At a glance
- Cambridge codes
- 0625 (A* to G), 0972 (9 to 1)
- Edexcel code
- 4PH1 (9 to 1)
- Cambridge tiers
- Core (max C/5), Extended
- Edexcel formula sheet
- Provided, confirmed for the course's lifetime
- Syllabus
- Unchanged for 2026 to 2028
Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 / 0972: assessment
Core candidates take Papers 1, 3 and 5 or 6. Extended candidates take Papers 2, 4 and 5 or 6.
| Paper | Tier | Length | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Multiple Choice (40 questions) | Core | 45 minutes | 40 | 30% |
| Paper 2 Multiple Choice (40 questions) | Extended | 45 minutes | 40 | 30% |
| Paper 3 Theory | Core | 1 hour 15 minutes | 80 | 50% |
| Paper 4 Theory | Extended | 1 hour 15 minutes | 80 | 50% |
| Paper 5 Practical Test | Both | 1 hour 15 minutes | 40 | 20% |
| Paper 6 Alternative to Practical | Both | 1 hour | 40 | 20% |
Exams in June and November. Cambridge has also published a 2029 syllabus with no significant changes affecting teaching.
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics 4PH1: assessment
Both papers compulsory, no tiers, calculators allowed. Exams in May/June and November.
| Paper | Length | Marks | Weighting | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (4PH1/1P) | 2 hours | 110 | 61.1% | All content except the bold statements |
| Paper 2 (4PH1/2P) | 1 hour 15 minutes | 70 | 38.9% | All content, including the bold statements for Physics only |
Where IGCSE Physics marks are lost
Most lost marks in Physics are not about understanding. They come from process: a calculation with no equation written first, a rearrangement done in the head and done wrong, a missing or wrong unit, kilojoules left unconverted, or an answer given to far too many significant figures. A student who writes the equation, substitutes with units, then rearranges on paper picks up method marks even when the arithmetic slips.
Explain questions are the second gap. Why does a moving object slow down? Examiners want named forces, a comparison (friction is greater than the driving force), and the consequence (resultant force backwards, so it decelerates). Students write it slows because of friction and get one mark of three. Topics that cause the most trouble are electricity (series and parallel rules, potential dividers), electromagnetism (motor and generator effects, transformers), and momentum on Extended and Edexcel papers.
On the Cambridge Extended tier and Edexcel, students also need to recall equations. Cambridge does not provide a formula list, so learning them is part of revision. Edexcel provides a formula sheet, but students still need to know which equation fits the situation.
A five-step method for every Physics calculation
- Write down the quantities given, with units, and convert to SI units (km to m, g to kg, kJ to J, minutes to seconds).
- Write the equation in symbols.
- Rearrange it before substituting.
- Substitute numbers with units and calculate.
- Give the answer with a unit and a sensible number of significant figures, usually the same as the data.
How one-to-one Physics lessons work
A tutor who teaches your child's board works through problems on the shared whiteboard: drawing the circuit, the free body diagram or the ray diagram first, then the equation. The student talks through their reasoning, so the tutor hears exactly where the logic breaks. Homework is short sets of past-paper questions on the week's topic, marked against the official mark scheme in the next lesson.
Practical skills are covered with Alternative to Practical questions on reading instruments, plotting graphs, finding gradients and suggesting improvements. Strong maths helps a lot in Physics, so if algebra is the real barrier the tutor fixes it alongside. Starting in Year 10 builds the calculation habits early. From Year 11, timed past papers show which topics and question types still cost marks.
Common questions
Is IGCSE Physics mostly maths?
Calculations are a large share, but explanations, graphs and practical skills carry many marks too. Comfortable algebra makes Physics much easier, but the explain questions need just as much practice.
Are equations given in the exam?
Edexcel provides a formula sheet, which Pearson has confirmed for the lifetime of the course. Cambridge does not provide a list of equations, so students must learn them.
Which tier should my child take for Cambridge Physics?
Extended if they are aiming above a C (or 5). Core caps the grade. The school decides the entry, usually after Year 10 or mocks; a tutor can give an independent view from your child's work on Extended questions.
Is IGCSE Physics enough preparation for A Level Physics?
Extended or Edexcel Physics is the usual route into AS Level Physics. Strong maths matters too, and many students take Additional or Further Pure Maths alongside.
How much do Physics lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, one rate for every subject. Choose a weekly plan of 1 to 5 sixty-minute lessons, billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.