Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Guide

Cambridge IGCSE Physics (syllabus code 0625) is a popular science qualification taken in many Hong Kong international schools. This guide explains what 0625 is, how the current syllabus is structured, the key concepts and skills it develops, how the assessment works, and how to prepare effectively. It is specifically about Cambridge IGCSE, not other International GCSE specifications.

A note on the current syllabus. This guide refers to the Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 syllabus for examination in 2026, 2027 and 2028, which is the current version. Assessment details can change between syllabus versions, so confirm the exact paper structure, durations, mark allocations and practical route for your sitting against the official Cambridge 0625 syllabus document before relying on any summary.

HK Study Hub also supports other International GCSE specifications where the relevant tutor teaches the student's course. This guide is specifically about Cambridge IGCSE.

What Is Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625?

Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 is a general physics qualification taken at the end of the IGCSE stage, usually around age 16. It is designed to build understanding of the physical world through key concepts, mathematical application and practical skills. It is widely accepted as evidence of scientific competence and is a common foundation for further study in physics and the sciences.

Like other Cambridge IGCSE sciences, 0625 is offered at two tiers, Core and Extended, which allow students of different levels of confidence to be assessed at an appropriate level of demand. The two tiers lead to different available grade ranges.

The Current Syllabus

The current 0625 syllabus covers examination in 2026, 2027 and 2028. Cambridge updates its syllabuses on a cycle, so the first step in any preparation plan is to confirm which syllabus version your school has entered you for and to use the official Cambridge syllabus document as the authoritative source of content and assessment detail. The content is organised into major themes, including motion, forces and energy, work, power and momentum, thermal physics, waves, electricity and magnetism, and atomic physics. The exact content structure and any options are set out in the official syllabus.

Key Physics Concepts

0625 builds understanding of a set of core concepts that run through the whole course:

• Forces and motion. How forces affect motion, including speed, velocity, acceleration, and the relationships between them.
• Energy and work. Energy transfer, conservation, work, power and efficiency.
• Thermal physics. States of matter, heat transfer, and the particle model.
• Waves. Wave properties, light, sound and the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Electricity and magnetism. Circuits, electrical quantities, magnets and electromagnetic effects.
• Atomic physics. The nuclear model of the atom, radioactivity and nuclear processes.

The aim is not to memorise every detail but to understand how these concepts connect and how to apply them. A student who understands the concepts can adapt to unfamiliar questions; a student who only memorises formulas cannot.

Mathematical Application

Physics is quantitative, and 0625 rewards mathematical application. You will need to use equations to solve problems, manipulate quantities, work with units, and handle data. Strong mathematical application means:

• Choosing the right relationship. Deciding which equation applies before computing.
• Tracking units. Carrying units through calculations and checking they are consistent.
• Rearranging equations. Making a different quantity the subject when needed.
• Checking reasonableness. Asking whether an answer makes physical sense in sign, scale and unit.
• Handling data. Reading tables and graphs, identifying relationships and interpreting results.

Because physics is mathematical, weak algebra and arithmetic limit performance. If your mathematics is shaky, strengthening it will improve your physics.

Practical Skills

Practical skills are a distinctive part of 0625. The course develops the ability to plan and carry out experiments, take measurements, process data, draw graphs and evaluate results. These skills are assessed, and the exact assessment route differs: some students take a practical test, others take an Alternative to Practical paper, depending on what the school has entered. Confirm which practical route applies to you against the official syllabus. See our practical and Alternative to Practical guide for a detailed approach.

Assessment Overview

0625 is assessed through written papers covering theory and practical skills. The exact number of papers, their durations, mark allocations and weightings differ between syllabus versions and between Core and Extended, so confirm the structure for your sitting against the official Cambridge 0625 syllabus document. What is consistent is that the assessment tests both your knowledge of physics and your ability to apply it, including to unfamiliar contexts and to data.

Core and Extended candidates sit different papers based on different content, and the available grade ranges differ. Confirm which tier you are entered for and prepare the appropriate content and paper style.

Preparation Strategy

Effective preparation combines understanding, application and review:

1. Confirm your syllabus version, tier and practical route. Know which syllabus version you are sitting, whether you are Core or Extended, and which practical assessment you will take.
2. Build understanding, not just recall. For each topic, understand why the relationships work and when they apply, not just the formulas.
3. Identify weak topics. Use a recent practice paper or a topic checklist to find where you lose marks, and target those areas.
4. Practise applying physics to problems. Mix straightforward, multi-step, unfamiliar and data-based questions.
5. Use official past papers and specimen papers. These match the style and standard of the exam. Use papers for the correct syllabus version.
6. Review every error. Sort mistakes into categories (concept, equation selection, mathematical, interpretation, unit, careless, timing) and keep a record.
7. Add timed practice once understanding is solid. Practise full papers under exam conditions to build pacing and performance under pressure.

Using Past Papers

Official Cambridge past papers and specimen papers are the core of good preparation. When you use them:

• Use papers for the correct syllabus version. Because the syllabus is updated on a cycle, older papers may not reflect the current structure. Use the specimen papers for the current syllabus alongside available past papers.
• Mark strictly. Use the official mark schemes and mark honestly.
• Review thoroughly. The review matters more than completing the paper. Go through every error and fix the cause.
• Practise timing. Once your understanding is solid, complete papers under timed conditions.

Common Mistakes in 0625

• Memorising formulas without understanding. A formula you cannot explain will not help with unfamiliar questions.
• Unit errors. Failing to convert units or track them through calculations.
• Choosing the wrong equation. Applying a relationship outside the conditions where it is valid.
• Unclear working. Examiners can only award method marks for working they can follow.
• Misreading the question. Answering a slightly different question from the one asked.
• Weak data interpretation. Struggling with tables, graphs and relationships.
• Spending too long on one question. Letting a single problem consume the time for several others.

How HK Study Hub Can Help

Tutoring helps most when it targets your specific gaps rather than repeating the course generically. A tutor can diagnose weak topics, rebuild the underlying physics, build mathematical application, set and review targeted practice, and improve exam technique. If you would like focused support, see our IGCSE Physics tutoring in Hong Kong.

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Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 FAQs

What is 0625? Cambridge IGCSE Physics, syllabus code 0625, a general physics qualification taken around age 16.

What is the current syllabus? The 2026-2028 syllabus is the current version. Confirm which version applies to your sitting against the official Cambridge document.

What is the difference between Core and Extended? Core covers a subset of the content and leads to a different grade range; Extended covers the full content and is required for the highest grades.

How is practical work assessed? Through a practical route that may be a practical test or an Alternative to Practical paper, depending on your school's entry. Confirm your route against the official syllabus. See our practical guide.

How much mathematics is involved? A lot. Physics is quantitative, so strong algebra, arithmetic and unit handling are essential.

How should I prepare? Build understanding, identify weak topics, practise applying physics to problems, use official past and specimen papers, review every error, and add timed practice once your understanding is solid.

Does this apply to Edexcel International GCSE? No. This guide is specifically about Cambridge IGCSE. Edexcel International GCSE has its own specification and assessment structure.

For more, see our practical guide and guide to getting a 9. Browse all IGCSE Physics resources, IGCSE resources or IGCSE tutoring in Hong Kong.