Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625)

Cambridge IGCSE Physics places strong emphasis on experimental skills and investigations. All candidates take one practical component: Paper 5 Practical Test or Paper 6 Alternative to Practical. Both assess the same experimental skills and contribute 20% of the qualification.

Students should be familiar with experimental contexts such as:

• measuring physical quantities such as length, volume and force
• measuring small distances and short intervals of time
• determining derived quantities such as spring extension per unit load, resistance or acceleration
• testing and identifying the relationship between two variables
• comparing measured quantities such as angles of reflection
• comparing derived quantities such as density
• cooling and heating, including measurement of temperature
• experiments using springs and balances
• timing motion or oscillations
• electric circuits and measurements of current and potential difference
• optics experiments involving mirrors, lenses, prisms and glass or Perspex blocks
• using simple apparatus in unfamiliar experimental situations

Students also practise identifying variables, selecting apparatus, recording measurements, presenting data, drawing graphs, identifying anomalies, evaluating experimental methods and suggesting improvements.