Every Cambridge IGCSE Physics candidate takes three papers, but not the same three. Which multiple-choice and theory papers you sit depends on whether you have been entered for Core or Extended, and that single decision sets the ceiling on your grade. Everyone then takes one practical paper, either Paper 5 or Paper 6.
This page is the map. Each paper links to the free CIE Insider trainers built for it.
Core or Extended: which three papers you sit
- CORE Paper 1 and Paper 3, questions on the Core subject content only. Eligible for grades C to G.
- EXTENDED Paper 2 and Paper 4, questions on the Core and Supplement content. Eligible for grades A* to G.
- Then one practical paper — Paper 5 or Paper 6 — whichever your centre enters you for.
If you are aiming above a C, you need to be sitting the Extended papers, and a good deal of the Supplement content — momentum, for one — simply does not appear on the Core papers. Check which tier you have been entered for before you plan any revision around past papers.
The six papers
| Paper | Tier | Time | Marks | Weighting | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Multiple Choice |
CORE | 45 min | 40 | 30% | 40 four-option multiple-choice questions on the Core content. |
| Paper 2 Multiple Choice |
EXT | 45 min | 40 | 30% | 40 four-option multiple-choice questions on the Core and Supplement content. |
| Paper 3 Theory |
CORE | 1 h 15 min | 80 | 50% | Short-answer and structured questions on the Core content. The largest share of the grade. |
| Paper 4 Theory |
EXT | 1 h 15 min | 80 | 50% | Short-answer and structured questions on the Core and Supplement content. |
| Paper 5 Practical Test |
Either tier | 1 h 15 min | 40 | 20% | A hands-on practical exam, based on the experimental skills in Section 4 of the syllabus. |
| Paper 6 Alternative to Practical |
Either tier | 1 h | 40 | 20% | A written paper on the same experimental skills, sat instead of Paper 5. |
Source: Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 syllabus for 2026, 2027 and 2028, assessment overview. Check the syllabus for the years you are sitting.
Free 0625 trainers
Papers 1 and 2 · Multiple Choice
MCQ Trainer: Core
Sit a full 40-question Core paper with the PDF beside the answer panel. Practice mode or exam conditions, marked instantly.
Open trainer → Paper 2 · TrainerMCQ Trainer: Extended
The same, for the Extended paper: 40 questions in 45 minutes, with the mark scheme one click away.
Open trainer → Paper 1 · PrintableCore MCQ One-Pager
One printable sheet of Core multiple-choice technique, free to download.
Get the sheet → Paper 2 · PrintableExtended MCQ One-Pager
The Extended version of the same sheet, free to download.
Get the sheet →Paper 5 · Practical Test
Practical Test: Examiner Guide
The mark-scheme rules, the mistakes ranked by how often they recur, a self-audit and a drill quiz. Built from examiner reports 2021 to 2025.
Open guide → Paper 5 · DrillPractical Test: Question Drill
Question-by-question prompts that make you decide what the mark is for before you see the answer.
Open trainer →Paper 6 · Alternative to Practical
All papers
Examiner Tips
Distilled from Cambridge examiner reports across the syllabus: the habits and the mistakes that come back year after year.
Open guide → All papers · FlashcardsDefinitions & Formulae
Shuffle, drill and flag missed cards. Everything you have to recall cold under exam conditions.
Open flashcards →Frequently asked questions
What papers do you sit for Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625?
All candidates take three papers. Core candidates take Paper 1 and Paper 3; Extended candidates take Paper 2 and Paper 4. Every candidate then takes one practical paper, either Paper 5 or Paper 6.
What is the difference between Core and Extended in IGCSE Physics?
Core questions are based on the Core subject content only, and Core candidates are eligible for grades C to G. Extended questions are based on the Core and Supplement content, and Extended candidates are eligible for grades A* to G.
How long is each 0625 paper and how many marks is it worth?
Paper 1 and Paper 2 are both 45 minutes, 40 marks and 30% of the qualification. Paper 3 and Paper 4 are both 1 hour 15 minutes, 80 marks and 50%. Paper 5 is 1 hour 15 minutes and Paper 6 is 1 hour; both are 40 marks and 20%.
Should I take Paper 5 or Paper 6 in IGCSE Physics?
You take one of the two, and which one is an entry decision made by your centre rather than a choice you make in the exam hall. Paper 5 is the practical test and runs 1 hour 15 minutes; Paper 6 is the alternative to practical and runs 1 hour. Both are worth 40 marks and 20% of the qualification, and both are based on the experimental skills in Section 4 of the syllabus.
Is Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0972 the same as 0625?
Yes, in every way that affects your revision. The syllabus content is identical apart from one sentence about grade letters, and the question papers, mark schemes and examiner reports are the same documents issued under two codes. The difference is the grade scale: 0972 reports 9 to 1, 0625 reports A* to G. There is a longer answer on the blog.
Keep going
Elsewhere on the site:
- AS & A Level Physics 9702 — the same map for the A Level papers
- AS readiness check — if IGCSE is nearly done and AS is next
- The examiner-report blog
- Free printable resources