The Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 exam consists of multiple papers. Understanding the structure of each paper helps you prepare effectively and allocate study time.
Paper 2: Multiple Choice (Core and Extended)
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Marks: 40
- Format: 40 multiple-choice questions with 4 answer options each
- Content: covers the entire syllabus
- Weighting: 30% of the total mark
Each question is worth 1 mark. There is no negative marking, so always give an answer even if you are unsure. Questions progress roughly in order of difficulty.
Paper 4: Theory (Extended)
- Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Marks: 80
- Format: structured questions requiring written answers, calculations and diagrams
- Content: covers the entire syllabus at Extended level
- Weighting: 50% of the total mark
This is the largest paper and carries the most weight. Questions range from short 1-mark recall to extended 6-mark explanations. Calculations require working to be shown.
Paper 6: Alternative to Practical
- Duration: 1 hour
- Marks: 40
- Format: questions based on experimental scenarios, requiring data analysis, graph plotting and evaluation
- Content: practical skills as described in the syllabus
- Weighting: 20% of the total mark
Paper 6 tests experimental skills without a laboratory. You may be asked to record data from diagrams, plot graphs, calculate gradients, identify errors and suggest improvements.
Which papers to sit
Extended candidates sit Papers 2, 4 and 6. Core candidates sit Papers 1, 3 and 5 (or 6). The Extended route gives access to grades A* to E, while Core gives access to grades C to G.
How to allocate revision time
Paper 4 carries 50% of the marks, so it deserves 50% of your revision time. Focus on structured question practice, calculation methods and extended writing.
Paper 2 is efficient to revise for: practice past MCQ papers and review topics where you consistently choose the wrong answer.
Paper 6 requires specific practical skills (graphing, error analysis, evaluation). Dedicate focused revision sessions to these skills using past Paper 6 questions.
Mark boundaries
Grade boundaries vary between sessions. As a rough guide, 70% of the total weighted mark typically corresponds to a grade A, and 55% to a grade B. Check the Cambridge website for the specific boundaries for your exam session.
Need Help Applying This?
A 0625 specialist can work through the student's current paper or question and help identify whether the main difficulty is content, mathematics, practical reasoning or exam technique.