Cambridge IGCSE · Analysis & Prediction
2024 Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) Past Paper: Analysis & Answers
This analysis covers the October/November 2024 Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) series, spanning Papers 13 (Core Multiple Choice), 23 (Extended Multiple Choice), 33 (Core Theory), 43 (Extended Theory), 53 (Practical Test), and 63 (Alternative to Practical). The examinations represent a highly balanced assessment of the updated syllabus, emphasizing electrical quantities, thermal transfer experiments, and wave behavior. Extended papers features rigorous multi-step calculation mechanics, particularly in efficiency and parallel circuits, while the practical papers examine critical graphing, gradient-finding, and experimental planning skills.
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Paper breakdown
Examiner insights
Official reportCommon pitfalls
- Forgetting to convert units, such as minutes to seconds, before calculating speed or electrical energy (E = VIt).
- Representing electric field lines with arrows pointing in the wrong direction (away from a negative sphere instead of towards it).
- Rounding intermediate values in multi-step calculations, which leads to final answer inaccuracies.
- Stating that steel is used for electromagnet cores instead of soft iron, failing to realize steel retains magnetism permanently.
Misconceptions
- Believing that the temperature of a cooling liquid decreases linearly over time, ignoring the exponential nature of thermal transfer.
- Confusing nuclear fission (splitting of heavy nuclei) with nuclear fusion (joining of light nuclei).
- Thinking that the frequency of light changes as it enters a denser medium like glass or plastic, whereas only speed and wavelength change.
Where marks are lost
- Failing to draw line graphs with scales that occupy at least half of the grid in practical papers.
- Not writing units for calculated quantities, such as failing to write 'W' or 'J/s' for power and 'K' for temperature.
- Giving vague explanations for experimental precautions, such as saying 'be careful' instead of 'view the thermometer perpendicularly to avoid parallax error'.
Estimated grade boundary
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
| Grade | Mark | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| A* | 140/200 | 70% |
| A | 121/200 | 61% |
| B | 102/200 | 51% |
| C | 83/200 | 42% |
| D | 71/200 | 36% |
| E | 60/200 | 30% |
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