IGCSE Past Papers Physics 

• There are two paper codes for IGCSE Physics:
  • First is 0625
  • Second code is 0972 (9-1)
• The Physics 0625 examination results are displayed as Alphabetical grades, while the 0972 (9-1) results are in the form of numerical grades.
• The core students are entered for:
  • Paper 1, Paper 3 and either Paper 5 or Paper 6.
  • They are eligible for a grade between 1 and 5 only.
• The extended (supplement) students are entered for:
  • Paper 2, Paper 4 and either Paper 5 or Paper 6.
  • They are eligible to obtain grades anywhere between 1 and 9.
• The core students of 0625 are eligible for grades C to G, while the extended (supplement) students are eligible for grades A* to G.

Variants refer to different versions of the same exam paper. For example, consider the following codes for IGCSE Physics Paper for May 2024:

• 0625_s24_qp_11.pdf (Paper 1, Variant 1)
• 0625_s24_qp_12.pdf (Paper 1, Variant 2)
• 0625_s24_qp_13.pdf (Paper 1, Variant 3)

Each variant is designed to accommodate students from different regions and time zones. The idea is to provide a completely different set of questions for students sitting exams in varied time zones.

The 0625 IGCSE Physics exam is conducted in three sessions:

• May/June
• October/November
• March

> Note: 0972 (9-2) IGCSE Physics Exams are available in the June and November series only. This syllabus is not available in all administrative zones.

You need to consult your school to determine which session you can be enrolled for.This is because, some schools allow students to chose between May and October or March Sessions. On the other hand , some schools force all students to appear for the time zone of their choice.

The resources you need to ace your exams are:

• IGCSE Physics Coursebooks
• IGCSE Physics Expert-Written Notes
• IGCSE Videos
• IGCSE Exam Tips
• IGCSE Topic Questions
• IGCSE Topic-wise Mock Exam Papers
• IGCSE Past Exam Papers
• IGCSE Mock Exam Papers

You need to consult your school to determine which session you can be enrolled for.This is because, some schools allow students to chose between May and October or March Sessions. On the other hand , some schools force all students to appear for the time zone of their choice.

• The IGCSE Physics Past Exam Papers are available from 2002 onwards.
• The March session of the IGCSE Physics exam was introduced in 2015 with only variant 2 papers available.
• For May and October sessions:
  • Past papers date back to before the year 2000, but most websites provide papers from 2002 onwards.
  • Since 2009, multiple variants (e.g., 11/12/13, 21/22/23) have been introduced.
• Effective preparation involves creating a study plan and gradually increasing the number of papers solved daily.
• It is important to solve enough past papers to get a maximum variety of questions for practice.
• We recommend solving papers for as many as 20 years to cover all key concepts.
• Solving a large number of past exam papers ensures exposure to thousands of smaller concepts that may not be assessed every year.

Ideally, coaching should be taken from an experienced teacher familiar with the IGCSE curriculum and exam format.

Inexperienced teachers may lack knowledge of the specific requirements of Cambridge exams, potentially impacting student performance. Parents should consider hiring a trained tutor to ensure effective preparation and time management.

Many will be offended, but we need to mention this here, as it directly impacts the future of an IGCSE Physics student. Cambridge teaches concepts, but its assessment includes both application-based and theory-based questions, following a standard marking format. Only highly-experienced teachers who have taught Physics in IGCSE schools and undergone Cambridge training programs truly understand how concepts need to be taught, how students should engage in critical thinking, analyze board exam questions, and answer them effectively.

It is a known fact that teachers who are new to Cambridge IGCSE Physics often struggle initially in understanding the syllabus and teaching system. They may need to solve past papers themselves and prepare extensively before facing a batch of curious IGCSE Physics learners. After years of hard work, they finally master the art of teaching IGCSE Physics.

Our advice is to avoid experimenting on your children. Instead, send them to trained professionals who can truly bring out the best in them. If you are a teacher new to IGCSE, take time to learn the subject, create coaching videos, and practice teaching to be well-prepared. Remember, it is unfair to practice teaching on students appearing for their board exams, as it may cost them their grades and hamper their future academic success.

• Cambridge assessments include both application and theory-based questions.
• Experienced teachers undergo Cambridge training and understand the marking format.
• New teachers often struggle with the syllabus and require time to master it.
• Practicing teaching on board exam students is unfair and can impact their grades.
• Parents should choose professional tutors with experience in IGCSE Physics.
• New teachers should invest time in learning, creating content, and preparing thoroughly.

Also, a person who is trained by Cambridge is in the teaching profession by choice and passion. Many people switch professions and take up Cambridge -Teaching as they feel they can make more money here. When people who are qualified doctors , engineers, would want to work as teachers, probably would do so, if they aren't skilled enough in their own profession and are not doing well career-wise. Think of the day when teachers switch to working as doctors and engineers!!!! because they have taught the related topics to their students!!!! So, when people switch careers, they should work hard to get themselves professionally trained and also develop the skills needed for the teaching profession.Else, you are playing with a child's future.

No subject on its own is tough. The way it is taught makes it appear easy or difficult.

A good teacher with great teaching strategies can simplify even the most challenging topics. Additionally, solving past paper questions and checking your answers with mark schemes can greatly enhance understanding. Choosing the right course book is also essential for success.

Performance inconsistency occurs because all topics are not of the same difficulty level.

In the early stages, topics like density, mass, and volume are easier to grasp, while later topics such as momentum, Hooke's law, and radioactivity are more challenging. As topics become tougher, scoring consistently high becomes difficult.

Don't worry about fluctuations; they are normal. The key to improvement is to develop conceptual clarity and solve as many past papers as possible, cross-checking with mark schemes. Creating personal notes and referring to teacher-prepared notes can also aid preparation. With proper planning, you can perform to your maximum potential in the final exams.

The key difference lies in the syllabus content and the grades students can achieve.

Core syllabus content covers fundamental concepts, while the extended syllabus includes more challenging topics and application-based questions.

Core students can achieve a maximum of a "C" grade, whereas extended students can achieve grades ranging from "A*" to "F".

Once you are taught a particular concept, you may start solving questions based on that concept.

For example, suppose you are studying the unit Motion, Forces, and Energy, and you have just finished learning the objective:

"Describe the use of rulers and measuring cylinders to find a length or a volume."

Once you have learned the concept, it is time to start solving IGCSE past papers for:

• Multiple Choice
• Extended or Core Theory
• Alternative to Practicals

You should solve as many past papers as possible for Physics. Each paper offers a variety of questions that:

• Build confidence
• Enhance critical and logical thinking
• Improve speed
• Equip you with correct scientific vocabulary

Look at the following past paper questions from 2002 to 2023 on the topic:

"Describe the use of rulers and measuring cylinders to find a length or a volume."

Absolutely Not! The fact is that when curriculum changes, only a few concepts get affected or objectives get re-arranged. Some new topic get added and some concepts get removed. But the complete syllabus never gets replaced. Hence our website carefully picks questions , that have been asked , even in 2002. The idea is to provide maximum practice questions, wherever possible. Hence, you may go through the following questions on Measuring Volume:

• 0625_s02_qp_1.pdf - Q1 Measuring Volume
• 0625_s06_qp_1.pdf - Q1 Measuring Volume
• 0625_s10_qp_11.pdf - Q1 Measuring Volume

Also, check the following questions on Measuring Length:

• 0625_s02_qp_1.pdf - Q2 Measuring Length
• 0625_s14_qp_12.pdf - Q1 Measuring Length

These have been taken from lowermost years. A detailed analysis of past year papers, proves that questions that get repeated during the board exams, are also taken from the year 2002 and beyond. Hence, whoever tells you , not to solve papers from the lowermost years, has probably not spent time analyzing the past exam papers and hence is ill-informed.

Syllabus Objective (2023 to 2028):

"Describe the use of rulers and measuring cylinders to find a length or a volume."

The above questions are still relevant, but some concepts have been deleted or modified. Ensure you always have the latest syllabus while preparing.

Examples of removed topics:

• Digital electronics
• Gas laws
• Measurement of temperature
• Thermal capacity

New topics added:

• Absolute scale of temperature
• Electromagnetic spectrum (communications)
• Use of the kilowatt-hour – space physics

Yes, why not? Haven't we practiced A for Apple , B for Ball, C for Cat?

You need to cram [learn-by-heart]for the following reasons:

• Cambridge Mark Schemes require a specific vocabulary usage
• You lose marks if you miss out on key words
• As grown-up students, memorization becomes easy as definitions are not more than a line
• You can quickly write the definition, when asked in the exam, without spending any time , thinking about it. Thus the time you save here, can be used in solving questions that require critical thinking
• Remember, what you have learnt-by-heart stays for ever. It will surely help you in your higher studies.

Solving pass papers does guarantee success. Students who have solved past exam papers have an edge over other:

• They exactly know the scientific vocabulary needed for every answer
• When students solve many past exam papers, sometimes, questions get repeated. Hence they gain confidence by answering them correctly . And confidence is an essential element for success
• Students develop critical thinking skills. They become good at analysis and problem-solving
• Students learn time-management skills. This ensures that they are able to complete solving all questions during their actual board exams.
• Students know to answer in the minimum words, correct scientific vocabulary and using the exact space provided to them for answering. Students who have not solved papers, or those who have practiced answering questions orally, end up writing unnecessary long paragraphs and then complain that the space provided was less. But remember, Cambridge is an Experienced Board. They know exactly and have allotted space thoughtfully.

However, unseen questions can still appear. So when we say that solving past papers guarantees success, all we mean is that it equips you with the critical thinking , analysis skills. How you use them to your advantage during your board exams is completely dependent on you.

No, Do not by-heart them from the past exam papers. This is because, sometimes Cambridge makes certain minor changes to the statements related to laws, definitions , when syllabus gets updated. If you learn them from the mark schemes, you might probably please your teacher and score well, if she is strictly referring to the old mark scheme. But you will lose marks during your actual board exams.

Definitions, laws, diagrams, and processes that test basic concepts should be answered by referring to the syllabus. The following example will explain why:

Prior to 2023: The IGCSE Physics syllabus only expected you to define speed without providing specific wording.

2023 onwards: The syllabus clearly states the objective as: Define speed as distance travelled per unit time

CAIE expects students to use specific vocabulary in exams, so relying solely on past papers may not be sufficient. Always check for syllabus updates before using past paper solutions. On our website, in all our subject notes, we have taken care of this!

Solving past papers offers several benefits:

• Helps understand how examiners frame questions around different concepts.
• Shows how different topics are interconnected.
• Teaches the correct vocabulary required for each concept.
• Identifies recurring concept-based questions.
• Improves time management skills.

This is because, when you study the very first IGCSE Physics topic, its all about density, mass, volume, making measurements, calculating time. And all this seems so easy and you are able to score well

Later , as time progressess, you are introduced to newer topics such as hooke's l;aw, Gas laws, Electricity, Radioactivity. These topics are more challenging and hence if your concepts are not clear and if you have not solved topic questions on past papers, then you are bound to under-perform and then :

During the Parent-Teacher Meeting, Your teacher might tell your parents: "Your child has potential and can perform better." and Yes you and your parents too know this, but the challenge is "how to make you perform better! "So:

• Spend time understanding concepts by referring to course books, videos, expert notes, exam tips
• Make your own notes
• Solve topic questions
• Appear for regular topic wise mocks
• Approach teachers where help is needed
• Understand that there will be times when you will under-perform and that fine, as long as your concepts are clear. Remember Cambridge is about critical thinking and analysis. The more you practice , the better

If concept clarity is an issue, it can be resolved with proper teaching and understanding of the syllabus. If application skills are lacking, solving topic-wise questions and revising regularly will help.

Solving past papers contributes to better preparation. Every year, some questions are repeated, sometimes from as far back as 10 years ago.

Cambridge continuously tests even the smallest of concepts. Questions never assessed before can appear on the exam.

While past papers are valuable, unseen questions can be challenging. The key is to trust your preparation and practice a variety of questions beyond past papers.

Hence solving past papers alone can help you pass your exams, but not help you ace your exams