Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science specification checklist
All 128 spec points of 0653 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.
Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science (0653) specification checklist · clockitwithsci.com
The numbers are Cambridge's own spec references for 0653. Supplement: only for the Extended papers (2 and 4). Core students can skip it. Teachers: you are welcome to print this checklist and share it with your classes.
1Characteristics and classification of living organisms
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B1.1.1 | The seven characteristics of living organisms |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B10.1.5 | Viruses Supplement |
2Organisation of the organism
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2.1.1 | Plant and animal cells | |||
| B2.1.2 | Bacterial cells | |||
| B2.1.3 | Plant and animal cells; Bacterial cells | |||
| B2.1.4 | Plant and animal cells; Bacterial cells | |||
| B2.1.5 | Cells, tissues, organs and organ systems | |||
| B2.1.6 | Specialised cells Supplement |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B2.2.1 | Magnification and actual size | |||
| B2.2.2 | Magnification and actual size | |||
| B2.2.3 | Magnification and actual size |
3Movement into and out of cells
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B3.1.1 | Diffusion | |||
| B3.1.2 | Diffusion | |||
| B3.1.3 | Diffusion | |||
| B3.1.4 | Investigating the factors that affect diffusion Supplement |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B3.2.1 | Water and osmosis | |||
| B3.2.2 | Water and osmosis | |||
| B3.2.3 | Investigating osmosis | |||
| B3.2.4 | Water potential Supplement | |||
| B3.2.5 | Turgor, flaccid cells and plasmolysis Supplement |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B3.3.1 | Active transport Supplement | |||
| B3.3.2 | Active transport Supplement |
4Biological molecules
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B4.1.1 | Carbohydrates, fats and proteins | |||
| B4.1.2 | Carbohydrates, fats and proteins | |||
| B4.1.3 | Food tests |
5Enzymes
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B5.1.1 | Enzymes as biological catalysts | |||
| B5.1.2 | Investigating temperature and pH | |||
| B5.1.3 | How enzymes work Supplement | |||
| B5.1.4 | How enzymes work Supplement | |||
| B5.1.5 | Temperature, pH and enzyme activity Supplement | |||
| B5.1.6 | Temperature, pH and enzyme activity Supplement |
6Plant nutrition
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B6.1.1 | Photosynthesis and chlorophyll | |||
| B6.1.2 | Photosynthesis and chlorophyll | |||
| B6.1.3 | Photosynthesis and chlorophyll | |||
| B6.1.4 | Investigating the need for chlorophyll, light and carbon dioxide | |||
| B6.1.5 | Photosynthesis and chlorophyll | |||
| B6.1.6 | Photosynthesis and chlorophyll | |||
| B6.1.7 | Rate of photosynthesis and limiting factors; Investigating light, carbon dioxide and temperature Supplement | |||
| B6.1.8 | Gas exchange in light and dark: hydrogencarbonate indicator Supplement |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B6.2.1 | Leaf structure and adaptations |
7Human nutrition
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B7.1.1 | A balanced diet and the main nutrients | |||
| B7.1.2 | A balanced diet and the main nutrients |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B7.2.1 | Organs of the digestive system | |||
| B7.2.2 | Organs of the digestive system | |||
| B7.3.1 | Physical digestion and teeth | |||
| B7.3.3 | Physical digestion and teeth | |||
| B7.3.7 | The stomach, acid and bile |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B7.3.2 | Chemical digestion and digestive enzymes | |||
| B7.3.4 | Chemical digestion and digestive enzymes | |||
| B7.3.5 | Chemical digestion and digestive enzymes | |||
| B7.3.6 | Chemical digestion and digestive enzymes |
8Transport in plants
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B8.1.1 | Xylem and phloem | |||
| B8.1.2 | Xylem and phloem in roots, stems and leaves |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B8.2.1 | Root hair cells and the pathway of water | |||
| B8.2.2 | Root hair cells and the pathway of water | |||
| B8.2.3 | Root hair cells and the pathway of water |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B8.3.1 | Transpiration | |||
| B8.3.2 | Factors affecting the rate of transpiration Supplement |
9Transport in animals
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B9.1.1 | The circulatory system |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B9.2.1 | Structure of the heart | |||
| B9.2.2 | Structure of the heart | |||
| B9.2.3 | Monitoring the heart and the effect of exercise | |||
| B9.2.4 | Monitoring the heart and the effect of exercise | |||
| B9.2.5 | How the heart pumps blood Supplement | |||
| B9.2.6 | Monitoring the heart and the effect of exercise | |||
| B9.2.7 | Coronary heart disease Supplement | |||
| B9.2.8 | Coronary heart disease Supplement |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B9.3.1 | Arteries, veins and capillaries | |||
| B9.3.2 | Arteries, veins and capillaries |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B9.4.1 | Components of blood | |||
| B9.4.2 | Components of blood | |||
| B9.4.3 | Components of blood | |||
| B9.4.4 | White blood cells and blood clotting Supplement |
10Diseases and immunity
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B10.1.1 | Pathogens and how they are transmitted | |||
| B10.1.2 | Pathogens and how they are transmitted | |||
| B10.1.3 | Pathogens and how they are transmitted | |||
| B10.1.4 | Body defences | |||
| B10.1.6 | Controlling the spread of disease Supplement |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B10.1.7 | Antigens, antibodies and active immunity Supplement | |||
| B10.1.8 | Antigens, antibodies and active immunity Supplement |
11Gas exchange in humans
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B11.1.1 | The breathing system | |||
| B11.1.2 | Physical activity and breathing | |||
| B11.1.3 | Features of gas exchange surfaces Supplement |
12Respiration
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B12.1.1 | Respiration and the uses of energy | |||
| B12.1.2 | Aerobic respiration | |||
| B12.1.3 | Aerobic respiration | |||
| B12.1.4 | Aerobic respiration |
15Drugs
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B13.1.1 | Drugs and antibiotics | |||
| B13.1.2 | Drugs and antibiotics | |||
| B13.1.3 | Drugs and antibiotics | |||
| B13.1.4 | Drugs and antibiotics | |||
| B13.1.5 | Limiting antibiotic resistance Supplement |
16Reproduction
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B14.1.1 | Structure of an insect-pollinated flower | |||
| B14.1.2 | Structure of an insect-pollinated flower | |||
| B14.1.3 | Pollination and fertilisation | |||
| B14.1.4 | Pollination and fertilisation | |||
| B14.1.5 | Germination | |||
| B14.1.6 | Insect- and wind-pollinated flowers Supplement |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B14.2.1 | The male and female reproductive systems | |||
| B14.2.2 | The male and female reproductive systems | |||
| B14.2.3 | Gametes and fertilisation |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B14.2.4 | The menstrual cycle and pregnancy hormones |
19Organisms and their environment
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B15.1.1 | Energy flow | |||
| B15.1.2 | Energy flow | |||
| B15.2.1 | Food chains and food webs | |||
| B15.2.2 | Food chains and food webs | |||
| B15.2.3 | Food chains and food webs | |||
| B15.2.4 | Producers, consumers and decomposers | |||
| B15.2.5 | Producers, consumers and decomposers | |||
| B15.2.6 | Producers, consumers and decomposers | |||
| B15.2.7 | Producers, consumers and decomposers | |||
| B15.2.8 | Producers, consumers and decomposers | |||
| B15.2.9 | Producers, consumers and decomposers | |||
| B15.2.10 | Food chains and food webs |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B15.3.1 | The carbon cycle |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B16.1.1 | Populations, communities and ecosystems |
20Human influences on ecosystems
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B16.1.2 | Biodiversity and habitat destruction | |||
| B16.1.3 | Biodiversity and habitat destruction | |||
| B16.1.4 | Deforestation | |||
| B16.1.5 | Deforestation |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B16.2.1 | Endangered species and how to conserve them | |||
| B16.2.2 | Endangered species and how to conserve them |
22Experimental skills
Ticks are not saved, so print the checklist to keep track. Look up any word you are unsure of in the glossary, and when a topic is green, try it on past papers.