0610_m26_gt — 2026 March Biology 0610 Grade Threshold

0610_m26_gt — 2026 March Biology 0610 Grade Threshold · Cambridge CAIE IGCSE

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0610_m26_gt — 2026 March Biology 0610 Grade Threshold

This grade threshold document shows the minimum raw marks required for each grade (A*, A, B, C, D, E) in Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) for the 2026 March session. Grade boundaries vary between sessions depending on paper difficulty and candidate performance. Use these thresholds to calibrate how your practice scores translate into actual grades on this specific paper set.

Also referenced as: 0610_m26_gt · 0610/f/m/26 · 0610 Feb/March 2026

Grade thresholds apply to all paper components in this session. To estimate your overall grade, total your marks across all papers and compare against the threshold. Note that thresholds are session-specific — a score that earns an A in one session may only earn a B in another, depending on paper difficulty.

Use this grade threshold to set realistic targets for your Biology (0610) practice papers. If you're aiming for an A, check the A boundary for this session and work backwards to see which paper components need improvement. Grade boundaries for Cambridge IGCSE Biology typically fluctuate by 5–10 marks between sessions, so check multiple sessions to get an average target score.

Examiner Insights

Based on analysis of 6 official Cambridge documents (2023, 2025)

Confusing excretion with egestion

“A significant number of candidates incorrectly believed that undigested food is removed by excretion. Egestion is the process that removes undigested food. Excretion is the removal of waste products of metabolism.”— Paper 1, March 2023

How to fix: Excretion = removal of waste products of METABOLISM (e.g. CO₂ from respiration, urea from amino acid breakdown) via lungs and kidneys. Egestion = removal of UNDIGESTED food via the anus. These are completely different processes. The anus is NOT an excretory organ.

Enzyme misconceptions — pH 7, heat 'kills', shape matching

“A significant number of candidates were unable to explain the specific role of the enzyme in converting the substrate to a product and what happens to the enzyme after it has been used.”— Paper 4, May/June 2025

How to fix: Common wrong beliefs: (1) 'All enzymes work best at pH 7' — FALSE, pepsin works best at pH 2. (2) 'Heat kills enzymes' — enzymes are not alive; heat DENATURES them (changes the shape of the active site). (3) 'Substrate and active site are the same shape' — the substrate is COMPLEMENTARY to the active site, not identical.

Food test procedures incomplete or wrong

“Benedict's test was often incomplete as it was common for the heating step to be left out.”— Paper 4, May/June 2025

How to fix: Memorise all food tests: Benedict's (add reagent + HEAT in water bath → orange/red for reducing sugar). Biuret (add NaOH then CuSO₄ → purple for protein). Iodine solution (→ blue-black for starch). Ethanol emulsion test (dissolve in ethanol, add to water → white emulsion for fats). DCPIP (decolourises with vitamin C).

View full exam guide for Biology (0610) →