Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625): Syllabus Guide & Past Papers

Most students searching for Cambridge IGCSE Physics are trying to sort out one of three things: which papers they are actually sitting, where genuine past papers live, or which textbook edition matches their course. The confusion is fair. Cambridge sets the syllabus, two separate publishers produce endorsed textbooks with confusingly similar names, and grade boundaries shift every session.

This guide works through syllabus code 0625, the Core and Extended routes, the exam paper structure, the coursebook edition question, and where official past papers actually sit. At Ignite Training Institute, we tutor Cambridge IGCSE Physics students across Dubai against these same documents every term.

What Is Cambridge IGCSE Physics?

Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) is an internationally recognised physics qualification from Cambridge International Education. Students sit either the Core tier, graded C to G, or the Extended tier, graded A* to G, or on the 9 to 1 scale where a school selects that option. The current syllabus version is valid through the 2028 exam series.

Aspect	Detail
Awarding body	Cambridge International Education
Syllabus code	0625
Tiers	Core (grades C-G) or Extended (grades A*-G, or 9-1 by school choice)
Current version	Version 2, published December 2025
Valid for	2026, 2027 and 2028 exam series
Exam series	June and November (March in India only)

The qualification sits within the broader family explained in our guide to What Is Cambridge Curriculum In UAE? Everything To Know, and it shares its Core and Extended structure with most other Cambridge IGCSE sciences. Students cannot switch tiers partway through the course, since the entry decision locks in which papers a student sits.

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Cambridge IGCSE Physics Syllabus: The 6 Topics

The syllabus is organised into six content areas, and every bullet point within them is examinable. Extended students cover the Core material plus an additional Supplement layer of depth, so the six areas below apply to both tiers, just at different levels of demand.

1. Motion, Forces And Energy: Covers physical quantities and measurement, motion, mass and weight, density, forces, momentum, energy, work and power, and pressure. It is usually the largest single content area and underpins several later topics.

2. Thermal Physics: Covers the kinetic particle model of matter, thermal properties and temperature, and the transfer of thermal energy through conduction, convection and radiation.

3. Waves: Covers general wave properties, light, the electromagnetic spectrum, and sound, including reflection and refraction.

4. Electricity And Magnetism: Covers magnetism, electrical quantities, circuits, electrical safety, and electromagnetic effects such as the transformer, the motor, and electromagnetic induction.

5. Nuclear Physics: Covers the nuclear model of the atom and radioactivity, including detection methods and the three types of nuclear emission.

6. Space Physics: Covers the Earth and Solar System, plus stars and the universe. It was added to the syllabus in the 2023 revision and remains current through 2028.

Know More About: Why Choose Cambridge? Key Reasons & Benefits

Core Vs Extended: What’s The Difference?

The Core tier covers a smaller slice of each topic and is graded C to G. The Extended tier covers the Core content plus a Supplement of extra depth, and is graded A* to G, or numerically if a school enters students on the 9-1 scale.

A student cannot sit a mix of Core and Extended papers. Schools generally place students who are working securely in the middle of the ability range onto Extended, since only that tier can reach the higher grades, according to Cambridge’s own Cambridge Core And Extended Physics Guidance.

Know More About: IGCSE Grades Explained: Grading System, Pass Marks 2026

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Exam Structure (Papers 1-6)

Core and Extended students sit different paper combinations, and every student also completes a practical component. The format is set out below; exact mark weightings are published in the Cambridge IGCSE Physics Syllabus 0625 assessment overview and can be confirmed there directly.

Paper 1 & 3 Explained (Core)

Core candidates sit Paper 1, a multiple-choice paper, and Paper 3, a written theory paper. Both draw only on the Core content of the syllabus, without the Supplement material reserved for Extended. This route caps at grade C but suits students who need a full, achievable overview of the subject.

Paper 2 & 4 Explained (Extended)

Extended candidates sit Paper 2, a multiple-choice paper, and Paper 4, a written theory paper. Both draw on the full syllabus, Core content plus the Supplement, which pushes further into calculation-heavy and application-based questions. This is the route required to reach the top grades. If your school actually follows Edexcel rather than Cambridge, the paper structure is different again, as our guide to Edexcel IGCSE Physics: Specification, Syllabus, & Resources sets out.

Paper 5 Vs Paper 6: The Practical Choice

Every student, Core or Extended, also completes either Paper 5, a hands-on practical test, or Paper 6, an alternative to practical based on written analysis of experimental data. A school decides which option its students sit, not the individual student, so confirm which route your school runs.

Paper	Route	Format
Paper 1	Core	Multiple choice, written
Paper 3	Core	Structured theory, written
Paper 2	Extended	Multiple choice, written
Paper 4	Extended	Structured theory, written
Paper 5	Both (school choice)	Practical test
Paper 6	Both (school choice)	Alternative to practical, written

Several revision providers publish approximate weightings of around 30 percent for the multiple-choice paper, 50 percent for the theory paper, and 20 percent for the practical route. These figures are consistent across sources, but Cambridge is the only place to confirm the exact weighting for your specific entry, so check the current syllabus assessment overview before finalising a revision plan.

Know More About: Edexcel IGCSE Explained: Subjects, Grading & Exam Updates

3rd Vs 4th Edition Coursebook: What Actually Changed?

The 3rd edition and 4th edition searches usually assume one book was simply updated. That is not what happened. Cambridge University Press publishes Physics For Cambridge IGCSE by David Sang, Mike Follows and Sheila Tarpey, now in its 3rd edition, published in 2021. Hodder Education separately publishes Cambridge IGCSE Physics by Heather Kennett and Tom Duncan, now in its 4th edition, endorsed for examination from 2023.

Both are officially endorsed by Cambridge Assessment International Education for the current 0625 syllabus. Neither is more official than the other, and neither is a newer version of the same title. Which one a student uses usually comes down to which publisher their school selected, not which edition number sounds more recent.

Whichever textbook a student has, matching it to the syllabus version their school has entered them for matters more than the edition number itself.

Know More About: What Is The IGCSE Curriculum? A Complete Guide

How Do You Revise For Cambridge IGCSE Physics?

Physics rewards structured, calculation-heavy practice more than rereading notes. The points below are what tend to move grades on this specification specifically.

1. Work Through Each Topic As A Checklist: Tick off all six syllabus areas rather than revising favourites, since any bullet point in the specification can be examined.

2. Separate Core From Supplement: Extended students should secure the Core-level content first, then layer the Supplement depth on top once the basics are reliable.

3. Practise Past Papers By Topic, Then By Full Paper: Topic-by-topic questions expose specific weak spots; full timed papers then build exam stamina under pressure.

4. Drill The Calculations: A large share of marks is numerical, so rearranging equations quickly matters as much as understanding the physics itself. The same algebra shows up across maths support and physics calculation questions.

5. Mark Against The Official Scheme: Physics marks are awarded for specific steps and units, not just a final number, so self-marking loosely hides real gaps.

6. Time The Practical Route Carefully: Whether a student sits Paper 5 or Paper 6, technique under time pressure matters as much as the underlying method.

For a broader exam method, our guide on 10 Proven Strategies On How To Study For IGCSE Exams & Excel sets out a fuller plan across subjects.

Know More About: Physics Tutors In Dubai For IB, IGCSE, A-Level, & AP

Cambridge IGCSE Physics Past Papers & Other Resources

The resources below separate genuine Cambridge sources from third-party practice sites, since only Cambridge documents are authoritative for grade boundaries, specification wording, and official past papers.

1. Official Cambridge Resources: The syllabus document itself and the full list of endorsed materials are collected on Cambridge’s Cambridge IGCSE Physics Published Resources page, which is the most reliable place to see what is currently endorsed for 0625.

2. Official Past Papers And Grade Threshold Documents: Past papers and mark schemes are released by Cambridge after each series through the Cambridge School Support Hub, accessible to Cambridge schools and their registered students. Grade thresholds are published separately on Cambridge’s Grade Threshold Tables For IGCSE page. Boundaries are defined for every session, thus a threshold from a November series will not align with the following June.

Know More About: Cambridge IGCSE: A Clear Guide For Parents And Students

Ignite – Best Cambridge IGCSE Physics Tutors In Dubai

Cambridge IGCSE Physics is a calculation-heavy subject where the gap between a grade C and an A* is usually exam technique, not raw knowledge. 

At Ignite Training Institute, our Cambridge IGCSE Physics tutoring in Dubai is built around the current 0625 syllabus specifically: working through all six topics in order, separating Core from Supplement content, and drilling past-paper calculations against real mark schemes.

Whether your goal is improving grades, preparing for school exams, or aiming for an A, our structured tutoring helps students build confidence, master calculations, and perform consistently in the Cambridge IGCSE Physics exam.

FAQs

1. How Do You Pass Cambridge IGCSE Physics?

Systematically covering all six syllabus topics in sequence, practicing past examination papers in accordance with the official marking scheme, and verifying the tier and practical pathway your school has registered you for are the three most effective strategies for improving grades.

2. What Is The Cambridge IGCSE Physics Syllabus?

The syllabus code is 0625, and it covers six topic areas: motion, forces and energy; thermal physics; waves; electricity and magnetism; nuclear physics; and space physics. The current version is valid for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 exam series.

3. What Distinguishes Core From Extended?

Core is graded C to G and covers a smaller slice of each topic. Extended is graded A* to G, or 9 to 1 by school choice, and covers the Core content plus an additional Supplement. Students cannot mix papers between the two tiers.

4. Where Can You Find Cambridge IGCSE Physics Past Papers?

Official past papers, mark schemes and grade threshold documents sit on Cambridge’s School Support Hub for registered schools and students. Trusted third-party sites organise the same papers by topic for practice, but Cambridge remains the only official source.

5. Is The 3rd Or 4th Edition Coursebook Correct For Cambridge IGCSE Physics?

Both versions are accurate, as they represent distinct endorsed textbooks from separate publishers instead of being sequential editions of a single book. The 3rd edition is published by Cambridge University Press, while the 4th edition is from Hodder Education. Please verify which edition your school has designated.

6. How Many Papers Are In Cambridge IGCSE Physics?

Core students sit Paper 1 and Paper 3. Extended students sit Paper 2 and Paper 4. Every student, regardless of tier, also sits either Paper 5 or Paper 6 for the practical component.

Conclusion

Cambridge IGCSE Physics comes down to a few clear facts: syllabus code 0625, six topic areas, a Core or Extended tier that cannot be mixed, and a practical route decided by the school. The most useful thing a student can do is treat the specification as a checklist, confirm which textbook edition and practical paper their school actually uses, and practise past papers against the real mark scheme rather than generic notes.

Grade boundaries move every session, so Cambridge stays the source of truth for anything time-sensitive. If you want structured, syllabus-aligned support with Cambridge IGCSE Physics, book a free demo class at Ignite.

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