CIE Physics (0625)
Syllabus Overview, IGCSE Physics, for session 2026-2028
(written by Hiba Shakeel, Subject Head of Physics)
1- Assessment Structure and Components:
Paper 1: Multiple Choice (Core)
45 minutes, 40 marks, 30% weighting, core content only
Paper 2: Multiple Choice (Extended)
45 minutes, 40 marks, 30% weighting, core + supplement content
Paper 3: Theory (Core)
1 hour 15 minutes, 80 marks, 50% weighting, core content only
Paper 4: Theory (Extended)
1 hour 15 minutes, 80 marks, 50% weighting, core + supplement content
Paper 5: Practical Test
1 hour 15 minutes, 40 marks, 20% weighting, experimental skills
Paper 6: Alternative to Practical
1 hour, 40 marks, 20% weighting, experimental skills theory
2-Content Overview:
1) Motion, forces, and energy
2) Thermal physics
3) Waves
4) Electricity and magnetism
5) Nuclear physics
6) Space physics
3-Mathematical Requirements:
-Number
-Algebra
-Geometry and Trigonometry
-Graphs, charts, and Statistics.
4-Details of Assessment:
-Core assessment:
Core candidates take the following papers.
The questions are based on the Core subject content only.
*Paper 1: Multiple Choice (Core)
-45 minutes
-40 marks
-40 compulsory multiple-choice items of the four-choice type. This paper assesses grades C to G, externally assessed.
*Paper 3: Theory (Core)
-1 hour 15 minutes
-80 marks Compulsory short-answer and structured questions. This paper assesses grades C to G, externally assessed.
-Extended assessment:
*Paper 2: Multiple Choice (Extended)
-45 minutes
-40 marks
-40 compulsory multiple-choice items of the four-choice type. This paper assesses grades A* to G, externally assessed.
*Paper 4: Theory (Extended)
-1 hour 15 minutes
-80 marks Compulsory short-answer and structured questions
This paper assesses grades A* to G, externally assessed.
Practical assessment:
*Paper 5: Practical Test.
-1 hour 15 minutes
-40 marks
Candidates will be required to do experiments in a laboratory as part of this test, externally assessed
*Paper 6: Alternative to Practical:
-1 hour
-40 marks
Candidates will not be required to do experiments as part of this test, externally assessed.
5-Assessment Objectives:
Objective: Knowledge & Understanding
Weight: 40%
Skills: Recall facts, concepts, laws
Objective: Handling information & Problem-solving
Weight: 40%
Skills: Interpret data, calculations, and apply concepts
Objective: Experimental skills
Weight: 20%
Skills: Plan & conduct experiments, analyze results
For more information, visit https://www.cambridge.org/