Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) is taken at Core level (grades C to G) or Extended level (grades A* to G), with either a practical test or a written alternative to it. This guide explains the topics, the papers, how to read the question wording, and a weekly routine for revision.
What the course covers
- Motion, forces and energy: speed, acceleration, Newton's laws, mass and weight, density, pressure, work, energy, power and energy resources.
- Thermal physics: the particle model, thermal expansion, specific heat capacity, melting, boiling and heat transfer.
- Waves: wave properties, light, reflection, refraction, lenses, the electromagnetic spectrum and sound.
- Electricity and magnetism: circuits, resistance, electrical safety, magnetic fields, electromagnetic induction and transformers.
- Nuclear physics: atomic structure, radioactive decay, half-life and the uses and dangers of radiation.
- Space physics: the Earth, the Solar System, stars and the Universe.
How you are assessed
| Route | Paper | Duration | Marks | Weighting | Content and rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core | Paper 1, multiple choice | 45 min | 40 | 30% | Core content only. |
| Core | Paper 3, theory | 1 h 15 min | 80 | 50% | Short and structured questions on Core content. |
| Extended | Paper 2, multiple choice | 45 min | 40 | 30% | Core and Extended content. |
| Extended | Paper 4, theory | 1 h 15 min | 80 | 50% | Short and structured questions on Core and Extended content. |
| Practical, either | Paper 5, practical test | 1 h 15 min | 40 | 20% | Experimental work carried out in a laboratory. |
| Practical, either | Paper 6, alternative to practical | 1 h | 40 | 20% | A written paper on experimental skills. |
Core students are graded from C to G. Extended students can reach A* down to G. Your teacher decides which level and which practical paper you sit.
What each paper asks of you
Multiple choice (Papers 1 and 2) reward steady work: about a minute per question. Work out the answer before reading the options, then match it. For calculations, estimate quickly to rule out options that are far off.
Theory (Papers 3 and 4) mix short recall with multi-step calculations and written explanations. Write the equation, substitute with units, and give the answer with a sensible number of significant figures. In written parts, make one distinct point per mark.
Practical (Paper 5 or 6) tests planning, measuring, recording results in tables, plotting graphs and drawing conclusions. Practise reading scales, choosing equipment, identifying sources of error and describing how to make a method more reliable. Even if you sit the written alternative, you need to picture the apparatus clearly.
Command words and how to answer them
| Command word | What it asks you to do |
|---|---|
| State | Give a brief answer without working or reasons. |
| Define | Give the precise meaning of a term in a clear sentence. |
| Calculate | Find a numerical answer, showing the working and including a unit. |
| Describe | Give the main features or the sequence of what happens. |
| Explain | Give reasons, using ideas from the course to link cause and effect. |
| Suggest | Use your knowledge in a new setting; accept that the situation may be unfamiliar. |
| Determine | Establish a value from data, a graph or a calculation. |
| Sketch | Draw a graph or diagram showing the correct shape and key features, not exact values. |
| Predict | Say what you expect to happen, based on a pattern or relationship. |
Calculators
A scientific calculator is allowed in all papers, including the practical ones. Check that it is in degree mode for angles, and learn how to enter standard form. Bring a spare battery or a second calculator if you can, and avoid using unfamiliar models on the day.
How to revise this course
- Early week: read one topic note, then close it and write out the equations, definitions and units you can recall.
- Midweek: use the flashcards on the same topic, repeating any you miss until they are secure.
- Later in the week: answer question bank questions, starting with multiple choice and moving on to structured ones. Correct every mistake in a different colour.
- Weekend: sit a timed test. Rotate between a multiple choice set, a theory paper and a practical-skills paper so each gets regular practice.
- Every two weeks: a mixed review of earlier topics, since the multiple choice papers cover the whole course.
Keep a short list of the equations, units and definitions you must know for your level, and check yourself against it every week. Extended students should also be comfortable with the extra calculations that Core students do not meet, such as more demanding work on pressure, thermal quantities and electromagnetic induction. Core students should aim for complete, accurate answers on the central ideas, rather than rushing to cover everything superficially.
After each test, sort your mistakes into groups: recall, calculation, graph or table reading, and wording. A pattern usually emerges quickly. If most lost marks come from unit slips, practise writing units on every line. If they come from vague explanations, rewrite two or three answers using the command word as a guide. In the last fortnight, concentrate on retrieval rather than rereading: closed-book questions, timed sections and a short daily review of your list.
For the practical route you take, spend a little time each week on experimental skills. Describe a standard experiment aloud, from the apparatus to the conclusion, and say how you would reduce the uncertainty. This kind of rehearsal is surprisingly effective for both the practical test and the written alternative.
Common errors
- Omitting units, or using different units for different quantities in one calculation.
- Reading graph scales carelessly, especially when the axes do not start at zero.
- Giving a vague answer such as "it is faster" when a comparison needs a quantity or a reason.
- Mixing up mass and weight, or heat and temperature.
- In practical work, writing "human error" instead of naming a specific cause such as reaction time or parallax.
Exam tip: when a calculation has several steps, label each result with its quantity and unit as you go. It keeps your thinking tidy and makes it easy to see where an error crept in.