📚 Year 10 Cambridge Science: 2026 Exam Changes and Trends | Year 10 剑桥科学：2026年考试变化与趋势
For Year 10 students taking Cambridge IGCSE Science subjects in 2026, understanding the recent syllabus updates and emerging trends is crucial for effective preparation. The 2023–2025 syllabus suite, which includes Biology 0610, Chemistry 0620, Physics 0625, and Co-ordinated Sciences 0654, brought significant content refreshes, a stronger focus on practical investigation, and more cross-topic thinking. As these syllabuses mature into their third examination year, certain patterns and emphases are becoming clearer for the 2026 cohort. This article unpacks the key changes, the evolving assessment style, and what students can do to excel.
对于将在2026年参加剑桥IGCSE科学考试的 Year 10 同学来说，摸清近年的考纲更新和命题趋势是高效备考的前提。包含生物0610、化学0620、物理0625以及协调科学0654在内的2023–2025考纲，带来了内容的全面迭代、对实验探究的明显倾斜，以及更多跨话题融合。随着这些考纲进入第三个考试年份，一些反复出现的重点和风格正在为2026届考生指明方向。本文将梳理关键变化、评估倾向的演变，以及如何针对性发力。
1. Overview of the 2023–2025 Syllabus Update | 2023–2025年考纲更新概览
In 2022, Cambridge Assessment International Education released revised syllabuses for its core IGCSE sciences, with first examinations in 2023. The update sought to align content with modern scientific research, sustainability goals, and the development of transferable practical skills. While the fundamental structure of core/extended tiers and the three-assessment-component format remains, many topics have been refreshed, and the style of questioning has evolved to reward understanding over recall.
剑桥国际考评部于2022年发布了核心IGCSE科学科目的修订版考纲，并在2023年首次考试中启用。此次更新旨在将教学内容与现代科学研究、可持续发展目标以及可迁移的实验技能衔接。虽然核心/拓展两个等级和三份试卷的基本结构保持不变，但大量知识点得到了更新，命题方式也更倾向于考察理解而非简单记忆。
2. Subjects in Focus: Biology, Chemistry, Physics | 聚焦学科：生物、化学、物理
Each science subject has undergone targeted changes designed to reflect the latest developments and to improve coherence. The following list summarises the most noticeable shifts in the three separate sciences:
每门科学学科都经历了针对性调整，以反映最新进展并提升连贯性。以下是三门独立科学中最值得关注的变化：
- Biology (0610): Greater emphasis on molecular genetics, genetic modification, and cloning; new content on plant diseases and defences; deeper treatment of the immune response and monoclonal antibodies. | 生物 (0610): 更侧重分子遗传学、转基因与克隆；新增植物病害与防御内容；更深入考查免疫反应及单克隆抗体。
- Chemistry (0620): Introduction of fuel cells and hydrogen as a fuel; expanded electrochemistry including electrolysis of aqueous solutions with inert electrodes; stronger focus on sustainable chemistry and recycling of materials. | 化学 (0620): 引入燃料电池和氢气燃料；拓展电化学内容，包括惰性电极电解水溶液；更加重视可持续化学与材料回收。
- Physics (0625): A brand-new topic on space physics covering the Solar System, stars and the Universe; increased use of graphs and data-analysis in mechanics; reorganisation of waves and the electromagnetic spectrum. | 物理 (0625): 全新增加空间物理专题，涵盖太阳系、恒星及宇宙；在力学中更多运用图表和数据分析；重新组织了波与电磁波谱的顺序。
3. Key Content Additions and Removals | 重要新增与删减内容
A side-by-side comparison helps candidates see exactly what has been streamlined. The table below highlights some representative examples across the three sciences.
放在一起比较，能让学生更直观地看到知识点的精简之处。下表列出了三门学科中一些有代表性的例子。
| Subject | Newly Added Topics | Removed or Reduced Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Stem cells in therapy, genetic modification, pathogen transmission details | Detailed structure of the nephron, industrial fermenters (reduced) |
| Chemistry | Fuel cells, electrolysis of dilute/aqueous solutions, life-cycle assessment of materials | Esters and esterification, extraction of iron in the blast furnace (simplified) |
| Physics | Space physics (red-shift, Big Bang), momentum in two dimensions (qualitative), analogue vs digital signals | Lenses and ray diagrams (now in supplement only for extended), detailed electric motor construction |
4. Increased Emphasis on Practical Skills | 对实践技能重视度的提升
Practical work is no longer just about following instructions. The revised syllabuses place a greater weight on designing investigations, identifying variables, processing data, and evaluating evidence. Even in the Alternative to Practical paper (Paper 6), candidates are frequently asked to suggest improvements to an experiment or to predict the shape of a graph based on described conditions. This trend encourages schools to incorporate more open-ended laboratory work.
实验板块不再只是按步骤操作。修订后的考纲更看重设计探究、识别变量、处理数据和评估证据的能力。即便在实验替代试卷（第六卷）中，考生也经常需要为实验提出改进建议，或根据描述的条件预判图像形状。这一趋势鼓励学校融入更多开放式的实验活动。
For 2026, it is expected that examiners will continue to challenge students with novel, unfamiliar contexts in practical-based questions, rewarding those who think like a scientist rather than those who have simply memorised common practicals.
预计到2026年，考官仍会用新颖、陌生的情境考查实验类题目，那些具备科学思维模式、而不只是背熟了常见实验的考生将更受青睐。
5. Changes in Assessment Objectives | 评估目标的变化
Although the weighting of Assessment Objectives (AOs) has remained largely stable – approximately 50% AO1 (Knowledge with understanding), 30% AO2 (Handling information and problem solving), and 20% AO3 (Experimental skills and investigations) – the way these are assessed has shifted. AO1 questions are now more contextual, often embedding factual recall within a real-world scenario. AO2 items increasingly require multi-step logic and interpretation of data from tables or graphs. AO3 is being examined more through 'plan an investigation' style questions that demand a clear sequence of practical steps, control of variables, and safety considerations.
虽然评估目标的权重基本保持稳定——约50% AO1（知识理解）、30% AO2（信息处理与问题解决）和20% AO3（实验技能与探究）——但其考察形式已经发生转变。AO1题目更情境化，常把事实考察植入真实场景中；AO2题项越来越需要多步推理，并解读表格或图表中的数据；AO3则更多以“设计一项探究”的方式出现，要求写出清晰的实验步骤、变量控制和安全考量。
6. Paper Structure and Timing Updates | 试卷结构与时长更新
The familiar paper pattern remains: candidates take a multiple-choice paper (Paper 1 or 2), a theory paper (Paper 3 or 4), and a practical assessment (Paper 5 for direct laboratory test or Paper 6 as an alternative). However, the number of questions and the balance of core vs extended material within each paper have been fine-tuned. For example, in the extended theory papers, there are now more structured questions with parts (a) to (e) that build in difficulty, allowing better differentiation. The practical Paper 5 has also been redesigned to include a planning question, which carries significant marks and cannot be answered well without genuine practical experience.
大家熟悉的试卷模式仍然保留：一份选择题（第一或二卷）、一份理论题（第三或四卷），以及一份实验评估（第五卷为实验室操作考试，第六卷为替代笔试）。但每个试卷中的题目数量以及核心与拓展内容的平衡都做了微调。例如，拓展理论卷中现在出现了更多从(a)到(e)层层递进的结构题，便于更好地区分考生水平。实验卷五也重新设计了，包含一道规划题，占分不低，如果没有真实的动手经验很难回答周全。
For 2026, students should be aware that Paper 5 and Paper 6 both demand interpretation of unfamiliar experimental setups, and the time pressure can be significant if graph plotting and detailed written explanations are required.
到2026年，同学们要注意，无论是第五卷还是第六卷，都要求解读不熟悉的实验装置，如果需要画图和详细的文字说明，时间压力会相当明显。
7. The Shift Towards Experimental Design Questions | 实验设计类题型的变化趋势
A defining feature of the new syllabuses is the 'investigation' strand. Students are now regularly asked to write a full method for investigating a given hypothesis, to identify independent, dependent and control variables, and to suggest how to make results more reliable. These questions often appear in Papers 4 and 6, not only in the dedicated practical paper, meaning that theory revision must now include experimental logic.
新考纲的一个标志性特色就是“探究”主线。学生现在经常被要求为一个假设写出完整的实验方法，清楚标出自变量、因变量和控制变量，并说明如何提高数据的可靠性。这类题目不仅在专门的实验卷中出现，在第四卷理论卷中也越来越常见，这意味着复习理论知识时必须融入实验逻辑。
An example could be: 'Investigate how the concentration of sodium thiosulfate solution affects the time taken for a cross to disappear.' Candidates are expected to describe the apparatus, the method of mixing, the stopwatch use, the observation, and the safety precautions – all in a logical sequence.
例如这样一个问题：“探究硫代硫酸钠溶液浓度如何影响‘十字’消失的时间。”考生需要逻辑清晰地描述仪器、混合方式、秒表使用、观察指标以及安全注意事项。
8. Cross-topic Integration and Enquiry-based Learning | 跨主题整合与探究式学习
Questions blending two or more topics are on the rise. In Biology, a question might link gas exchange and respiration with the circulatory system; in Chemistry, questions often connect rates of reaction, energy changes, and equilibria; in Physics, motion, forces and energy are frequently combined. This integration pushes students to build a holistic understanding of the subject rather than treating chapters in isolation.
融合两个或更多主题的题目呈上升趋势。生物中，一道题可能将气体交换、呼吸与循环系统联系在一起；化学中，反应速率、能量变化和平衡常被整合；物理中，运动、力和能量经常交叉出现。这种整合促使学生构建对学科的整体理解，而不是孤立地学习章节。
For Co-ordinated Sciences, this is even more pronounced. There are questions that draw on both biology and chemistry, such as analysing the role of enzymes in digestion alongside the chemical breakdown of nutrients, or linking the carbon cycle with the combustion of fossil fuels.
在协调科学中，这一点格外突出。有些题目会同时涉及生物和化学，比如在分析酶在消化中的作用时结合营养素的化学分解，或是将碳循环与化石燃料的燃烧联系起来考查。
9. Impact on Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) | 对协调科学（双证书）的影响
The Co-ordinated Sciences (0654) syllabus has been significantly streamlined in the 2023 update. The content is now more evenly distributed across Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and duplicate topics have been removed. However, the challenge lies in managing the breadth: students must be sufficiently competent in all three sciences to secure a double award grade. The 2026 exam is likely to continue testing the interconnectedness of scientific concepts, so a compartmentalised revision approach will not work.
协调科学（0654）在2023年更新中得到了显著精简。内容在生物、化学和物理之间的分布更均衡，重复的主题被剔除。但挑战在于广度管理：学生必须在三科都足够扎实，才能拿下双证书。预计2026年的考试会继续检验科学概念的互联性，孤立地分科复习将难以奏效。
The practical component for Co-ordinated Sciences also involves a combined practical test, where experiments might cut across disciplines – for instance, a biology-focused experiment that requires measuring temperature change, pulling in physics skills.
协调科学的实验部分也采用综合实验测试，实验可能横跨学科——例如，一个以生物为重点的实验需要测量温度变化，这就引入了物理技能。
10. Preparation Strategies for Year 10 Students | Year 10 学生的备考策略
Starting preparation in Year 10 gives a decisive advantage. Adopt these evidence-based strategies early:
从 Year 10 就开始备考会带来决定性优势。请尽早采纳以下经过验证的策略：
- Study the syllabus document for your subject(s) point by point – do not rely solely on textbooks. | 逐条研读你所考科目的考纲——不要只依赖教材。
- Build a practical logbook where you record the aim, method, variables, results and evaluation for every experiment you perform or learn about. | 建立一本实验日志，记录所做或所学过的每个实验的目的、方法、变量、结果与评价。
- Practise writing methods for standard investigations (e.g. investigating factors affecting photosynthesis, rate of reaction, or resistance). | 练习书写标准探究的方法（例如：探究影响光合作用、反应速率或电阻的因素）。
- After each topic test, analyse mistakes using the AOs: were you weak in recall, application, or analysis? Target your revision accordingly. | 每次专题测试后，对照评估目标分析错因：是识记薄弱、应用不足还是分析欠缺？据此调整复习方向。
- Interleave topics during revision: mix biology with chemistry, or forces with waves, to build the mental flexibility needed for integrated questions. | 复习时采用交叉练习：将生物与化学穿插，或把力学与波混合，以便培养应对整合题目的思维弹性。
11. The Role of Past Papers and Specimen Materials | 历年真题与样卷的作用
Past papers from 2023 onward are the most relevant resource for 2026 candidates. They reflect the current syllabus style and the phrasing examiners expect. In addition to timing practice, use past papers to identify recurring question types: 'Describe an experiment to show...', 'Explain why the data supports the hypothesis', 'Suggest two improvements to the investigation'. Mark schemes are invaluable for learning precise terminology and the level of detail required.
2023年起的真题是2026届考生最直接可用的复习资源。它们反映了现行考纲的风格和考官期望的表达方式。除了限时训练，还要利用真题归纳反复出现的题型：“描述一个显示…的实验”，“解释数据为何支持该假设”，“针对探究提出两条改进建议”。评分方案是学习准确术语和答案详略程度的宝藏。
Do not neglect the specimen papers released by Cambridge alongside the new syllabuses. They often contain examples of new-style practical questions and integrated cases that have not yet appeared repeatedly in live exams.
切勿忽略剑桥配合新考纲发布的样卷。里面常包含还未在正式考试中反复出现的新型实验题和综合案例，极具参考价值。
12. Looking Ahead: Future Trends in Science Assessment | 展望未来：科学评估的更多趋势
Beyond 2026, science assessment is likely to continue moving towards competency-based evaluation. Expect more use of authentic data and journalistic science articles within exam papers to test information literacy. Digital assessment pilots in some regions hint that on-screen examinations may eventually become an option, further integrating simulations and interactive experimental data. Environmental sustainability, climate science, and biotechnologies will remain prominent themes.
2026年之后，科学评估很可能会继续向能力导向型评价演进。可以预见，试卷中将更频繁地出现真实数据和科学媒体报道，用来检验信息素养。部分地区正在试点的数字化评估也预示着屏幕考试可能成为选项，届时将进一步整合模拟实验和交互式数据。环境可持续性、气候科学及生物技术将继续成为高频主题。
For current Year 10 students, staying curious, reading beyond the textbook, and sharpening investigative thinking are the best investments not only for the 2026 exams but for further science study.
对现在的 Year 10 同学来说，保持好奇、在教材之外广泛阅读、打磨探究思维，不仅是为了2026年考试，更是为后续科学学习所做的最好投资。
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