Methodology

This list is based on analysis of Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 past papers (2019–2024), examiner reports, mark schemes and syllabus weightings. Topics are ranked by frequency and mark allocation.

Top 10 most frequently tested topics

1. Electricity and circuits

Evidence: Examiner reports repeatedly note circuit analysis errors (series/parallel, Ohm’s law, total resistance). Appears in almost every paper.

Covers: current, voltage, resistance; Ohm’s law; series and parallel circuits; circuit calculations.

2. Forces and motion

Evidence: Resultant force, acceleration, Newton’s laws and graphs appear regularly. Examiner reports highlight constant motion and zero resultant force confusion.

Covers: force, mass, acceleration; Newton’s laws; speed-time and distance-time graphs; balanced forces.

3. Waves

Evidence: Wave properties, frequency, wavelength, reflection, refraction. Examiner reports note diffraction and wave motion errors.

Covers: wave properties; electromagnetic spectrum; reflection and refraction; sound.

4. Energy, work and power

Evidence: Energy transfers, efficiency, power calculations. Foundation for many questions.

Covers: kinetic and potential energy; work done; power; efficiency; energy conservation.

5. Density and pressure

Evidence: Density calculations, pressure in liquids and gases. Examiner reports note mass vs weight in pressure errors.

Covers: density = mass/volume; pressure = force/area; pressure in liquids; atmospheric pressure.

6. Thermal physics

Evidence: Heat transfer, specific heat capacity, latent heat. Examiner reports note radiation vs conduction confusion.

Covers: conduction, convection, radiation; specific heat capacity; latent heat; thermometers.

7. Magnetism and electromagnetism

Evidence: Motor effect, electromagnetic induction, magnetic fields. Examiner reports highlight motor effect and field direction errors.

Covers: magnetic fields; electromagnets; motor effect; electromagnetic induction.

8. Radioactivity

Evidence: Half-life, types of radiation, nuclear equations. Examiner reports note half-life and randomness errors.

Covers: alpha, beta, gamma; half-life; uses and dangers; nuclear equations.

9. Light and optics

Evidence: Reflection, refraction, lenses. Examiner reports note ray diagram errors.

Covers: reflection; refraction; lenses; ray diagrams; image formation.

10. Motion (kinematics)

Evidence: Equations of motion, graphs, acceleration. Examiner reports note constant acceleration and graph interpretation errors.

Covers: speed, velocity, acceleration; equations of motion; interpreting graphs.

Revision priority

Electricity, forces and motion and waves appear most often. Use common mistakes to avoid examiner-reported errors.

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Sources: Cambridge past papers 2019–2024, examiner reports, syllabus.