0610 · June 2024
Biology
There was a good understanding of the characteristics of arthropods, biological molecules, the structure of the breathing system in humans and characteristics of living organisms. There was some uncertainty about the concentration gradient needed for fast diffusion into cells, which food test is used to test for protein and the structure of an insect-pollinated flower.
Source: Cambridge International
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
No data available in official reports
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
Candidates should read the questions carefully, as they often contain specific information that must be used in the answer.
Command words such as ‘describe’, ‘explain’, ‘suggest’ and ‘compare’ require different responses from candidates.
If a description is required, including a reference to a graph or table, then it will be expected that data will be used in the description given.
Many candidates can do this effectively.
An explanation requires more than just a description and candidates should be encouraged to practise the difference between ‘explain’ and ‘describe’.
Correct spelling of certain words is expected e.g., uterus, ureter, and urethra.
Candidates should read all questions carefully.
They should ask themselves whether they have answered the actual question, as although the information they have given may be factually correct it may not answer the question.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
0610/11
Multiple Choice (Core)
0610/12
Multiple Choice (Core)
0610/13
Multiple Choice (Core)
0610/21
Multiple Choice (Extended)
0610/22
Multiple Choice (Extended)
0610/23
Multiple Choice (Extended)
0610/31
Theory (Core)
0610/32
Theory (Core)
0610/33
Theory (Core)
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
No data available in official reports
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
No data available in official reports
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
No data available in official reports
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
No data available in official reports
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Osmosis
Respiration
Enzymes
Biological molecules
Circulatory systems
Diffusion
Diseases and immunity
Excretion in humans
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
No data available in official reports
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Self-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
Candidates should read the questions carefully, as they often contain specific information that must be used in the answer.
- 2Message
Command words such as ‘describe’, ‘explain’, ‘suggest’ and ‘compare’ require different responses from candidates.
- 3Message
If a description is required, including a reference to a graph or table, then it will be expected that data will be used in the description given.
- 4Message
Many candidates can do this effectively.
- 5Message
An explanation requires more than just a description and candidates should be encouraged to practise the difference between ‘explain’ and ‘describe’.
- 6Message
Correct spelling of certain words is expected e.g., uterus, ureter, and urethra.
- 7Message
Candidates should read all questions carefully.
- 8Message
They should ask themselves whether they have answered the actual question, as although the information they have given may be factually correct it may not answer the question.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Biology
Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education 0610 Biology June 2024 Principal Examiner Report for Teachers © 2024 BIOLOGY Paper 0610/11 Multiple Choice (Core) Question Number Key Question Number Key Question Number Key Question Number Key 1 A 11 D 21 B 31 A
Candidates should read the questions carefully, as they often contain specific information that must be used in the answer.
Command words such as ‘describe’, ‘explain’, ‘suggest’ and ‘compare’ require different responses from candidates.
If a description is required, including a reference to a graph or table, then it will be expected that data will be used in the description given.
Examiner insights
General comments
- •There was a good understanding of the characteristics of arthropods, biological molecules, the structure of the breathing system in humans and characteristics of living organisms.
- •There was some uncertainty about the concentration gradient needed for fast diffusion into cells, which food test is used to test for protein and the structure of an insect-pollinated flower.
- •Candidates should be able to use descriptions of terms in the syllabus such as species, and excretion and recognise the word equations for respiration.
- •Candidates need to read the questions (for example Question 30 and Question 33) and interpret diagrams carefully (such as in Question 7 and Question 27).