Cambridge IGCSE Food & Nutrition
Cambridge IGCSE Food & Nutrition studies the science of food, diet, and health. Covers nutrients, food choices, meal planning, and food preparation, linking scientific principles to practical skills and wellbeing.
Difficulty
Moderate
Popularity
44%
Past questions
3
Study tips
5
Key Topics
Exam Format & Dates
May/June & October/November, annually
~3 hours total across papers
Grades A*–G (or 9–1 in some regions)
C / Grade 4 = standard pass | A*/9 = highest
| Section | Duration | Content | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | ~1½ hours | Core theory & short answer | 50% |
| Paper 2 | ~1½ hours | Extended structured questions | 50% |
Exam Breakdown & Insights
Difficulty · Challenging
Popularity score
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Study Tips
- 1
Make concept maps connecting topics — modern exam questions frequently cross unit boundaries.
- 2
Draw and label diagrams for every major process — reproducing them from memory is a powerful test of understanding.
- 3
Focus on explaining why things happen, not just what happens — exam questions reward cause-and-effect reasoning.
- 4
Work through Cambridge past papers and mark schemes — examiner wording is consistent year to year.
- 5
Read examiner reports: they tell you exactly which mistakes cost students marks last session.
Past Exam Questions
Define Nutrients & Their Functions and state the key facts a student must know, using precise scientific terminology.
Explain the mechanism behind Digestion & Absorption: describe what happens and, crucially, why it happens. Include a labelled diagram where appropriate.
Design an experiment (or interpret given data) to investigate Diet & Health. Identify the variables, describe the method, and explain how you would analyse the results.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✕
Describing what happens instead of explaining why — extended questions grade the mechanism, not the observation.
- ✕
Using vague everyday language where precise scientific terminology is required.
- ✕
Ignoring units and significant figures in calculations.
Official Resources
Free, official study material for Cambridge IGCSE Food & Nutrition — always start with the source your exam board publishes.
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