Paper 1
Biology 1
- Key Concepts in Biology
- Cells and Control
- Genetics
- Natural Selection and Genetic Modification
- Health, Disease and the Development of Medicines
1 hour 10 minutes60 marks16.67%
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology, memorised fast.
Long notes are boring. Brain-hack the whole 1SC0 specification with active recall and actually remember it.
- Spec 1SC0
- 9 topics
- 66 subtopics
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology 1SC0
Key Concepts in Biology
Topic overviewEukaryotic and prokaryotic cellsSpecialised cells and their adaptationsMicroscopes and magnification calculationsSize, scale and units in cell biologyEnzyme action and denaturationFactors affecting enzyme activityEnzymes in synthesis and digestion, and rate calculationsDiffusion, osmosis and active transportOsmosis in potatoes and percentage change in mass
Cells and Control
Genetics
Topic overviewMeiosis and the formation of gametesDNA structure, genes and the genomeExtracting DNA from fruitAlleles, genotype and phenotypeMonohybrid crosses and sex determinationProbability and ratios from genetic crossesCauses of variation: genes and environmentThe Human Genome ProjectGenetic variation and the effects of mutation
Natural Selection and Genetic Modification
Health, Disease and the Development of Medicines
Topic overviewHealth, disease and susceptibilityPathogens and common infectionsHow pathogens spread, and the virus life cycleSexually transmitted infectionsPhysical barriers and chemical defencesThe immune system, immunisation and herd immunityAntibiotics and developing new medicinesLifestyle factors and non-communicable diseaseTreatments for cardiovascular disease
Plant Structures and Their Functions
Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis
Exchange and Transport in Animals
Topic overviewWhy multicellular organisms need exchange surfacesAlveoli and gas exchangeThe blood and its componentsArteries, veins and capillariesThe heart and the circulatory systemCellular respiration as an exothermic reactionAerobic and anaerobic respiration comparedInvestigating the rate of respirationCardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate
Ecosystems and Material Cycles
What Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology covers
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (specification 1SC0) is worth two GCSEs and is examined by six papers, two for each science. The biology content is sat as Paper 1, Biology 1, and Paper 2, Biology 2, each 1 hour 10 minutes and 60 marks, together a third of the qualification. This is the Foundation tier: grades 1–1 to 5–5 on the 17-grade double-award scale are available, and the higher-tier content is not examined.
Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in Combined Science 1SC0, issue 6, March 2024. Read the Pearson specification ↗
How it is assessed
Paper 2
Biology 2
- Key Concepts in Biology
- Plant Structures and Their Functions
- Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis
- Exchange and Transport in Animals
- Ecosystems and Material Cycles
1 hour 10 minutes60 marks16.67%
The full specification
9 topics, 66 subtopics. Open any topic to see what is inside it.
01Key Concepts in Biology9 subtopicsOpen topic
- Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells
- Specialised cells and their adaptations
- Microscopes and magnification calculations
- Size, scale and units in cell biology
- Enzyme action and denaturation
- Factors affecting enzyme activity
- Enzymes in synthesis and digestion, and rate calculations
- Diffusion, osmosis and active transport
- Osmosis in potatoes and percentage change in mass
02Cells and Control5 subtopicsOpen topic
03Genetics9 subtopicsOpen topic
- Meiosis and the formation of gametes
- DNA structure, genes and the genome
- Extracting DNA from fruit
- Alleles, genotype and phenotype
- Monohybrid crosses and sex determination
- Probability and ratios from genetic crosses
- Causes of variation: genes and environment
- The Human Genome Project
- Genetic variation and the effects of mutation
04Natural Selection and Genetic Modification6 subtopicsOpen topic
05Health, Disease and the Development of Medicines9 subtopicsOpen topic
- Health, disease and susceptibility
- Pathogens and common infections
- How pathogens spread, and the virus life cycle
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Physical barriers and chemical defences
- The immune system, immunisation and herd immunity
- Antibiotics and developing new medicines
- Lifestyle factors and non-communicable disease
- Treatments for cardiovascular disease
06Plant Structures and Their Functions6 subtopicsOpen topic
07Animal Coordination, Control and Homeostasis5 subtopicsOpen topic
08Exchange and Transport in Animals9 subtopicsOpen topic
- Why multicellular organisms need exchange surfaces
- Alveoli and gas exchange
- The blood and its components
- Arteries, veins and capillaries
- The heart and the circulatory system
- Cellular respiration as an exothermic reaction
- Aerobic and anaerobic respiration compared
- Investigating the rate of respiration
- Cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate
09Ecosystems and Material Cycles8 subtopicsOpen topic
How you work through it
Pick the mode that fits the time you have.
Try three questions
No account needed. Answer from memory first.
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Key term
Explain how enzyme specificity depends on the active site, and why denaturation destroys that specificity.
Key term
Define osmosis and active transport, and describe how water crosses the membrane of a root hair cell.
Key term
Name two types of organism whose cells are eukaryotic.
Spaced Repetition Schedule
How reviews are timed
Levo will automatically distribute all of your progress into a spaced repetition calendar. Once you’ve answered, it’s scheduled for you on the next day in the spaced repetition schedule. Over time, the gaps between your recall get bigger, from a day to three years, reinforcing memorisation over a long period of time.
Interval sequence
- 1 day
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- 7 days
- 14 days
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 4 months
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- 1 year
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What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material
Combined Science Biology revision questions
Common questions about revising Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology. Tap any to open it.
How do you memorise Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology?
By testing yourself, not rereading. Active recall, pulling each answer from memory then checking it, builds far stronger memory than highlighting notes. Levo runs the method for you across all 9 Combined Science Biology topics and brings each one back on a spaced schedule so it stays memorised.
What is the fastest way to revise Combined Science Biology for Edexcel?
Skip the long notes and go straight to retrieval. Levo turns the 1SC0 specification into short questions you drill with rapid recall, cram whole papers in one sitting, and a readiness score tells you exactly what is left to learn.
What topics are on Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology (1SC0)?
There are 9 topics, split across 66 subtopics, from Key Concepts in Biology, Cells and Control, Genetics and more. Every topic is listed above, and each one opens to the subtopics inside it.
What do you get inside Levo for Combined Science Biology?
Six ways to work the same material. The 3-step method for learning a set, Cram for sorting a whole paper into what you know and what you do not, Blank Blitz for making key facts automatic, Build It for assembling full-mark answers, Test It for catching misconceptions, and Brain Breaks between sessions. A readiness score tracks how much of the subject you have memorised.
Is active recall better than rereading your notes for Combined Science Biology?
Consistently, yes. Rereading feels productive but fades quickly. Retrieving an answer from memory, the way Levo tests you, is what actually forms durable memory, and it shows you honestly what you do and do not know.
Does Levo cover the whole Edexcel Combined Science Biology specification?
Every topic on the 1SC0 specification is covered, written from the published subject content. The full list is above, and each topic opens to its subtopics so you can see exactly what is there before you subscribe.
How can you encourage your teenager to revise?
Make it short, structured and low-pressure. Levo gives a clear daily plan, quick sessions rather than marathon ones, streaks that reward showing up, and an honest readiness score, so revision feels like progress instead of a chore. Parents can add an account and follow along.
Can you revise Combined Science Biology the night before an exam?
Yes. Cram mode is built for exactly that: fly through a whole paper, sort every topic into red, amber and green, then drill just the reds and ambers you do not know yet. It is the honest version of a last-minute session.
Every question in Combined Science Biology, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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