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CAIE IGCSE Biology 1.3 Features of Organisms

Practise classifying unfamiliar organisms from diagnostic evidence, covering the five kingdoms, vertebrate and arthropod groups, plant groups and viruses.

Syllabus
2026–2028
Course
Biology 0610

Exam points

  • identify kingdoms from cell structures, nutrition and organisation rather than one superficial feature
  • classify arthropods or vertebrates from body regions, limbs, antennae, covering and reproduction evidence
  • distinguish plant groups using roots, stems, leaves, veins, spores, flowers or seed structures visible in images

Covered syllabus points

1.3.1—Main features used to place animals1.3.2—Main features used to place organisms1.3.3—Classify organisms using the features1.3.4—Main features used to place all1.3.5—Main features used to place organisms1.3.6—Classify organisms using the features1.3.7—Features of viruses

1.3 Features of organisms question 1

[Maximum number: 4]

Question (a)

(a)

Dicotyledons and monocotyledons belong to the plant kingdom.

[ 4 ]

Question (i)

(i)

State two main features of plants.

[ 2 ]

Question (ii)

(ii)

State the names of two other kingdoms.

[ 2 ]

1.3 Features of organisms question 2

[Maximum number: 1]

Fig. 5.1 is a photograph of a koala.
Koalas are marsupial mammals that give birth to offspring that are incompletely developed.
The offspring develops further for several months inside the pouch of the mother.

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.1

State one feature visible in Fig. 5.1 that could be used to identify the koala as a mammal.

1.3 Features of organisms question 3

[Maximum number: 4]

Fig. 5.1 shows the different types of human teeth.

Fig. 5.1

Fig. 5.1

Omnivores are animals that eat both animals and plants. Scientists use the number and types of teeth to classify animals as carnivores, herbivores or omnivores.
Table 5.1 shows examples of different types of mammals and their teeth.

Table 5.1

Table 5.1

The skull of an unidentified mammal, X, is likely to be a carnivore. Discuss the evidence in Table 5.1 for and against classifying mammal X as a carnivore.

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