Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Biology Practical Skills

Prepare practical methods and reasoning for the written practical-skills units.

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Last updated: 2026-07-23

Practical preparation for Pearson IAL Biology WBI11-WBI16, including Units 3 and 6 and the named core practicals.

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Official Biology practical units and activities

Pearson IAL Biology practical notes

Unit 3, Unit 6 and core-practical preparation.

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 1: Estimate reducing sugar and starch concentrations using colour standards
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 2: Investigate vitamin C content in food and drink
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 3: Investigate temperature and alcohol effects on membrane permeability
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 4: Investigate factors affecting initial enzyme reaction rate
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 5: Observe, draw and measure animal cells with a light microscope
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 6: Prepare and stain a root tip squash to observe mitosis
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 7: Observe and draw plant tissue sections and cells
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 8: Determine the tensile strength of plant fibres
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 9: Investigate antimicrobial properties of plants using aseptic technique
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 10: Investigate factors affecting photosynthesis in an aquatic plant
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 11: Study a habitat using quadrats, transects and abiotic measurements
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 12: Investigate temperature effects on organism development
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 13: Investigate microorganism growth in liquid culture
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 14: Investigate antibiotic effects on bacteria
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 15: Investigate yeast respiration using a redox indicator
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 16: Determine respiration rate and respiratory quotient with a respirometer
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 17: Investigate exercise effects using spirometer traces
Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 18: Investigate amylase production in germinating cereal grains
Pearson International A Level Biology Unit 3: Practical Skills I
Pearson International A Level Biology Unit 6: Practical Skills II

Syllabus Breakdown

IAS practical assessment

Unit 3: Practical Skills I
Core Practicals 1-9

IA2 practical assessment

Unit 6: Practical Skills II
Core Practicals 10-18

Year	Key Topics Covered
IAS practical assessment	Unit 3: Practical Skills I Core Practicals 1-9
IA2 practical assessment	Unit 6: Practical Skills II Core Practicals 10-18

Frequently Asked Questions

What belongs in this practical hub?
This hub owns Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level practical resources for Biology WBI11-WBI16, including apparatus, data handling, planning, and evaluation. Theory notes stay in the paired notes hub.
Where can I check the current syllabus boundary?
Use the official syllabus linked near the top of this page. The notes are organised for Biology WBI11-WBI16 and should be checked against the syllabus issue used for your examination.
Where do I go for theory revision?
Use the paired notes hub linked near the top of this page. Keeping the two routes separate makes it clearer whether you need subject knowledge or experimental skills.

Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Biology Practical Skills

Choose the right route

Official Biology practical units and activities

1) Unit 3: Practical Skills I

2) Unit 6: Practical Skills II

Syllabus Breakdown

IAS practical assessment

IA2 practical assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

3) Core Practical 1: Estimate reducing sugar and starch concentrations using colour standards

4) Core Practical 2: Investigate vitamin C content in food and drink

5) Core Practical 3: Investigate temperature and alcohol effects on membrane permeability

6) Core Practical 4: Investigate factors affecting initial enzyme reaction rate

7) Core Practical 5: Observe, draw and measure animal cells with a light microscope

8) Core Practical 6: Prepare and stain a root tip squash to observe mitosis

9) Core Practical 7: Observe and draw plant tissue sections and cells

10) Core Practical 8: Determine the tensile strength of plant fibres

11) Core Practical 9: Investigate antimicrobial properties of plants using aseptic technique

12) Core Practical 10: Investigate factors affecting photosynthesis in an aquatic plant

13) Core Practical 11: Study a habitat using quadrats, transects and abiotic measurements

14) Core Practical 12: Investigate temperature effects on organism development

15) Core Practical 13: Investigate microorganism growth in liquid culture

16) Core Practical 14: Investigate antibiotic effects on bacteria

17) Core Practical 15: Investigate yeast respiration using a redox indicator

18) Core Practical 16: Determine respiration rate and respiratory quotient with a respirometer

19) Core Practical 17: Investigate exercise effects using spirometer traces

20) Core Practical 18: Investigate amylase production in germinating cereal grains

Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Biology Practical Skills

Choose the right route

Official Biology practical units and activities

1) Unit 3: Practical Skills I

2) Unit 6: Practical Skills II

Pearson IAL Biology practical notes

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 1: Estimate reducing sugar and starch concentrations using colour standards

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 2: Investigate vitamin C content in food and drink

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 3: Investigate temperature and alcohol effects on membrane permeability

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 4: Investigate factors affecting initial enzyme reaction rate

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 5: Observe, draw and measure animal cells with a light microscope

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 6: Prepare and stain a root tip squash to observe mitosis

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 7: Observe and draw plant tissue sections and cells

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 8: Determine the tensile strength of plant fibres

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 9: Investigate antimicrobial properties of plants using aseptic technique

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 10: Investigate factors affecting photosynthesis in an aquatic plant

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 11: Study a habitat using quadrats, transects and abiotic measurements

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 12: Investigate temperature effects on organism development

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 13: Investigate microorganism growth in liquid culture

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 14: Investigate antibiotic effects on bacteria

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 15: Investigate yeast respiration using a redox indicator

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 16: Determine respiration rate and respiratory quotient with a respirometer

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 17: Investigate exercise effects using spirometer traces

Pearson International A Level Biology Core Practical 18: Investigate amylase production in germinating cereal grains

Pearson International A Level Biology Unit 3: Practical Skills I

Pearson International A Level Biology Unit 6: Practical Skills II

Syllabus Breakdown

IAS practical assessment

IA2 practical assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

3) Core Practical 1: Estimate reducing sugar and starch concentrations using colour standards

4) Core Practical 2: Investigate vitamin C content in food and drink

5) Core Practical 3: Investigate temperature and alcohol effects on membrane permeability

6) Core Practical 4: Investigate factors affecting initial enzyme reaction rate

7) Core Practical 5: Observe, draw and measure animal cells with a light microscope

8) Core Practical 6: Prepare and stain a root tip squash to observe mitosis

9) Core Practical 7: Observe and draw plant tissue sections and cells

10) Core Practical 8: Determine the tensile strength of plant fibres

11) Core Practical 9: Investigate antimicrobial properties of plants using aseptic technique

12) Core Practical 10: Investigate factors affecting photosynthesis in an aquatic plant

13) Core Practical 11: Study a habitat using quadrats, transects and abiotic measurements

14) Core Practical 12: Investigate temperature effects on organism development

15) Core Practical 13: Investigate microorganism growth in liquid culture

16) Core Practical 14: Investigate antibiotic effects on bacteria

17) Core Practical 15: Investigate yeast respiration using a redox indicator

18) Core Practical 16: Determine respiration rate and respiratory quotient with a respirometer

19) Core Practical 17: Investigate exercise effects using spirometer traces

20) Core Practical 18: Investigate amylase production in germinating cereal grains