How to Answer IGCSE Physics Paper 2 Multiple Choice

Use this guide to improve your score on IGCSE Physics Paper 2 (Multiple Choice).

Paper 2 structure

• 40 questions, each worth 1 mark.
• 45 minutes for Core candidates, 45 minutes for Extended candidates.
• Four options (A, B, C, D) per question.
• No negative marking.
• Covers the full syllabus.

The elimination method

For every question, before choosing your answer:

1. Read all four options.
2. Cross out any option you know is wrong.
3. If two options remain, look for the specific physics detail that separates them.
4. Choose the best remaining option.

Elimination is especially powerful on questions where one or two options contain obvious errors.

Time management

• First pass (25 minutes): work through all 40 questions. Answer every question you can do quickly. Mark any question you are unsure about with a small pencil mark.
• Second pass (15 minutes): return to marked questions. Use elimination and careful re-reading.
• Final check (5 minutes): scan your answer sheet for blanks. Make sure you have answered all 40 questions.

Common traps

The “always” or “never” trap

Options that say “always” or “never” are often wrong in physics. Very few physics statements are absolute.

The unit trap

The question gives data in grams, but the formula needs kilograms. One option shows the answer without the conversion; another shows the correct answer. Always check your units match the formula.

The direction trap

In questions about forces, velocity, or current, one option may have the correct magnitude but the wrong direction (e.g. the velocity is correct but the acceleration is in the wrong direction).

The graph trap

A question shows a graph and asks “which graph shows…”. Pay attention to the axes. Students often pick the right shape on the wrong axes.

Calculation questions on Paper 2

About 8 to 12 of the 40 questions require a calculation. These are usually 1-step or 2-step calculations. Write the working in the margin of your question paper even though only the answer goes on the answer sheet. This reduces errors and lets you check your work later.

What to do if you cannot decide

If elimination leaves you with two options and you genuinely cannot decide:

1. Re-read the question stem for any qualifier you missed (“at constant temperature”, “in a vacuum”, “assuming no friction”).
2. If the qualifier does not help, go with your first instinct. Research shows that changing your answer is more likely to introduce an error than to fix one.