Characteristics of Living Organisms
BiologyΒ· 1.1Β· 15 min read
1. The 7 Universal Characteristics of Living Thingsβ βββββ± 3 min
All living organisms share 7 mandatory, universal characteristics that separate them from non-living objects. The CIE IGCSE 0610 Core syllabus requires you to name, define, and apply all 7 characteristics across exam question formats.
Characteristics of Living Organisms
The 7 universal processes carried out independently by all living things to sustain life, as outlined by the MRS GREN mnemonic
A 7-mark Core exam question asks you to list all 7 characteristics of living organisms. Write your full answer.
- 1
Recall each characteristic using the MRS GREN mnemonic, and list them clearly:
- 2
- Movement
- 3
- Respiration
- 4
- Sensitivity
- 5
- Growth
- 6
- Reproduction
- 7
- Excretion
- 8
- Nutrition
2. Core Exam-Approved Definitionsβ β ββββ± 5 min
Mark schemes for definition questions only award marks for specific, CIE-approved wording. The list below is the exact phrasing you should use in all exam answers:
Movement: An action by an organism or part of an organism causing a change of position or place
Respiration: The chemical reaction in cells that breaks down nutrient molecules to release energy for metabolism
Sensitivity: The ability to detect or sense stimuli in the internal or external environment and make appropriate responses
Growth: A permanent increase in size and dry mass by an increase in cell number or cell size (or both)
Reproduction: The process that makes more of the same kind of organism
Excretion: The removal of waste products of metabolism, toxic materials, and substances in excess of requirements
Nutrition: The taking in of materials for energy, growth and repair
Match the following definitions to the correct characteristic: 1) Permanent increase in dry mass, 2) Removal of metabolic waste products, 3) Chemical reaction releasing energy from nutrients.
- 1
Link each definition to the matching term using your memorised Core definitions:
- 2
- Permanent increase in dry mass = Growth
- 3
- Removal of metabolic waste products = Excretion
- 4
- Chemical reaction releasing energy from nutrients = Respiration
Exam tip:
Always use the exact syllabus wording for definitions to avoid losing marks for vague phrasing.
3. Distinguishing Living vs Non-Living Itemsβ β β βββ± 4 min
Exam questions often ask you to identify if an object is living or non-living, and justify your answer using the 7 characteristics. You only need to reference 2-3 relevant characteristics for a valid justification.
A student finds a rock, a sunflower, and a wooden chair in their garden. State which of these items is living, and justify your answer with two relevant characteristics.
- 1
First, identify the only living item in the list: The sunflower is living.
- 2
Justify your answer with two valid, syllabus-aligned characteristics:
- 3
- Nutrition: Sunflowers carry out photosynthesis, taking in carbon dioxide, water and light to make nutrients for growth.
- 4
- Reproduction: Sunflowers produce seeds that grow into new sunflower plants of the same species.
- 5
Note: Rocks and wooden chairs do not carry out any of the 7 characteristics independently, so they are non-living.
4. Exam Response Best Practicesβ β ββββ± 3 min
Which of the following is a correct definition of growth? A) Temporary increase in size when water is absorbed, B) Permanent increase in size and dry mass, C) Ability to move parts of the organism, D) Production of new offspring
Reveal answer
B βA is incorrect because temporary water absorption is not permanent growth. C is movement, D is reproduction.
5. Common Pitfalls
Wrong move:
Listing only 6 characteristics when asked for all 7
Why:
Forgetting one MRS GREN term, leading to lost marks
Correct move:
Count off all 7 characteristics using the MRS GREN mnemonic before writing your answer to ensure none are missing
Wrong move:
Defining respiration as 'breathing'
Why:
Respiration is the cellular chemical reaction that releases energy, not the physical act of gas exchange (breathing)
Correct move:
Always refer to respiration as the chemical reaction in cells that breaks down nutrients to release energy
Wrong move:
Claiming non-living objects that move (e.g. cars) are living
Why:
Movement alone is not sufficient evidence of life; all 7 characteristics must be carried out independently
Correct move:
Justify living status with at least 2 characteristics other than movement if asked
Wrong move:
Defining excretion as 'removal of faeces'
Why:
Faeces are undigested food, not waste products of metabolism, so this is egestion, not excretion
Correct move:
Explicitly state excretion removes metabolic waste products (e.g. carbon dioxide, urea) to avoid confusion with egestion
Wrong move:
Classifying viruses as living organisms
Why:
Viruses do not carry out all 7 characteristics independently (they require host cells to reproduce)
Correct move:
State that viruses are non-living for the purposes of the CIE IGCSE 0610 syllabus
6. Quick Reference Cheatsheet
Mnemonic Letter | Characteristic | Core Exam Definition |
|---|---|---|
M | Movement | Change of position/place by organism or part of organism |
R | Respiration | Chemical reaction in cells breaking down nutrients to release energy |
S | Sensitivity | Detect stimuli and make appropriate responses |
G | Growth | Permanent increase in size and dry mass |
R | Reproduction | Produce more of the same kind of organism |
E | Excretion | Remove metabolic waste, toxic and excess substances |
N | Nutrition | Take in materials for energy, growth and repair |
7. Frequently Asked
Do I have to use the MRS GREN mnemonic in my exam answers?
No, the mnemonic is only a learning tool to help you recall all 7 characteristics correctly. You can list the characteristics in any order to score full marks.
Are viruses classified as living organisms for this syllabus?
No, viruses do not carry out all 7 characteristics independently (they rely on host cells for reproduction, for example) so they are classified as non-living in CIE IGCSE Biology 0610.
Going deeper
What's Next
Now that you have mastered the 7 characteristics of living organisms, you are ready to move on to the classification of living organisms, which builds on these characteristics to group organisms into standard taxonomic categories. This foundational knowledge is also critical for all subsequent topics in the CIE IGCSE Biology 0610 syllabus, including cell structure, organisation of organisms, and plant and animal physiology. Practise applying the characteristics to a wide range of living and non-living examples to prepare for both short answer and practical exam questions.