Cambridge IGCSE™
Paper 1 Multiple Choice (Core)
July 2025
1 HOUR
You must answer on the multiple choice answer sheet.
You will need: Multiple choice answer sheet
Soft clean eraser
Soft pencil (type B or HB is recommended)
INSTRUCTIONS
 There are forty questions on this paper. Answer all questions.
 For each question there are four possible answers A, B, C and D. Choose the one you consider correct
and record your choice in soft pencil on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Follow the instructions on the multiple choice answer sheet.
 Write in soft pencil.
 Write your name, centre number and candidate number on the multiple choice answer sheet in the
spaces provided unless this has been done for you.
 Do not use correction fluid.
 Do not write on any bar codes.
 You may use a calculator.
INFORMATION
 The total mark for this paper is 40.
 Each correct answer will score one mark.
 Any rough working should be done on this question paper.
 The Periodic Table is printed in the question paper.
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1
2
3
4
What is correct for all living organisms?
A
They are sensitive to changes in their environment.
B
They excrete solid waste from their bodies.
C
They feed on other living organisms.
D
They grow larger by increasing their cell number.
Which row correctly describes the diffusion of molecules from P to Q?
P
Q
movement
A
higher concentration
lower concentration
down a concentration gradient
B
higher concentration
lower concentration
up a concentration gradient
C
lower concentration
higher concentration
down a concentration gradient
D
lower concentration
higher concentration
up a concentration gradient
Which chemical element is found in proteins, but not in carbohydrates or fats?
A
carbon
B
hydrogen
C
oxygen
D
nitrogen
The graph shows the activity of an enzyme at different temperatures.
rate of
reaction
0
20
40
60
80
temperature / C
What is the optimum temperature for this enzyme?
A
20 C
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B
40 C
C
60 C
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D
80 C
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5
The diagram shows a cross-section through a plant leaf.
P
Q
Which row identifies P and Q?
6
7
P
Q
A
cuticle
palisade mesophyll
B
cuticle
spongy mesophyll
C
epidermis
palisade mesophyll
D
epidermis
spongy mesophyll
Where does most absorption of digested food take place?
A
the large intestine
B
the liver
C
the small intestine
D
the stomach
Which component is needed for blood to clot?
A
hormones
B
platelets
C
red blood cells
D
white blood cells
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8.Which rows correctly match characteristics of living things with their descriptions?
characteristic
description
1
excretion
removing the waste products of metabolism
2
growth
making more living things of the same type
3
nutrition
taking in or producing food
4
respiration
releasing energy from food
A
1, 2 and 4
B
1, 3 and 4
C
9
Which statement about cells is correct?
1 and 3 only
D
2 and 4 only
a. Cell membranes are found only in animal cells.
b. Cell membranes are found only in plant cells.
c. Cell walls are found only in animal cells.
d. Cell walls are found only in plant cells.
10 Tests were carried out on a colourless liquid, with the following results.
test
colour obtained
Benedict’s
blue
biuret
purple
iodine
blue/black
What did the colourless liquid contain?
a.
protein only
b.
protein and reducing sugar only
c.
protein and starch only
d.
protein, reducing sugar and starch
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11 The graph shows the volume of air breathed in and out over a period of time.
volume of
air breathed
in and out
X
time
What happens after time X?
breathing rate
breathing volume
A
decreases
decreases
B
decreases
increases
C
increases
decreases
D
increases
increases
12 The word equation for aerobic respiration is shown.
oxygen + ......................  carbon dioxide + water
Which molecule is missing from the equation?
a. glucose
b. glycogen
c. starch
d. sucrose
13 By which process does oxygen pass from the alveoli to the blood capillaries in the lungs?
a.
diffusion
b.
evaporation
c.
secretion
d.
transpiration
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3
14.Which two arrows represent photosynthesis?
carbon dioxide
in the air
1
2
plant
3
4
oxygen
in the air
A
1 and 3
B
1 and 4
C
2 and 3
D
2 and 4
15.A person has a low red blood cell count and is constipated.
Which row shows the components that may be in short supply in this person’s diet?
low red blood
cell count
constipated
A
calcium
water
B
calcium
fats
C
iron
fibre
D
iron
protein
16.What is the sequence of blood vessels that a red blood cell passes through as it travels from the
vena cava to the kidney?
A
pulmonary artery  pulmonary vein  aorta  renal artery
B
pulmonary artery  pulmonary vein  aorta  renal vein
C
pulmonary vein  pulmonary artery  aorta  renal artery
D
pulmonary vein  pulmonary artery  aorta  renal vein
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17.In the diagram of the human breathing system, which structures are correctly labelled?
trachea
bronchiole
bronchus
alve oli
A alveoli and bronchiole
B alveoli and trachea
C bronchus and bronchiole
D bronchus and trachea
18.What are the effects of adrenaline?
breathing rate
pulse rate
pupil size
A
decrease
decrease
widens
B
decrease
increase
narrows
C
increase
decrease
narrows
D
increase
increase
widens
19.In a plant, what leads to offspring that are genetically identical to the parent?
A asexual reproduction
B insect pollination
C seed germination
D sexual reproduction
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2
1
What are the characteristics of living organisms?
20.
excretion
growth
movement
nutrition
reproduction
respiration
sensitivity
A
C
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
C
B
✓
C
C
✓
C
✓
✓
C
✓
✓
C
✓
✓
✓
✓
D
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
21. Which row is correct for osmosis?
requires a partially
permeable membrane
involves the
movement of water
A
no
no
B
no
yes
C
yes
no
D
yes
yes
23.Which name is given to proteins that function as biological catalysts?
A
enzymes
B
hormones
C
solvents
D
vitamins
24.Which substance found in plant cells is needed for photosynthesis?
A chlorophyll
B glucose
C haemoglobin
D starch
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14 The diagram shows representations of some substances.
25
N
H
N
O
O
O
H
H
O
O
C
O
H
Which row identifies the total number of atoms and the total number of molecules in this
diagram?
number of
atoms
number of
molecules
A
4
5
B
10
4
C
13
4
D
13
5
26.Which diagram represents a mixture of elements?
A
B
C
D
key
= atom of element X
= atom of element Y
27.Which row describes an exothermic reaction?
temperature of the
reaction mixture
direction of
energy transfer
A
decreases
from the surroundings
B
decreases
to the surroundings
C
increases
from the surroundings
D
increases
to the surroundings
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28.The graph shows the volume of hydrogen gas produced when dilute hydrochloric acid reacts
with zinc.
At which point is the rate of reaction greatest?
C
D
B
volume
A
time
29. What is the purpose of chemical digestion?
A
to absorb minerals including calcium and iron
B
to pass food out as faeces
C
to break down large nutrient molecules into smaller molecules
D
to secrete enzymes
30. Which statement about gas particles is not correct?
A
Increasing the temperature of a gas makes the gas particles move more slowly.
B
The gas particles are in constant random motion.
C
The pressure of a gas is caused by the collision of gas particles with the container.
D
Very small particles suspended in a gas are in constant random motion.
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3
4
The diagram shows a section through part of a leaf.
Which label is correct?
31.
A
upper epidermis
B
spongy mesophyll layer
C
chloroplast
D
stoma
32.The diagram shows a cross-section through a plant stem.
Which labelled part is the xylem?
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D
A
C
B
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7 The diagram shows a section through the heart.
33.
Which vessel is the pulmonary vein?
D
A
B
C
34. The diagram shows the human gas exchange system.
Which labelled part is the lung?
B
A
C
D
35. What is the word equation for aerobic respiration?
A
carbon dioxide + glucose  oxygen + water
B
carbon dioxide + water  glucose + oxygen
C
glucose + water  carbon dioxide + oxygen
D
glucose + oxygen  carbon dioxide + water
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10 What are features of sexual reproduction?
6
fusion
of nuclei
nature of offspring
A
no
genetically different
B
yes
genetically identical
C
no
genetically identical
D
yes
genetically different
Which diagram represents particles in a gaseous element?
A
B
C
D
28 The diagrams show the two forces acting on four objects P, Q, R and S.
P
Q
4N
12 N
12 N
4N
R
S
2N
8N
10 N
2N
Which two objects experience equal resultant forces acting in the same direction?
A
P and Q
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B
P and R
C
Q and R
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D
Q and S
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PMT
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29 A plastic rod is rubbed with a cloth and the rod becomes positively charged.
What happens during this process?
A
Negative charges move from the cloth to the rod.
B
Negative charges move from the rod to the cloth.
C
D
Positive charges move from the cloth to the rod.
Positive charges move from the rod to the cloth.
40. Two children X and Y pull on a rope in opposite directions.
The diagram shows the size of each force and its direction.
X
Y
500 N
450 N
What is the resultant force on the rope?
A
50 N towards X
B
50 N towards Y
C
950 N towards X
D
950 N towards Y
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