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🇵🇰 Cambridge O Level · subject
Cambridge O Level Biology 5090 Syllabus
Every chapter and topic of Biology 5090 examined in Cambridge O Level — 11 chapters, 28 topics, plus 51 flashcards written against it.
Biology 5090 syllabus — full chapter and topic list
Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Biology 5090 in Cambridge O Level, not a summary of it.
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Cells and Movement
2 topics- Cell Structure and Organisation
- Movement into and out of Cells
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Biological Molecules and Enzymes
2 topics- Biological Molecules
- Enzymes
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Classification
2 topics- Classification and Diversity
- Keys and Major Groups
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Plant Nutrition and Transport
2 topics- Photosynthesis
- Transport in Flowering Plants
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Human Nutrition and Digestion
3 topics- Diet and Balanced Diet
- The Alimentary Canal and Digestion
- Absorption and Assimilation
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Transport and Gas Exchange in Humans
3 topics- Transport in Humans
- Gas Exchange
- Respiration
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Coordination, Excretion and Homeostasis
4 topics- Coordination and Response
- Excretion
- Homeostasis
- Tropic Responses in Plants
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Disease and Immunity
3 topics- Pathogens and Transmissible Disease
- Defence Against Disease and Immunity
- Drugs and Antibiotics
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Reproduction and Continuity of Life
3 topics- Reproduction in Plants
- Reproduction in Humans
- Cell Division
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Inheritance and Biotechnology
2 topics- Inheritance
- Biotechnology and Genetic Modification
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Organisms and Environment
2 topics- Ecosystems and Energy Flow
- Human Impact on the Environment
Biology 5090 flashcards for Cambridge O Level
19 of 51 cards from the Biology 5090 deck — real questions with worked answers.
Define the term 'diffusion'.
The net movement of molecules or ions from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration, down a concentration gradient, until evenly distributed. It is a passive process (no energy required).
Define 'osmosis'.
The net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential (dilute solution) to a region of lower water potential (concentrated solution), through a partially permeable membrane.
Define 'active transport'.
The movement of particles through a cell membrane from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration (against the concentration gradient), using energy from respiration (ATP) and carrier proteins.
List the four structures found in a plant cell but NOT in an animal cell.
Cellulose cell wall, large permanent (central) vacuole, chloroplasts, and a fixed regular shape (often). Animal cells lack cell wall, chloroplasts, and large permanent vacuoles.
State the function of the cell membrane.
It is partially (selectively) permeable and controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.
State the function of mitochondria.
They are the site of aerobic respiration, releasing energy (ATP) for the cell's activities.
State the function of ribosomes.
They are the site of protein synthesis (assembly of amino acids into proteins).
State the function of the nucleus.
It controls the cell's activities and contains the genetic material (DNA / chromosomes) which controls inheritance.
What is the function of the chloroplast and what pigment does it contain?
It is the site of photosynthesis. It contains the green pigment chlorophyll, which absorbs light energy.
What happens to an animal cell placed in (a) pure water and (b) a concentrated salt solution?
(a) In pure water it gains water by osmosis, swells and may burst (lysis/haemolysis). (b) In concentrated solution it loses water, shrinks and becomes crenated.
What is plasmolysis?
When a plant cell is placed in a concentrated solution, water leaves the cell by osmosis, the cytoplasm and membrane shrink and pull away from the cell wall. The cell becomes flaccid then plasmolysed.
What is turgor and why is it important to plants?
Turgor is the pressure of the cell contents pushing against the cell wall when a plant cell is full of water (turgid). It keeps non-woody plant parts firm and supported.
List the chemical elements present in carbohydrates, fats (lipids) and proteins.
Carbohydrates: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen. Fats/lipids: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen. Proteins: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen (and sometimes sulfur).
Name the basic units (building blocks) of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Carbohydrates: simple sugars (e.g. glucose). Proteins: amino acids. Fats: fatty acids and glycerol.
Describe the food test for starch and its positive result.
Add iodine solution. A positive result changes the orange-brown iodine to blue-black.
Describe the Benedict's test for reducing sugars and the positive result.
Add Benedict's solution and heat in a water bath. A positive result changes blue to green, then yellow, orange, and brick-red (depending on amount of sugar).
Describe the biuret test for proteins and the positive result.
Add biuret solution (sodium hydroxide then copper sulfate). A positive result changes blue to purple/violet (lilac).
Describe the ethanol (emulsion) test for fats and the positive result.
Add ethanol and shake, then add water. A positive result gives a cloudy white emulsion.
What is the role of water in living organisms?
It is a solvent for transport, a medium for chemical reactions, used in digestion (hydrolysis), helps temperature regulation, and provides support (turgor). It makes up a large proportion of cells/organisms.
Planning Biology 5090 for Cambridge O Level
Biology 5090 is about 17% of the Cambridge O Level syllabus by topic count — 28 of 163 topics, spread over 11 chapters. At roughly 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic, a first pass runs to about 20 hours.
The heaviest chapters are Coordination, Excretion and Homeostasis (4 topics), Human Nutrition and Digestion (3 topics), Transport and Gas Exchange in Humans (3 topics) . Front-load those while your energy is high; the short chapters are better revision filler later.
Work top-down: read the chapter, then tick topics off individually rather than marking the whole chapter done. Sub-topics are where silent gaps hide.
Biology 5090 (Cambridge O Level) FAQ
What is in the Cambridge O Level Biology 5090 syllabus?
Biology 5090 is split into 11 chapters — Cells and Movement, Biological Molecules and Enzymes, Classification, Plant Nutrition and Transport, Human Nutrition and Digestion and Transport and Gas Exchange in Humans, and 5 more, containing 28 topics and 0 sub-topics in total.
How is Biology 5090 structured in the Cambridge O Level syllabus?
11 chapters. Biology 5090 accounts for about 17% of the topics in the whole Cambridge O Level syllabus (28 of 163).
How long should I spend on Biology 5090 for Cambridge O Level?
Budget around 20 hours for a first pass through Biology 5090 — about 45 minutes per topic plus 12 minutes per sub-topic across its 28 topics. Add revision cycles on top.
Are there flashcards for Cambridge O Level Biology 5090?
Yes — a 51-card Biology 5090 deck. Sample cards are printed on this page, and the full deck is free in the Examius app with spaced repetition scheduling.