Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625/62 is the May/June 2026 Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical), variant 2. It lasts 1 hour, is worth 40 marks and is sat by Core and Extended candidates whose school enters them for Paper 6 instead of the practical test. It had four compulsory questions: three experiments worth 11 marks each, where you read the results from diagrams, and a 7-mark plan. This guide goes through the paper question by question and shows what the official mark scheme gave marks for, including the expected readings. The paper and its mark scheme are free on the Tutopiya Learning Portal.

For an overview of all six 0625 papers from this series, see IGCSE Physics 0625 May/June 2026 past papers: what came up and how it was marked.

Paper 6 and Paper 5 share their contexts. The same four investigations appear on 0625/52 (Practical Test), where candidates took the readings themselves. Doing both papers gives you two runs at the same skills.

0625/62 at a glance

Question	Topic	Marks	Main command word
1	Density of a wooden block: dimensions and mass, then displaced water; 10% comparison	11	Measure, calculate
2	White and black cards heated by a lamp: thermometer readings, rate, fair test	11	Record, calculate
3	Resistor X: voltmeter in the circuit, graph of 1/V against R, gradient, intercept, RX	11	Calculate, plot
4	Plan: time for a metal ball to fall between two lines in oil	7	Plan
	Total	40

Question-by-question walkthrough

Question 1: density of a wooden block (11 marks)

Method 1 used a full-size drawing of the block and a balance reading; method 2 floated the block in beaker X and topped up beaker Y to the same level from a measuring cylinder.

• Measuring the drawing (2 marks): one mark for three values, one for the correct ones: l = 5.2 cm, w = 2.5 cm, h = 2.4 cm. Only these exact values scored; “5.20” was rejected because it claims more precision than a ruler gives.
• Volume V_B (1 mark): 5.2 × 2.5 × 2.4 = 31.2 cm³, with ecf from your measurements.
• Mass to the nearest gram (1 mark): the balance showed 16.42 g, so the answer is 16 g. “16.0” was rejected.
• Density ρ₁ = M ÷ V_B (1 mark): the scheme gave 0.52 g/cm³ and accepted anything rounding to 0.51, 0.52 or 0.53, with ecf.
• Initial volume V₁ (1 mark): 72 cm³ (72.0 also fine), correct answer only.
• V₂ and displaced volume (1 mark): V₂ = 57 cm³, so V = 72 − 57 = 15 cm³.
• Second density ρ₂ = kV ÷ V_B (1 mark): 1.0 × 15 ÷ 31.2 = 0.48 g/cm³.
• Are the two densities equal within 10%? (2 marks): the expected statement was yes. One mark for a statement that matches your values, one for a calculation using both, showing the difference is within 10% of one value or the ratio is at least 0.9. A correct calculation with the wrong statement still earned the second mark.
• A technique for matching the water levels (1 mark): lower your head and view both surfaces at eye level. A pipette to add small amounts, a ruler and set square, a ruler measuring both water heights, and pouring slowly were all accepted. “Putting the beakers close together” and references to the meniscus were ignored.

Question 2: white and black cards (11 marks)

The white card was 1.0 cm from the lamp. Both cards started at known temperatures (20.0 °C for white, 20.5 °C for black) and the lamp was on for 4.0 minutes.

• Distance d₂ from the diagram (1 mark): 2.0 cm, correct answer only.
• Final thermometer readings (2 marks): W = 27.5 °C and B = 34 °C (34.0 also fine), one mark each, correct answers only.
• Temperature increases (1 mark): 7.5 °C for white and 13.5 °C for black.
• Rates (3 marks): 7.5 ÷ 4.0 = 1.875 and 13.5 ÷ 4.0 = 3.375, so 1.9 °C/min and 3.4 °C/min. One mark for both values (0.031 and 0.056 °C/s also accepted), one for both to 2 significant figures, and one for the unit °C/min or °C/s. “C°/min” was not accepted, and the time unit had to be “min” or “minute”, not “m” or “mins”.
• Conclusion (2 marks): the black card’s temperature rose faster, or black is a better absorber, with your values or rates quoted for the second mark. A reference to emission was ignored, because the question was about absorbing.
• Why the test was not fair (1 mark): the cards were different distances from the lamp. Different starting temperatures were ignored.
• Why the conclusion still holds (1 mark): the black card was further away and still warmed more.

Question 3: finding an unknown resistance (11 marks)

Resistor X was in series with resistor R, which was changed from 10 Ω to 33 Ω.

• Draw the voltmeter (1 mark): in parallel with X, using the standard symbol only, with no line through the circle. Small gaps were accepted.
• Voltmeter reading at R = 10 Ω (1 mark): 1.9 V, correct answer only; “1.90” was rejected.
• 1/V values (2 marks): 0.53, 0.63, 0.67, 0.77 and 1.0 V⁻¹, one mark for correct values and one for all to 2 significant figures.
• Graph (4 marks): axes labelled with quantity and unit (reversed axes lose only this mark), sensible linear scales filling at least half the grid (the scheme named 2 cm to 0.25 as acceptable and rejected awkward scales such as 3, 7 or 9), plots to half a small square, and a thin, continuous best-fit line.
• Gradient G (1 mark): show the triangle or points used and calculate Δy/Δx. The value was not checked and a negative sign was ignored.
• Intercept c (1 mark): read to half a small square; one significant figure accepted.
• R_X = c ÷ G to the nearest ohm (1 mark): an accuracy mark for 14 Ω to 18 Ω inclusive.

Question 4: planning the falling-ball experiment (7 marks)

The same plan as Paper 5: investigate how one variable affects the time for a metal ball to fall between two lines in a cylinder of oil, using a choice of balls and a ruler. The seven marking points:

1. Variable chosen, stated clearly: the ball’s mass, diameter, size, weight, volume, material or density, the release height, or the oil temperature. “Type of ball” and changes to the oil’s type, density or volume were ignored.
2. Apparatus: a stopwatch or timer, plus anything needed to measure your variable.
3. Method: release the ball and time it between the two lines, and repeat for new values of the variable.
4. Control variable, stated explicitly, such as release height when mass changes, or using the same ball when height changes. Oil volume, type or density and the distance between the lines were ignored.
5. Results table with columns for the variable and t, and correct units in the headings. Weight must be in N.
6. Conclusion: compare the readings to see whether and how t changes, or plot a line graph with named axes. A bar chart only counted when the ball’s material was the variable.
7. One extra point: a second control variable, at least five sets of readings, or repeating each timing and averaging.

Where the marks are on 0625/62

• Reading values from diagrams carried 9 of the 40 marks: the block’s dimensions, the balance, two measuring cylinders, a distance, two thermometers and a voltmeter. Most were “correct answer only”, so precision matters.
• Calculations carried 10 marks: volume and two densities, temperature increases and rates, 1/V values and R_X.
• Graph work carried 6 marks: plotting (4), gradient (1) and intercept (1).
• Conclusions and evaluation carried 7 marks, the circuit diagram 1 mark, and the plan 7 marks.

How to self-mark 0625/62 with the mark scheme

1. Check every reading against the scheme’s exact value. 5.2, 2.5 and 2.4 cm, 16 g, 72 and 57 cm³, 2.0 cm, 27.5 and 34 °C, 1.9 V. Extra trailing zeros, such as 16.0 g or 1.90 V, lost the mark.
2. Apply ecf. If a reading was wrong, re-check the later calculations using your own numbers before taking those marks away.
3. Mark significant figures and units as separate marks in Question 2(b)(ii) and Question 3(b).
4. Mark the graph point by point: labels with units, scale, plots within half a small square, and a thin best-fit line.
5. Tick the seven planning points only where you stated them clearly.
6. Log each lost mark as a reading error, a rounding or unit slip, a graph error or missing planning point, and practise that skill first.

Sit 0625/62 as a timed mock

The paper allows 60 minutes for 40 marks, about one and a half minutes per mark. A workable plan:

Block	Marks	Time
Question 1	11	15 minutes
Question 2	11	14 minutes
Question 3 (allow time for the graph)	11	17 minutes
Question 4	7	10 minutes
Check, especially units and significant figures	–	4 minutes

Draw the graph in pencil with a sharp point, and mark the points you use for the gradient on the line.

Other May/June 2026 0625 papers

• 0625 Paper 12 (Core Multiple Choice)
• 0625 Paper 22 (Extended Multiple Choice)
• 0625 Paper 32 (Core Theory)
• 0625 Paper 42 (Extended Theory)
• 0625 Paper 52 (Practical Test)

Practise and download

• Download 0625/62 and its mark scheme on the Learning Portal →
• All 0625 May/June 2026 papers: overview and marking patterns
• Try a free IGCSE Physics quiz

Need help with a 0625 topic? Book a free trial lesson with an IGCSE Physics tutor →

Frequently asked questions

What topics were on 0625 Paper 62 May/June 2026? +

Four questions: the density of a wooden block by two methods (11 marks), the temperature rise of a white and a black card near a lamp (11 marks), a graph of 1/V against R to find an unknown resistance (11 marks), and a plan for timing a metal ball falling through oil (7 marks).

How many marks is 0625/62 and how long is it? +

It is out of 40 marks and lasts 1 hour. Questions 1, 2 and 3 are worth 11 marks each and the planning question is worth 7.

What were the two densities in 0625/62 Question 1? +

The block measured 5.2 cm × 2.5 cm × 2.4 cm, so its volume was 31.2 cm³, and its mass was 16 g. The mark scheme gave the first density as 0.52 g/cm³ (accepting 0.51 to 0.53). The displaced water was 72 − 57 = 15 cm³, giving a second density of 0.48 g/cm³. The two values are within 10%, so they can be treated as equal.

What were the rates of temperature increase in 0625/62 Question 2? +

The white card rose by 7.5 °C and the black card by 13.5 °C in 4.0 minutes, giving 1.875 and 3.375 °C/min, which round to 1.9 °C/min and 3.4 °C/min to 2 significant figures.

What answer for the resistance of X did the 0625/62 mark scheme accept? +

Any value from 14 Ω to 18 Ω inclusive, given to the nearest ohm, calculated as the intercept divided by the gradient of your graph.

Where can I download 0625/62 May/June 2026 and its mark scheme? +

Both are free to download and print on the Tutopiya Learning Portal, on the Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 past papers page.

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