Overview
Revising for Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) is most effective when you combine syllabus knowledge with smart exam technique. The key lies in using official past papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports to understand precisely what Cambridge is looking for. This guide will walk you through the exam structure and provide a proven strategy for turning practice into top grades.
Understanding the IGCSE Physics (0625) Exam Structure
For Cambridge syllabus 0625, your final grade is determined by your performance across several papers. All students sit a practical assessment, which is either Paper 5 (Practical Test), a hands-on lab exam, or Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical), a written paper testing the same skills using provided data. Alongside this, you will sit theory papers, with the specific papers and their difficulty determined by whether you are entered for the Core or Extended tier. This choice is crucial as it directly impacts the range of grades you can achieve.
Core vs. Extended: Making the Right Choice
For Cambridge syllabus 0625, the IGCSE Physics syllabus is divided into two tiers. The Core curriculum covers the fundamental principles of physics and is assessed with papers designed for students targeting grades C to G. The Extended curriculum includes all the Core content plus a significant amount of more challenging supplement material. Sitting the Extended papers gives you access to the full range of grades, from A* down to G. Your school will guide you on which tier is most appropriate for you based on your progress and target grade.
How Your IGCSE Physics Paper is Marked
Understanding how marks are awarded is vital for maximising your score. For calculation questions, marks are typically broken down into three parts: one for selecting the correct formula, one for the correct substitution of values into that formula, and a final mark for the correct numerical answer with its unit. It is essential to show all your working clearly. For descriptive questions, the mark scheme contains a list of specific, required physics points; simply writing a long paragraph is not enough if it doesn't contain the key scientific terminology and concepts the examiners are looking for.
The Ultimate Revision Loop: Using Past Papers Effectively
Passive revision like re-reading notes has limited value. The most efficient way to prepare is through an active revision loop. First, [browse our collection of Cambridge past papers](/past-papers) and select one. Attempt it under strict, timed exam conditions to simulate the real experience. Afterwards, use the official mark scheme to [mark your paper](/mark) honestly, giving yourself no benefit of the doubt. Finally, create a detailed error log, listing every topic where you dropped marks and why. This targeted approach allows you to focus your energy on shoring up your specific weaknesses, rather than re-studying topics you have already mastered. For a more detailed walkthrough, see our [complete guide to using IGCSE past papers](/blog/cambridge-igcse-past-papers-guide).
Don't Forget Examiner Reports
Past papers and mark schemes tell you *what* the right answers are, but examiner reports tell you *why* other students got things wrong. Published by Cambridge after every exam series, these free documents provide invaluable feedback from the people who mark the papers. They highlight common misconceptions, frequent errors, and the qualities of the very best answers. Reading the examiner report for a paper you’ve just completed is like having a private debrief with the principal examiner, revealing the common traps you need to avoid.
Frequently asked questions
This section covers Frequently asked questions — ranked by what Cambridge examiners return to most often in past papers.
How many past papers should I do?
Focus on quality over quantity. Methodically completing 5–8 recent papers using the 'practise-mark-review' loop is far more effective than skimming through 20. Start with papers from a few years ago and save the most recent two or three series for full mock exams in the final weeks before your real assessment.
What's the difference between Paper 5 (Practical) and Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical)?
Paper 5 is a hands-on practical exam where you are in a laboratory, setting up apparatus and taking measurements yourself. Paper 6 is a written exam designed to test the exact same experimental skills—graph plotting, data analysis, suggesting improvements—but based on results and diagrams provided to you on the page.
I'm aiming for an A*. Should I ignore the Core papers?
Absolutely not. The Extended syllabus is not separate from the Core; it builds directly on top of it. Many questions in the Extended theory paper (Paper 4) explicitly test Core concepts before moving on to more advanced supplement material. A rock-solid understanding of the fundamentals is the essential foundation for achieving a top grade.