This page shows how marks are distributed across the six IGCSE Physics topics and how to use this information for revision planning.
Approximate topic weightings
Based on the Cambridge syllabus and analysis of past papers, the approximate mark distribution is:
| Topic | Name | Approx. % of marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motion, Forces and Energy | 25 to 30% |
| 2 | Thermal Physics | 10 to 15% |
| 3 | Waves | 15 to 20% |
| 4 | Electricity and Magnetism | 25 to 30% |
| 5 | Nuclear Physics | 5 to 10% |
| 6 | Space Physics | 5 to 8% |
These percentages apply to the Extended papers (Paper 2 and Paper 4). Core papers have similar distributions.
What this means for revision
High-value topics: 1 and 4
These two topics together account for more than half the marks. If you are short on revision time, prioritise these.
Within Topic 1, the highest-mark areas are:
- Speed, velocity and acceleration calculations
- Forces, resultant forces and Newton’s laws
- Energy stores, transfers and conservation
- Moments and equilibrium
- Pressure calculations
Within Topic 4, the highest-mark areas are:
- Ohm’s Law and V = IR calculations
- Series and parallel circuit calculations
- Power and energy in electrical circuits
- Electromagnetic induction and transformers
- Circuit diagrams and component characteristics
Medium-value topics: 2 and 3
These topics carry a moderate number of marks and are often where students can pick up marks quickly because the concepts are more visual and less calculation-heavy (for Topic 3) or involve well-defined experiments (for Topic 2).
Lower-value topics: 5 and 6
These are the shortest topics with the fewest marks. They should not be neglected, but spending the same amount of time on Topic 6 as on Topic 1 would be inefficient.
Strategic revision allocation
If you have 8 weeks of revision:
| Topic | Weeks allocated | Sessions per week |
|---|---|---|
| Topic 1 | 2 weeks | 3 to 4 sessions |
| Topic 4 | 2 weeks | 3 to 4 sessions |
| Topic 3 | 1.5 weeks | 2 to 3 sessions |
| Topic 2 | 1 week | 2 to 3 sessions |
| Topic 5 | 0.5 weeks | 2 sessions |
| Topic 6 | 0.5 weeks | 1 to 2 sessions |
| Past papers | 0.5 weeks | 2 to 3 full papers |
If you have 4 weeks of revision:
Focus on Topics 1 and 4 (3 weeks combined), with 1 week for quick review of Topics 2, 3, 5 and 6 plus past papers.
Beyond the numbers
Topic weightings tell you where the marks are, but your personal weaknesses matter more. If you are strong in Topic 1 but weak in Topic 3, spending extra time on Topic 3 may earn you more marks than polishing Topic 1 further. Use weightings as a starting point, then adjust based on your own topic audit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which topic carries the most marks?
Should I revise all topics equally?
Are the weightings the same every year?
Next useful steps
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