Edexcel International AS Level Biology specification checklist
All 85 spec points of XBI11 that our notes cover, topic by topic. Rate each one red, amber or green as you revise, and follow the link to the note when you need it.
Edexcel International AS Level Biology (XBI11) specification checklistclockitwithsci.com
How to use: tick one box for each spec point as you revise. Go back to the “Not yet” rows first, and keep going until every row is “Confident”.
The numbers are Edexcel's own spec references for XBI11. Teachers: you are welcome to print this checklist and share it with your classes.
1Molecules, Transport and Health
Water, carbohydrates and lipids · 1.1–1.5
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Water as a solvent in transport | |||
| 1.2 | Monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides | |||
| 1.3 | Core practical 1: Benedict’s reagent and iodine solution | |||
| 1.4 | Glycosidic bonds: condensation and hydrolysis | |||
| 1.5(i) | Triglycerides and ester bonds | |||
| 1.5(ii) | Saturated and unsaturated lipids |
The heart, blood vessels and haemoglobin · 1.6–1.9
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 | Why many animals have a heart and circulation | |||
| 1.7 | Arteries, veins and capillaries | |||
| 1.8 | Structure of the mammalian heart; The cardiac cycle | |||
| 1.9(i) | Haemoglobin and the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide | |||
| 1.9(ii) | The oxygen dissociation curve, the Bohr effect and fetal haemoglobin |
Cardiovascular disease and its causes · 1.10–1.14
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.10 | Atherosclerosis | |||
| 1.11 | Blood clotting and cardiovascular disease | |||
| 1.12 | Risk factors for cardiovascular disease | |||
| 1.13 | Dietary antioxidants and the risk of CVD | |||
| 1.14 | Core practical 2: vitamin C content of food and drink |
Health risks, evidence and treatment · 1.15–1.20
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.15 | Analysing data on illness and mortality | |||
| 1.16 | Evaluating the design of studies | |||
| 1.17 | Perception of risk | |||
| 1.18(i) | Blood cholesterol, HDL and LDL | |||
| 1.18(ii) | Evidence linking cholesterol and CVD | |||
| 1.19 | Using scientific knowledge to reduce the risk of CHD | |||
| 1.20 | Treatments for cardiovascular disease |
2Membranes, Proteins, DNA and Gene Expression
Gas exchange, membranes and transport · 2.1–2.5
Proteins and enzymes · 2.6–2.8
DNA, the genetic code and gene expression · 2.9–2.14
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.9 | The structure of mononucleotides, DNA and RNA | |||
| 2.10 | DNA replication and the role of DNA polymerase; The Meselson–Stahl experiment | |||
| 2.11 | The genetic code and the gene | |||
| 2.12 | The genetic code and the gene | |||
| 2.13 | Transcription; Translation, tRNA and ribosomes | |||
| 2.14 | Gene mutations |
Inheritance, cystic fibrosis and genetic screening · 2.15–2.18
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.15 | Genetic terms; Monohybrid inheritance and pedigree diagrams; Sex linkage and red-green colour blindness | |||
| 2.16 | Cystic fibrosis | |||
| 2.17 | Genetic screening: carriers, PGD and prenatal testing | |||
| 2.18 | Ethical and social issues of genetic screening |
3Cell Structure, Reproduction and Development
Cells, tissues and organelles · 3.1–3.6
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Features common to all living cells | |||
| 3.2 | Tissues, organs and organ systems | |||
| 3.3 | Ultrastructure of eukaryotic cells | |||
| 3.4 | Protein transport and extracellular enzymes | |||
| 3.5 | Ultrastructure of prokaryotic cells | |||
| 3.6 | Recognising organelles in electron micrographs |
Microscopy and measuring cells · 3.7, 3.8
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7 | Magnification and resolution; Staining specimens | |||
| 3.8 | Core Practical 5: observing, drawing and measuring cells |
Chromosomes, meiosis and gametes · 3.9–3.13
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9 | Gene loci and linkage | |||
| 3.10 | Meiosis and genetic variation | |||
| 3.11 | Specialised mammalian gametes | |||
| 3.12 | Fertilisation in mammals | |||
| 3.13 | Fertilisation in flowering plants |
Mitosis and the cell cycle · 3.14–3.16
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.14 | The cell cycle and mitosis | |||
| 3.15 | Core Practical 6: root tip squash | |||
| 3.16 | Calculating the mitotic index |
Stem cells, gene expression and phenotype · 3.17–3.21
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.17 | Stem cells and potency; Using stem cells in medical therapies | |||
| 3.18 | Differential gene expression and specialisation | |||
| 3.19 | One gene, more than one protein | |||
| 3.20 | Genotype, environment and epigenetics | |||
| 3.21 | Multiple alleles, polygenic inheritance and variation |
4Plant Structure and Function, Biodiversity and Conservation
Plant cells and cell walls · 4.1–4.4
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | Plant cell ultrastructure and its functions | |||
| 4.2 | Plant cell ultrastructure and its functions | |||
| 4.3 | Starch and cellulose | |||
| 4.4 | Cell wall structure, secondary thickening and plant fibres |
Plant tissues, fibres and mineral nutrition · 4.5–4.9
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | Sclerenchyma fibres, xylem vessels and phloem | |||
| 4.6 | Core practical 7: plant tissues under the light microscope | |||
| 4.7 | Plant fibres, starch and sustainability | |||
| 4.8 | Water and inorganic ions in plants | |||
| 4.9 | Core practical 8: tensile strength of plant fibres |
Bacterial growth, plant medicines and drug testing · 4.10–4.13
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.10 | Conditions required for bacterial growth | |||
| 4.11 | Antimicrobial and therapeutic substances from plants | |||
| 4.12 | Core practical 9: antimicrobial properties of plants and aseptic technique | |||
| 4.13 | The development of drug testing |
Classification and biodiversity · 4.14–4.18
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.14 | Classification and the three-domain system | |||
| 4.15 | Biodiversity, endemism and human threats | |||
| 4.16 | Biodiversity, endemism and human threats | |||
| 4.17 | Measuring biodiversity: species richness and heterozygosity index | |||
| 4.18 | Comparing habitats: index of diversity (D) |
Niche, allele frequency and conservation · 4.19–4.21
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.19 | Niche and adaptations to the environment | |||
| 4.20(i) | The Hardy-Weinberg equation, mutation and natural selection | |||
| 4.20(ii) | The Hardy-Weinberg equation, mutation and natural selection | |||
| 4.20(iii) | Reproductive isolation and the formation of new species | |||
| 4.21 | Evaluating zoos and seed banks in conservation |
Your ratings are kept on this device. to keep them on every device, or print the checklist. Look up any word you are unsure of in the glossary, and when a topic is green, try it on past papers.