This exam tips covers Exam Tips: Cancer Questions within Cancer and Cell Division Control for GCSE Biology. Cancer development, cell cycle control mechanisms, tumor formation, risk factors, prevention methods, and treatment approaches It is section 17 of 18 in this topic. Treat this as a marking guide for what examiners are looking for, not just a fact list.
📝 Exam Tips: Cancer Questions
Question Types
- Explanation: Link cancer to normal cell division control — use process words ("leads to," "results in," "causes")
- Comparison: Benign vs malignant — focus on spreading ability. Use "whereas," "in contrast," "unlike"
- Treatment: Explain mechanisms at the cellular level, discuss selectivity and side effects
Command Words
- Explain: Give reasons why cancer develops or spreads
- Compare: Similarities AND differences between tumour types
- Evaluate: Assess effectiveness of different treatments — include limitations
Common Mistakes
- Not naming the specific gene types (oncogenes, tumour suppressors) when asked
- Saying "cancer cells spread" without explaining HOW (through blood/lymph to form secondary tumours)
- Forgetting to explain WHY chemotherapy causes side effects (it targets all rapidly dividing cells, not just cancer)
📋 Edexcel 1BI0 Specific Advice:
- Edexcel Paper 1 (1BI0/1) — Topic 2 — presents cancer questions using data or a patient scenario; always reference the stimulus as well as your own biology when the question says "use the information"
- For treatment side-effect questions, the key mark is linking the treatment mechanism to normal rapidly-dividing cells — specifically name examples (gut lining, hair follicles) for higher-mark answers
- Edexcel "Suggest" questions on genetic risk expect you to name the relevant gene types: inherited mutations in tumour suppressor genes mean the normal braking mechanism for cell division is absent from birth
- "Uncontrolled cell division" is the key mark-scheme phrase in Edexcel answers — use it explicitly rather than paraphrasing
Practice questions for Cancer and Cell Division Control
In a healthy cell, cell division is controlled by:
Explain the difference between benign and malignant tumors.
Quick recall flashcards
What is cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases involving uncontrolled cell division, where cells divide continuously without normal restrictions.
Name three environmental carcinogens.
Tobacco smoke, UV radiation from sunlight, and asbestos fibers. (Also accept: ionizing radiation, benzene, formaldehyde, etc.)