Last-Minute Revision Checklist
Quick-reference checklists for your final review. Focus on these high-priority topics, formulas, and definitions — the concepts that appear most frequently across papers.
IGCSE A Level 4 Subjects
How to use this page: Don't try to learn everything here from scratch. This is a checklist — tick off what you already know, then spend your remaining time on the gaps. Link to our full revision notes and formula sheets for deeper review.
PHY
Physics
IGCSE 0625 / A Level 9702
Must-Know Formulas
v = s/t— speeda = (v-u)/t— accelerationF = ma— forceW = mg— weightp = mv— momentumW = Fd— work doneP = E/t— powerp = F/A— pressureV = IR— Ohm's lawP = IV— electrical powerE = mcΔT— thermal energy
Key Topics to Review
- - Velocity-time graphs (area = distance, gradient = acceleration)
- - Moments and equilibrium (sum of clockwise = anticlockwise)
- - Energy transfers and conservation
- - Refraction and total internal reflection
- - Series vs parallel circuits
- - Electromagnetic spectrum (order, uses, dangers)
- - Nuclear decay (alpha, beta, gamma properties)
- - Transformers (Vp/Vs = Np/Ns)
CHE
Chemistry
IGCSE 0620 / A Level 9701
Must-Know Concepts
- - Atomic structure (protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes)
- - Ionic vs covalent vs metallic bonding
- - Reactivity series: K Na Ca Mg Al Zn Fe Sn Pb H Cu Ag Au
- - Mole calculations:
moles = mass / Mr - - Concentration:
c = n / V - - Electrolysis (what forms at each electrode and why)
- - Acids + bases → salt + water
- - Organic homologous series (alkanes, alkenes, alcohols)
Key Topics to Review
- - Balancing equations (always check atom counts)
- - Tests for gases: H₂ (squeaky pop), O₂ (relights splint), CO₂ (limewater milky), Cl₂ (bleaches litmus)
- - Tests for ions: flame tests, NaOH precipitation
- - Rate of reaction factors (temperature, concentration, surface area, catalyst)
- - Exothermic vs endothermic reactions
- - Fractional distillation of crude oil
- - Addition vs substitution reactions
BIO
Biology
IGCSE 0610 / A Level 9700
Must-Know Definitions
- - Diffusion: net movement of particles from high to low concentration
- - Osmosis: movement of water through a partially permeable membrane from dilute to concentrated solution
- - Active transport: movement against concentration gradient using energy
- - Photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂
- - Respiration: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O
- - Gene: a length of DNA that codes for a protein
- - Allele: a version of a gene
Key Topics to Review
- - Cell structure (animal vs plant cells, organelle functions)
- - Enzymes (lock and key model, factors affecting rate, denaturation)
- - Food tests (Benedict's, iodine, biuret, ethanol emulsion)
- - Gas exchange in lungs (alveoli adaptations)
- - Heart structure and blood flow
- - Xylem and phloem (transpiration, translocation)
- - Genetics (Punnett squares, dominant/recessive, sex linkage)
- - Ecology (food chains, pyramids, carbon cycle)
MTH
Mathematics
IGCSE 0580 / A Level 9709
Must-Know Formulas
ax² + bx + c = 0→ quadratic formula- Area of triangle:
½ × b × h - Area of circle:
πr² - Circumference:
2πr - Volume of cylinder:
πr²h - Volume of cone:
⅓πr²h - Volume of sphere:
⅘πr³ - Pythagoras:
a² + b² = c² - SOH CAH TOA (sin, cos, tan ratios)
- Gradient:
(y₂-y₁)/(x₂-x₁)
Key Topics to Review
- - Algebraic manipulation (factorising, expanding, rearranging)
- - Simultaneous equations (substitution and elimination)
- - Inequalities (graphing and solving)
- - Angles in polygons (interior = (n-2)×180/n)
- - Circle theorems (for Extended tier)
- - Probability (tree diagrams, AND/OR rules)
- - Vectors (addition, scalar multiplication)
- - Transformations (reflection, rotation, translation, enlargement)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These are the errors students make most often. Knowing them in advance helps you avoid losing easy marks.
Physics
- - Forgetting to convert g to kg before using F=ma
- - Using total length instead of extension in spring calculations
- - Saying "the enzyme is killed" instead of denatured
- - Adding forces that act in opposite directions instead of subtracting
- - Confusing distance-time and speed-time graphs
Chemistry
- - Using cm³ instead of dm³ in concentration calculations (divide by 1000!)
- - Confusing strong/weak acids with concentrated/dilute
- - Saying a catalyst changes the yield (it only changes the rate)
- - Forgetting state symbols in equations
- - Saying electrons flow through the electrolyte (they flow through wires; ions flow through the electrolyte)
Biology
- - Saying enzymes are "used up" in reactions (they are reused)
- - Confusing respiration with breathing (respiration is a chemical reaction)
- - Saying CO₂ is a product of photosynthesis (it is a reactant)
- - Confusing xylem (water, upwards) with phloem (sucrose, both ways)
- - Saying lactic acid is produced in yeast (yeast produces ethanol; humans produce lactic acid)
Final Advice
Focus on what you know
Secure the marks you can get. Don't panic about gaps — maximise your strengths.
Practice, don't just read
Answering questions is more effective than re-reading notes. Try a few quiz questions.
Rest is revision too
A well-rested brain performs better than one that's been cramming until 3 AM.
All Revision Resources
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