1 (a) The boxes on the left show characteristics of living organisms. The boxes on the right show some definitions of characteristics. Draw one straight line from each characteristic to its correct definition. characteristic definition excretion sensitivity nutrition responding to change removing waste from the body permanent increase in size taking in materials for energy [3] (b) Respiration is another characteristic of living organisms. Aerobic respiration needs oxygen. Complete these sentences to describe how oxygen from the air gets into the blood of a human. As we breathe in, air passes from our bronchioles into the … of the lungs. The oxygen in this air then moves into red blood cells by the process of … . [2] (c) Organisms are made up of cells. Fig. 1.1 is a photomicrograph of an animal cell. X Fig. 1.1 (i) Identify the part labelled X in Fig. 1.1. … [1] (ii) State two pieces of evidence from the cell in Fig. 1.1 that show it is not a plant cell. 1 … 2 … [2] [Total: 8]

1(a) responding to change excretion removing waste from the body nutrition permanent increases in size sensitivity taking in materials for energy ;;; 3 1(b) alveoli ; diffusion ; 2 1(c)(i) nucleus ; 1 1(c)(ii) any two from: no cell wall ; no chloroplasts ; no (large) vacuole ; 2 (a) To earn marks, you must draw a straight line from each characteristic on the left to its correct definition on the right. (b) You need to correctly identify 'alveoli' as the structure air passes into and 'diffusion' as the process by which oxygen moves into red blood cells. (c)(i) You must correctly identify the labelled part X as the 'nucleus'. (c)(ii) You need to state two distinct features that are absent in the animal cell shown but present in a plant cell, such as no cell wall, no chloroplasts, or no large vacuole.

1 (a) Reproduction is one of the characteristics of living organisms. Identify the characteristics of living organisms defined as the removal of toxic material from the body … an action allowing an organism to change position … . [2] (b) Fig. 1.1 shows the parts of a flower. … … … Fig. 1.1 (i) Complete the labels on Fig. 1.1. Choose words from the list. anther carpel filament ovary stigma sepal style [3] (ii) Name the part of the plant that receives pollen from another plant. … [1] (iii) Name the part of the plant where fertilisation takes place. … [1] (c) (i) The boxes on the left show parts of the female reproductive system in humans. The boxes on the right show functions of these parts. Draw one straight line from each part to its function. name of part function cervix vagina ovaries ring of muscle at the opening of the uterus receives penis during sexual intercourse release of female gametes (eggs) [2] (ii) During reproduction in humans, a ball of cells implants into the uterus wall. State the name of this ball of cells. … [1] [Total: 10]

1(a) excretion ; movement ; 2 1(b)(i) filament ; anther ; sepal ; 3 1(b)(ii) stigma ; 1 1(b)(iii) ovule ; 1 1(c)(i) cervix ring of muscle at the opening of the uterus ovaries receives penis during sexual intercourse vagina release of female gametes (eggs) ;; all three correct = 2 marks one or two correct = 1 mark 2 1(c)(ii) embryo ; 1 (a) To earn these marks, you must correctly identify 'excretion' for the removal of toxic material and 'movement' for changing position. (b)(i) You need to correctly label the filament, anther, and sepal on the diagram. (b)(ii) The mark is earned by stating 'stigma' as the part that receives pollen. (b)(iii) You must identify 'ovule' as the site of fertilisation. (c)(i) To get full marks, you need to draw correct lines connecting all three parts (cervix, vagina, ovaries) to their respective functions; one or two correct connections earn one mark. (c)(ii) The mark is awarded for stating 'embryo' as the ball of cells that implants.

1 (a) Nutrition is one of the characteristics of living organisms. Identify the characteristics of living organisms defined as the chemical reactions in cells that break down nutrient molecules and release energy … the ability to detect and respond to changes in the environment. … [2] (b) Fig. 1.1 shows part of the alimentary canal and associated organs. Fig. 1.1 (i) Draw the letter X on Fig. 1.1 to identify the position of the liver. [1] (ii) The arrow shows the direction the food moves as it passes into the small intestine. Complete these sentences about what happens in the small intestine. Large insoluble molecules are broken down by the process of … . Small food molecules are then moved into the blood by the process of … . [2] (c) A student investigates nutrition in plants. Sugar is stored as starch in a leaf. The student puts black paper around a green leaf still attached to the plant. After two days she takes the leaf from the plant and removes the black paper. She then tests the leaf for starch using iodine solution. Fig. 1.2 shows the results. iodine solution turns blue-black iodine solution stays orange-brown starch test clip to hold paper leaf attached to plant black paper strip Fig. 1.2 Explain the results seen in Fig. 1.2 for the area that was covered by black paper. … … … [2] (d) Different plant tissues in the stem have different functions. Name the tissue that transports sugars in the stem. … [1] (e) Starch and sugar are carbohydrates. Table 1.1 shows the mass of carbohydrates in some different food types. Table 1.1 food type mass of carbohydrate in 100 g of food / g bread 40 cake 59 cheese 2 lentils 18 rice 25 tomato 3 (i) Identify the food type that contains the most carbohydrate. … [1] (ii) A man eats 200 g of bread and 50 g of cheese. Calculate the mass of carbohydrate he eats. mass of carbohydrate = … g [2] [Total: 11]

1(a) respiration ; sensitivity ; 2 1(b)(i) centre of X must be on liver ; 1 1(b)(ii) digestion ; absorption ; 2 1(c) no starch is made ; as light is needed for photosynthesis ; 2 1(d) phloem ; 1 1(e)(i) cake ; 1 1(e)(ii) (40 x 2) + (2 x 0.5) ; 81 (g) ; 2 (a) To earn marks, you must correctly identify 'respiration' for the breakdown of nutrient molecules and 'sensitivity' for detecting and responding to changes. (b)(i) You must draw the letter X with its center clearly on the liver in the provided diagram. (b)(ii) You need to state 'digestion' for the breakdown of large molecules and 'absorption' for small molecules moving into the blood. (c) To explain the results, you must state that no starch was made in the covered area and link this to light being necessary for photosynthesis.

7 (a) Fig. 7.1 shows the life cycle of a plant. formation of seeds process X pollination growth germination Fig. 7.1 (i) Identify process X in Fig. 7.1. … [1] (ii) Explain why plants need amino acids for growth. … … … [2] (b) Fig. 7.2 shows some of the parts of an insect-pollinated flower. Fig. 7.2 (i) On Fig. 7.2, draw a label line and the letter P to show where pollination occurs. [1] (ii) The male parts of the flower are not visible in Fig. 7.2. State the name of one male part of the flower not visible in Fig. 7.2. … [1] (c) Plants can also reproduce asexually. Complete these sentences to define the term asexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction is a process resulting in the production of … identical offspring from … parent. [2] (d) The roots of a plant grow down into the ground in response to gravity. State the name of this response. … [1] [Total: 8]

7(a)(i) fertilisation ; 1 7(a)(ii) (amino acids are used) to make proteins ; proteins are needed for growth ; 2 7(b)(i) label line on stigma ; 1 7(b)(ii) anther / filament / stamen ; 1 7(c) genetically ; one / a single ; 2 7(d) gravitropism ; 1

1 What are the characteristics of living organisms? excretion growth movement nutrition reproduction respiration sensitivity / response A B C D

Answer: A To earn the mark, a student must correctly identify the option that lists all the characteristics of living organisms.

Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science · 0653

IGCSE Combined Science (0653) Characteristics of living organisms past paper questions

Revise IGCSE Combined Science (0653) — 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.

140 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 Combined Science 0653 exams, 2020–2025

Across 2020–2025, Characteristics of living organisms accounted for 159 questions worth 403 marks in Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) papers.

By year
Year	Questions	Marks
2020	18	55
2021	30	111
2022	40	74
2023	29	75
2024	32	50
2025	10	38

Most-tested subtopics

B1.1 Characteristics of living organisms271 marks

Appears in

Paper 1 · 69 qs
Paper 2 · 63 qs
Paper 3 · 14 qs
Paper 4 · 2 qs
Paper 5 · 3 qs
Paper 6 · 8 qs

All most-tested Combined Science topics

2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q1 · 8 marks
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q1 · 10 marks
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2021 May/Jun · Paper 3 · Q1 · 11 marks
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2021 Oct/Nov · Paper 3 · Q7 · 8 marks
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2021 Feb/Mar · Paper 1 · Q1 · 1 mark
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Mark scheme — 2021 Paper 1 Q1
Answer: A
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