IGCSE Physics exam format 2026: A complete guide to papers, timing and structure

The IGCSE Physics exam format is divided into Core and Extended routes, with each student sitting three papers in total. Core candidates take Paper 1 and Paper 3, while Extended candidates take Paper 2 and Paper 4, with both routes completing either Paper 5 or Paper 6 for the practical component. Each paper has a different format, duration, weighting, and skill focus, from multiple-choice and structured theory to practical investigation and data analysis.

This guide explains the Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 exam structure so students can understand each component and prepare more strategically.

Overview of all IGCSE Physics papers for Core and Extended candidates

The Cambridge 0625 paper structure is built around a tiered system. Every candidate sits three papers in total, but the specific combination depends on whether their school has entered them for the Core tier or the Extended tier. The two paths lead to different grade ceilings, so choosing the right tier is a strategic decision, not just an administrative one.

The Core tier covers grades C to G. The Extended tier covers grades A* to G. If a student is targeting a grade A or above, they must be on the Extended pathway, and there is no route around that constraint.

The table below gives a full IGCSE Physics exam ^[1] overview across both tiers so you can compare the structures side by side.

One critical detail often overlooked is that Paper 5 and Paper 6 are not elective choices made by the student. The school selects which practical assessment option its students sit, based on laboratory facilities and exam centre agreements. Students need to confirm with their school which practical paper applies to them well before the exam season begins.

>>> Read more: IGCSE Physics Past Paper Strategy for 2026: Smart Ways to Practice for Better Exam Results

Paper 1: Multiple choice in IGCSE Physics explained

Paper 1 is the multiple choice paper for Core tier candidates. It contains 40 four-option questions and must be completed within 45 minutes, which works out to roughly 67 seconds per question. That is a genuinely tight pace, and many students underestimate it during preparation.

A common mistake we see is students treating Paper 1 as the “easy” paper simply because it is multiple choice. In reality, Cambridge designs these questions to include deliberate distractors, which are answer options that look correct but contain subtle conceptual errors. A student who has memorised definitions without understanding the underlying physics will consistently fall for these traps.

The 30% weighting of Paper 1 in the Core pathway means that performing well here creates a meaningful buffer before you even open your theory paper. Treating it as a high-priority component rather than a warm-up is a mindset shift that consistently improves overall scores for our Core candidates at Times Edu.

Key facts about Paper 1:

• 40 Questions, each with four options (A, B, C, D)
• No negative marking, so every question should receive an answer
• Covers the full Core syllabus across all topic areas
• Time per question: Approximately 67 seconds

>>> Read more: IGCSE Physics Explain Questions: PEE Framework for Full Marks

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Paper 2 and Paper 4: Structured written papers in IGCSE Physics explained

For Extended candidates, the two primary written papers are Paper 2 (multiple choice) and Paper 4 (structured theory). Together, they account for 80% of the total grade, which makes them the single most important block of assessment in the entire Cambridge 0625 paper structure.

Paper 2: Multiple choice for Extended candidates

Paper 2 mirrors the format of Paper 1, with 40 four-option multiple choice questions completed in 45 minutes. The key difference is the difficulty level. Extended multiple choice questions frequently involve multi-step mathematical reasoning, ratio relationships, and scenario-based conceptual application. They are designed to discriminate between candidates who have a surface-level understanding and those with genuine command of the material.

Drawing on years of experience at Times Edu, we advise Extended candidates to time themselves strictly during practice. Losing focus on a difficult question and spending three minutes on it can cascade into rushed answers on three or four subsequent questions, which is how high-ability students lose marks they absolutely should not be losing.

Paper 4: Theory for Extended candidates

Paper 4 is the most heavily weighted component in the entire IGCSE Physics exam format, carrying 50% of the total grade on its own. It consists of short-answer and structured written questions, and it tests the full Extended syllabus. Candidates have 1 hour and 15 minutes to complete it.

The assessment logic in Paper 4 rewards precision. Mark schemes at this level are specific about units, significant figures, and the exact phrasing of definitions. A student who writes a broadly correct answer but omits the unit for a calculated quantity will lose that mark cleanly and without exception.

What Paper 4 tests in practice:

• Multi-step equation chains (e.g., combining pressure, force, and area across a complex scenario)
• Technical definitions that must match syllabus-level precision
• Extended response questions that require logical sequencing of scientific reasoning
• Data interpretation from graphs, tables, and experimental results

One of the most effective preparation strategies for Paper 4, validated through our work with students across multiple exam sessions, is to practise writing answers under timed conditions and then compare them directly against the Cambridge mark scheme. This trains candidates to think like an examiner rather than like a student summarising notes.

>>> Read more: IGCSE Physics 0625 Mistakes: 10 Errors That Cost A* in 2026

Paper 3 and Paper 5: Practical papers in IGCSE Physics explained

The practical component is mandatory for all candidates, both Core and Extended, and it contributes 20% to the total grade. The two practical papers are Paper 5 and Paper 6. This section addresses Paper 5 specifically, as Paper 6 is covered in a dedicated section below.

Paper 3: Theory for Core candidates

Paper 3 is the Core equivalent of Paper 4. It contains short-answer and structured questions across the Core syllabus, runs for 1 hour and 15 minutes, and carries a 50% weighting. The topics are the same broad areas of Physics, but questions are calibrated to test foundational understanding rather than advanced multi-step reasoning.

A point worth clarifying: Some students and parents confuse Paper 3 with the practical component because of the numbering. Paper 3 is a written theory paper and has nothing to do with laboratory work. The practical assessment sits at Paper 5 or Paper 6.

Paper 5: The hands-on practical exam

Paper 5 is a live laboratory examination. Candidates handle real physical apparatus inside the exam room and take actual measurements during the session. Equipment typically used includes springs, lenses, ray boxes, resistors, ammeters, voltmeters, and similar standard laboratory tools.

The exam runs for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Candidates are assessed on their ability to set up experiments correctly, take accurate readings, process data, identify sources of error, and draw valid conclusions. This is a genuinely different skill set from theoretical knowledge, and it requires separate and deliberate practice.

In our experience working with international students, those who attend school laboratories regularly and treat practical sessions as real learning opportunities, rather than administrative tasks, perform significantly better on Paper 5. The students who struggle are almost always those who have spent all their revision time on theory without ever picking up a physical instrument.

>>> Read more: IGCSE Physics Study Plan for 2026: A Simple Revision Guide for Better Exam Preparation

Paper 6: Alternative to practical in IGCSE Physics explained

Paper 6 is the written substitute for the hands-on laboratory exam. Candidates who sit Paper 6 instead of Paper 5 complete the entire assessment at their desk, using printed diagrams, instrument scale images, and pre-supplied data sets rather than actual physical equipment. The paper runs for 1 hour, making it slightly shorter than Paper 5, and carries the same 20% weighting.

The alternative to practical 0625 is frequently misunderstood by students who assume it is “easier” than Paper 5 because there is no physical apparatus involved. This assumption is dangerous. Paper 6 tests exactly the same scientific skills: Reading instrument scales accurately from printed images, identifying the dependent and independent variables in an experiment, suggesting improvements to experimental design, calculating uncertainties, and drawing conclusions from data.

What Paper 6 specifically assesses:

• Reading analogue and digital instrument scales from printed diagrams
• Plotting points and drawing best-fit lines on graphs
• Identifying anomalous data points and explaining their significance
• Evaluating experimental procedures and proposing valid improvements
• Writing conclusions that are quantitatively supported by the provided data

A common mistake we see with Paper 6 candidates is neglecting graph work. A significant portion of the marks in Paper 6 Physics IGCSE comes from correctly constructing graphs, including choosing appropriate scales, labelling axes with units, and drawing lines of best fit that genuinely minimise the distance to all data points, not just the first and last points plotted.

Drawing on years of experience at Times Edu, we recommend that Paper 6 candidates complete at least 10 to 15 past paper practicals under timed conditions before the exam. The skill of reading a scale accurately from a printed image, under time pressure, is one that only develops through repeated deliberate practice.

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How the IGCSE Physics exam format should shape your revision strategy

Knowing the structure of the IGCSE Physics exam format is only half the equation. The other half is translating that knowledge into a revision plan that reflects the actual distribution of marks and the specific cognitive demands of each paper.

Allocate revision time proportionally to weighting

If Paper 4 (or Paper 3 for Core candidates) carries 50% of your total grade, it should receive proportionally more preparation time than any other component. Many students split their revision evenly across all papers, which effectively underinvests in the component that controls the majority of their final mark.

A practical allocation model for Extended candidates might look like this:

Treat each paper as a distinct skill set

The IGCSE Physics papers do not all test the same thing. Paper 2 rewards speed and pattern recognition. Paper 4 rewards precision, logical sequencing, and technical vocabulary. Paper 5 rewards laboratory technique and observational accuracy. Paper 6 rewards data interpretation and the ability to think like an experimenter without being in a laboratory.

Revising for all four papers using the same method, typically reading notes and highlighting, produces a predictable result: Reasonable theory knowledge and poor performance on the practical paper and the timed multiple choice section.

Use past papers as the primary revision tool

Cambridge releases a substantial archive of past papers for the 0625 syllabus. Working through these papers under timed conditions and reviewing every answer against the official mark scheme is the single most effective preparation method available. It simultaneously builds content knowledge, exam technique, and familiarity with the specific phrasing that Cambridge examiners reward.

One critical detail often overlooked is that mark schemes use specific language for a reason. When a mark scheme says “rate of change of velocity” rather than “how fast something speeds up,” that is not stylistic preference. Candidates who match that precision earn the mark. Those who paraphrase it loosely often do not.

>>> Read more: Ultimate IGCSE Physics 0625 Revision Guide

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

At Times Edu, our consultants and tutors specialise in helping students decode exactly this kind of assessment architecture and build revision plans that reflect the real distribution of marks. If you or your child is approaching the IGCSE Physics exam and wants a personalised academic roadmap built around the Cambridge 0625 paper structure, reach out to our team for a one-on-one consultation. The earlier you understand the system, the more strategically you can work within it.

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