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Reviewer participation may vary by guide. Checked against Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 (2026–2028); last reviewed August 2026.
Key point
Paper 2 has 40 questions in 45 minutes. Use elimination to narrow options, answer every question (no negative marking), and save difficult questions for a second pass.
Paper 2 is a 45-minute multiple-choice paper with 40 questions. It covers the entire Extended syllabus, so the questions range from simple recall to challenging application. A systematic approach can easily add 5–10 marks to your score.
Time management
You have approximately 1 minute per question. Do not spend more than 90 seconds on any single question in your first pass. Mark difficult questions and return to them after completing the easier ones.
There is no negative marking: always answer every question, even if you are unsure. An educated guess is better than a blank.
The elimination technique
For each question, eliminate options that are clearly wrong before choosing between the remaining ones. Reducing four options to two gives you a 50% chance even if you are uncertain.
Read all four options before selecting: the best answer is sometimes the last one listed, and a hasty choice on option A may miss a more precise option D.
Common traps
"Which is NOT...": read the question stem carefully. Many students choose a correct statement when the question asks for the incorrect one.
Distractors with partially correct information: an option may contain one correct fact and one incorrect one. The whole option must be correct.
Absolutes: words like "always", "never", "all" often indicate incorrect options. Biology has many exceptions.
Graph and data questions
Multiple-choice questions may include graphs, tables, or diagrams. Take 20 seconds to understand the axes and data before reading the options. Identify the trend first, then match it to the correct option.
Frequently asked questions
Should I guess if I am unsure?
Yes: there is no penalty for wrong answers. Eliminate what you can and make your best guess from the remaining options.
Should I change my answer?
Only if you have a clear reason. Research shows that first instincts are often correct unless you identify a specific error in your reasoning.
Put the guide into practice
Questions and practical resources
Use a fresh question to check whether the idea can be applied without prompts.