 5(a) Food production — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2, AO3
• 5(b) Selective breeding — Paper 1 | Whole paper: Core content, all five topics; AO1, AO2
• 5(c) Genetic modification (genetic engineering) — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2
• 5(d) Cloning — Paper 2 | Whole paper: All content including bold B statements; AO1, AO2

Condensed revision notes on this course are called Grade 9 Notes, because it is graded 9–1.

Built from the official specification (Issue 3 — September 2024, read 2026-08-02).