1 (a) It is recommended that people eat a balanced diet. Place a tick (3) next to the sentence that best describes a balanced diet. A balanced diet contains all the required nutrients in the correct amounts. A balanced diet contains the correct amounts of carbohydrates. A balanced diet contains lots of fruit and vegetables. A balanced diet contains no fats or salt. [1] (b) The boxes on the left show some nutrients. The boxes on the right show why the nutrients are needed by the body. Draw lines to link each nutrient with why it is needed by the body. nutrient why it is needed carbohydrate for bones and teeth fats insulation protein main source of energy vitamin D used for growth and repair [3] (c) List the three chemical elements that make up carbohydrates. … [1] (d) Benedict’s solution can be used to test for the presence of one type of carbohydrate. Name the carbohydrate that Benedict’s solution is used to test for. … [1] (e) Name the component of the diet that prevents constipation. … [1] (f) Eating less sugar can help prevent tooth decay. Describe one other way of taking care of teeth. … … [1] (g) Circle the two processes that occur in the mouth. ingestion digestion egestion fertilisation photosynthesis pollination transpiration [2] [Total: 10]

1(a) A diet containing all the required nutrients in the correct amounts ticked ; 1 1(b) carbohydrate for bones and teeth fats insulation protein main source of energy vitamin D used for growth and repair ;;; 3 1(c) carbon, hydrogen and oxygen ; 1 1(d) (reducing) sugar ; 1 1(e) fibre ; 1 1(f) regular brushing / AVP ; 1 1(g) ingestion circled ; digestion circled ; 2 (a) To earn the mark, you must tick the sentence that accurately defines a balanced diet as containing all required nutrients in the correct amounts. (b) To earn marks, you must correctly draw lines linking each of the four nutrients (carbohydrate, fats, protein, vitamin D) to their specific functions in the body. (c) To earn the mark, you must list all three chemical elements: carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. (d) To earn the mark, you must name 'sugar' or 'reducing sugar' as the carbohydrate tested by Benedict's solution. (e) To earn the mark, you must name 'fibre' as the dietary component that prevents constipation. (f) To earn the mark, you must state 'regular brushing' or another valid preventative action for tooth decay. (g) To earn marks, you must circle both 'ingestion' and 'digestion' from the provided options.

4 (a) Fig. 4.1 is a diagram of the male reproductive system in humans. A B C D E F Fig. 4.1 Identify the letter from Fig. 4.1 that represents the: part where sperm is produced, … part which secretes the fluid that sperm swim in, … tube which carries both semen and urine. … [3] (b) State the name of the part of the female reproductive system that releases gametes. … [1] (c) The statements in Table 4.1 describe either asexual or sexual reproduction. Complete Table 4.1 to identify the type of reproduction each statement describes. Table 4.1 statement type of reproduction offspring are genetically identical to each other produces zygotes involves the fusion of nuclei [2] (d) Fig. 4.2 is a diagram representing the reproduction of a type of organism called a hydra. Fig. 4.2 Identify if this organism is reproducing asexually or sexually. Use evidence from Fig. 4.2 to give a reason for your answer. type of reproduction … reason … … [1] (e) Reproduction and respiration are characteristics of living things. State two other characteristics of living things. 1 … 2 … [2] [Total: 9]

4(a) E ; C ; A ; 3 4(b) ovary ; 1 4(c) asexual sexual sexual ;; 2 4(d) asexual offspring produced by only one parent ; 1 4(e) any two from: movement ; sensitivity ; growth ; excretion ; nutrition ; 2

7 (a) Table 7.1 shows some of the functions of the main components of blood. Complete Table 7.1 with the name of the component of blood for each function. Table 7.1 name of component function of component blood clotting oxygen transport phagocytosis and antibody production used for transport of hormones [4] (b) Some of the substances transported by the blood need to be excreted. The boxes contain the beginnings and the endings of some sentences. Join one sentence beginning to one sentence ending to define the term excretion. beginning ending Excretion is the absorption and assimilation of non‑toxic materials only. Excretion is the digestion of substances in excess of requirements only. Excretion is the removal from organisms of toxic materials and substances in excess of requirements. Excretion is the taking in to organisms of toxic materials and substances required by the body. [2] (c) Excretion, respiration and nutrition are three characteristics of living organisms. Name two other characteristics of living organisms. 1 … 2 … [2] [Total: 8]

7(a) platelets ; red blood cells ; white blood cells ; plasma ; 4 7(b) ;; 2 7(c) any two from: reproduction ; movement ; sensitivity ; growth ; 2

1 A student investigates how germinating bean seeds respond to gravity. The student has two germinating bean seeds, A and B. The beans are left to grow for two days. Fig. 1.1 shows the appearance of beans A and B after two days. root root A B Fig. 1.1 (a) Measure on Fig. 1.1 the length of the roots A and B after two days. This is the distance between the dotted lines. Record in Table 1.1 your value in millimetres to the nearest millimetre. Table 1.1 bean root length after two days / mm root length after four days / mm increase in root length / mm A 38 B [2] (b) Bean A is rotated through 90°. Bean B is not rotated. Fig. 1.2 shows the appearance of beans A and B after two more days growth. A B Fig. 1.2 Describe how Fig. 1.2 shows that the growth of roots is affected by gravity. … … … [1] (c) The student measures the length of the root of bean A and records this in Table 1.1. On Fig. 1.2 measure the length of the root of bean B. Record in Table 1.1 your value in millimetres to the nearest millimetre. [1] (d) (i) Calculate the increase in root length for bean A and bean B. Use the equation shown. increase in length = length after four days – length after two days Record your values in Table 1.1. [1] (ii) Describe how rotating the bean affects the growth rate of the root. Explain your answer with reference to the data in Table 1.1. effect … explanation … … [1] (e) The student repeats the investigation with more beans. To make it a fair test they use beans of the same species (type). Explain why the student uses beans of the same species. … … [1] (f) The student tests a sample of crushed bean root for the presence of starch. Name the reagent used to test for starch and state the observation for a positive result. reagent … observation … [2] [Total: 9]

1(a) 18 ; 20 ; 2 1(b) down ; 1 1(c) 40 ; 1 1(d)(i) 20 and 20 ; 1 1(d)(ii) no effect and same (increase in) root length ; 1 1(e) allow comparison / different species may grow at different rates AW 1 1(f) iodine solution ; blue-black ; 2

Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences · 0654

IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (0654) Characteristics of living organisms past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (0654) — Characteristics of living organisms with real Cambridge past-paper questions grouped by topic, each shown with its marking scheme. Working one topic at a time targets exactly the skill each question tests.

57 free questions from 2016–2021, each with its marking scheme. Open the full topical bank to filter by subtopic, paper, and year.

Characteristics of living organisms in IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences 0654 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Characteristics of living organisms accounted for 92 questions worth 367 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (0654) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	16	54
2021	8	40
2022	16	70
2023	18	69
2024	21	83
2025	13	51

Most-tested subtopics

B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms306 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 32 qs
Paper 2 · 29 qs
Paper 3 · 20 qs
Paper 4 · 7 qs
Paper 5 · 1 q
Paper 6 · 3 qs

All most-tested Co-ordinated Sciences topics

2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 3 · Q1 · 10 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q4 · 9 marks
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q7 · 8 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 6 · Q1 · 9 marks
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2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 1 · Q1 · 1 mark
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Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q1
Answer: C
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