Our IGCSE Biology online course: the 4BI1 spec explained
Above you can see what's in our lessons and what they cost. Here we go deeper: how the exams are marked, how to take them from home and how our course fits around family life. It's written for parents of 14 to 16 year olds and for young people deciding where to learn biology online.
At a glance
- What it is: Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Biology, code 4BI1, graded 9 to 1.
- Exams: Paper 1 is 2 hours for 110 marks. Paper 2 is 75 minutes for 70 marks.
- No tiers: everyone takes the same two papers, so every grade is open.
- No coursework: practical skills are tested in the exams, so there's no lab session to book.
- When: both papers run in June and November.
- With us: 265 short lessons in 24 areas, 4,419 flash cards and about 130 hours of work.
How Edexcel 4BI1 is examined
Both papers must be taken in the same series. Each one mixes multiple choice, short answers, calculations and longer answers. A calculator is allowed.
Paper 1: the core content
This one lasts 2 hours and is worth 61.1% of the grade. It covers the core points from all five themes, the same five you can see in the lesson list above.
Paper 2: the extra depth
The second exam is worth 38.9%. It can ask about anything in the spec, including the bold "B" points such as the kidneys, protein synthesis, the nitrogen cycle and cloning. Those are only in this IGCSE, not in the Double Award Science version.
What earns the marks
- Knowing it (38 to 42%): facts, terms and processes.
- Using it (38 to 42%): applying ideas to new examples, data and situations.
- Experimental skills (19 to 21%): planning investigations, spotting variables and judging the findings.
So a fifth of the grade comes from practical thinking. The spec lists 14 practical investigations, from food tests to yeast respiration. Pearson says the skills behind them are assessed in the exams. Source: the 4BI1 specification, Issue 3, pages 7, 8, 28 and 29.
Taking the exams from home
If you're home educating, your child takes the papers as a private candidate at an exam centre that takes outside entries. You book and pay the centre directly. We don't run centres, but we can point you in the right direction.
It's simpler than a GCSE. For AQA's GCSE the centre must let your child carry out 10 required practicals before the exams. That often costs extra and rules some centres out. Edexcel's version has no lab sessions to arrange, just two exam slots, which is why many home educating families pick it.
Dates and fees
For June 2027, Pearson's entry deadline for UK centres is 21 March 2027, though centres often close their own bookings weeks earlier. Pearson charges UK centres £69.05 per International GCSE for 2026 to 2027 (its UK fees list). Centres add their own charge for admin and invigilation, so ask for a written quote. Late entries cost double, then treble after the high late fee date.
The JCQ private candidates search lists centres near you. Our guide to booking exams as a private candidate walks through every step, from the first phone call to results day.
Edexcel, AQA or Human Biology?
All three are biology at the same level. Here's how they differ.
- Edexcel 4BI1 (this course): two papers, no required practicals, June or November. Plants, microorganisms, ecology and genetics sit alongside the human body.
- AQA GCSE Biology 8461: two exams of 1 hour 45 minutes each, Foundation or Higher tier, plus 10 required practicals your centre must supervise. Summer only.
- Edexcel IGCSE Human Biology: a separate subject focused mainly on the human body. We don't teach it, so check its papers with Pearson if you're weighing it up.
Pearson says its International GCSE is of an equivalent standard to its regulated GCSE and gives a solid base for AS and A level. It isn't regulated by Ofqual, so if a sixth form is in mind, check it accepts IGCSEs.
How our IGCSE Biology course works
We follow the 4BI1 spec point by point, split into 265 lessons of about 30 minutes each. There's a short video on our How it works page if you'd like to see it first.
Learn it, then play it
- Clear notes for every spec point, with a read-aloud feature so your child can listen too.
- Practical lessons on investigations such as enzymes and temperature, osmosis, transpiration and seed germination. They cover the method, the variables and the questions you'll meet.
- A personal timetable that sets weekly lessons from the finish date you pick.
- A quiz on every lesson, plus Lemonaire, a TV-style quiz show and Last Stand, a zombie defence game.
- Flash cards with Smart Review, which brings cards back at the right moment so facts stick.
10 games built for this spec
Each one teaches an idea that's hard to get from text alone. You can try them free: MRS GREN Life Scanner (life processes), Mito Rush (respiration), Superbug Lab (bacteria), Cell Forge (plant and animal cells), Label Busters (food tests), Slice Lab (diffusion), Bubble Rush (the photosynthesis practical), Gut Reaction (digestive enzymes), Gas Cam (respiration in different organisms) and Second Wind (the breathing practical). There's more on our free resources page.
A simple weekly plan
About 130 hours covers everything plus revision. To finish in 6 months, that's 4 or 5 lessons a week. Over 12 months it's 2 lessons, a game and a review each week. Over 18 to 24 months it's 1 or 2 lessons a week, leaving room for other subjects alongside, such as chemistry.
With June and November exams, a student starting in the autumn can aim for the following June or the November after. Leave the last 6 to 8 weeks for revision.
Revision with past papers
Pearson puts past papers, mark schemes and examiner reports for 4BI1 on its website for free. They're the best practice there is in the last few months.
- Finish the lessons and flash cards for one area.
- Do past paper questions on it, timed.
- Check them with the mark scheme and note every answer that lost marks.
- Go back to that lesson's notes, then try again a week later.
Examiner reports show where students slip up, such as missing units or vague answers on practicals.
Where it leads: A level and careers
A good grade opens the door to A level Biology, often alongside chemistry. Many sixth forms ask for a 6 or above in the sciences for A level, but rules vary, so check with each one. It's a key subject for careers in medicine, nursing, veterinary work, dentistry, pharmacy, farming, conservation and research.
IGCSE Biology online course FAQs
Is IGCSE Biology hard?
It takes steady work. There are lots of terms to learn, but no tiers and no lab bookings. Short daily lessons and flash cards make it very manageable for most students.
Can my child do an IGCSE Biology course online without a teacher?
Yes. Our lessons are written for self-study, with AI help when they're stuck. Many home educating parents use them alongside their own help, checking the parent reports.
Do we need a lab?
No. There's no coursework and no practical exam. Questions on practicals come up in the papers and our practical lessons teach what to expect.
Can my child take it in November?
Yes. Pearson runs both papers in June and November, so you can pick the series that fits your plan.
Is this the same as the Cambridge IGCSE?
No. Cambridge International's version is a different syllabus with different papers. Ours follows Pearson Edexcel 4BI1, so make sure your child is entered for 4BI1.
Does the fee include the exams?
No. You pay the exam centre separately. Our private candidates guide explains the costs.
