Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) - March 2024 Past Papers

Q: What papers are available for IGCSE Chemistry?

IGCSE Chemistry (0620) has 6 papers covering Multiple Choice, Theory, and Practical components. Core tier: Papers 1, 3, 5/6. Extended tier: Papers 2, 4, 5/6.

Q: What is the difference between paper variants 11, 12, and 13?

The three variants (11, 12, 13) are different versions used in different time zones. All variants test the same syllabus at the same difficulty level and are equally valid for revision.

Q: How can I practice these past papers effectively?

Use LumiExams Exam Hub (lumiexams.com/tools/exam-hub) to practice past papers like real exams. View question papers and mark schemes side-by-side to self-mark your answers. Free, no sign-up, and your files stay private.

Download 15 free IGCSE Chemistry past papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports from the March 2024 Cambridge examination session. Includes question papers for all variants with full solutions.

About IGCSE Chemistry (0620)

IGCSE Chemistry covers atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry, organic chemistry, electrochemistry, and chemical analysis. Candidates must balance equations, predict reaction products, and understand the properties of elements and compounds.

What this exam tests: Key skills include mole calculations, identifying functional groups, interpreting spectra, and planning experiments.

Papers available in variants 11, 12, 13 for different time zones. All variants cover the same Chemistry syllabus with equal difficulty.

Grade Thresholds

Study Resources for Chemistry

Prepare for your exam with these complementary resources:

0620 March 2024 Papers

0620 Paper 1 - Multiple Choice (Core)

45 min • 40 marks

Tests broad syllabus knowledge with 40 questions. Each question has four options (A-D). Core tier paper.

Question Paper

Mark Scheme

QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:

MS:

0620 Paper 2 - Multiple Choice (Extended)

45 min • 40 marks

Extended tier multiple choice with more challenging questions covering the full syllabus. 40 questions, 45 minutes.

Question Paper

Mark Scheme

QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:

MS:

0620 Paper 3 - Theory (Core)

1 hr 15 min • 80 marks

Structured and free-response questions testing understanding and application. Core tier, grades available C-G.

Question Paper

Mark Scheme

QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:

MS:

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 3 (6 topics, 80 marks total)

This 0620 Paper 3 from March 2024 tests 6 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Alkenes (Organic chemistry) worth 14 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells (14 marks) and Air and air quality (14 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Alkenes 14/80

Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells 14/80

Air and air quality 14/80

Reactivity series 13/80

Formulae 13/80

Electrolysis 12/80

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Chemistry revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Alkenes to maximize your score.

0620 Paper 4 - Theory (Extended)

1 hr 15 min • 80 marks

Extended tier theory paper with more demanding questions. Full grade range A*-G available with this paper.

Question Paper

Mark Scheme

QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:

MS:

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 4 (5 topics, 80 marks total)

This 0620 Paper 4 from March 2024 tests 5 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Extraction of metals (Metals) worth 19 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Group VII - Halogens (18 marks) and Calculations (16 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Extraction of metals 19/80

Group VII - Halogens 18/80

Calculations 16/80

Elements, compounds and mixtures 15/80

Formulae 12/80

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Chemistry revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Extraction of metals to maximize your score.

0620 Paper 5 - Practical Test

1 hr 15 min • 40 marks

Tests practical skills including planning experiments, recording data, and drawing conclusions from results.

Question Paper

Mark Scheme

QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:

MS:

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 5 (2 topics, 40 marks total)

This 0620 Paper 5 from March 2024 tests 2 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Acids and bases (Acids, bases and salts) worth 17 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Solids, liquids and gases (17 marks)

Mark distribution by topic:

Acids and bases 17/40

Solids, liquids and gases 17/40

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Chemistry revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Acids and bases to maximize your score.

0620 Paper 6 - Alternative to Practical

1 hr • 40 marks

Written paper testing practical skills through questions about experimental methods, data, and analysis.

Question Paper

Mark Scheme

QP + MS QP + ER

All variants (different time zones):

QP:

MS:

View syllabus topics tested in Paper 6 (3 topics, 40 marks total)

This 0620 Paper 6 from March 2024 tests 3 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Acids and bases (Acids, bases and salts) worth 16 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Solids, liquids and gases (10 marks) and Reactivity series (8 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Acids and bases 16/40

Solids, liquids and gases 10/40

Reactivity series 8/40

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Chemistry revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Acids and bases to maximize your score.

Other Resources

Additional materials to help you prepare and understand how exams are marked.

Examiner Report

Insights from examiners on how students performed. Learn common mistakes to avoid and what examiners look for in top answers.

View

Confidential Instructions

Instructions for teachers on practical exams. Useful for understanding experiment setups and expected procedures.

0620 March 2024 - Topics Breakdown by Paper

Each Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) paper tests specific syllabus topics. Below is a breakdown of topics for each paper in March 2024, showing how marks are distributed. Use this to focus your revision on topics relevant to your papers.

0620 Paper 3 (Theory (Core))

80 marks total

Alkenes (Organic chemistry)

Notes 12 cards

14m

Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells (Electrochemistry)

14m

Air and air quality (Chemistry of the environment)

Notes 10 cards

14m

Reactivity series (Metals)

Notes 12 cards

13m

Formulae (Stoichiometry)

Notes 12 cards

13m

Electrolysis (Electrochemistry)

Notes 12 cards

12m

0620 Paper 4 (Theory (Extended))

80 marks total

Extraction of metals (Metals)

Notes 8 cards

19m

Group VII - Halogens (The Periodic Table)

Notes 12 cards

18m

Calculations (Stoichiometry)

Notes 11 cards

16m

Elements, compounds and mixtures (Atoms, elements and compounds)

Notes 11 cards

15m

Formulae (Stoichiometry)

Notes 12 cards

12m

0620 Paper 5 (Practical Test)

40 marks total

Acids and bases (Acids, bases and salts)

Notes 19 cards

17m

Solids, liquids and gases (States of matter)

Notes 12 cards

17m

0620 Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical)

40 marks total

Acids and bases (Acids, bases and salts)

Notes 19 cards

16m

Solids, liquids and gases (States of matter)

Notes 12 cards

10m

Reactivity series (Metals)

Notes 12 cards

Study tip: If you're taking the Extended tier, focus on Papers 2, 4, and 6. For Core tier, prepare for Papers 1, 3, and 5/6. Review the topics above for your specific papers and practice past questions from those syllabus areas.

Examiner Insights - March 2024

Key feedback from Cambridge examiners on how students performed

Key Takeaways

• Read questions carefully to understand the context and what is being asked.
• Memorize essential definitions and chemical tests, including reagents and expected observations.
• Practice interpreting data from experiments and drawing appropriate conclusions.
• Pay close attention to the wording of questions, especially command words like 'describe,' 'explain,' and 'deduce.'
• When calculations are required, show all working steps to maximize partial credit.

Paper 12 - Multiple Choice (Core)

Some candidates struggled with recalling essential terminology. Candidates should carefully consider the full meaning of statements in the options, as some may be partially correct. Certain questions regarding properties of ionic compounds, chemical changes (endothermic vs exothermic), halogens, and redox reactions proved challenging.

Study Tips:

✓ Create flashcards with definitions of essential terminology.
✓ Practice identifying redox reactions in different contexts.
✓ Review the reactivity series and its implications for metal extraction.

Common Mistakes:

Q5 (Ions vs Atoms)

✗ Choosing option D because they didn't recognize the significance of 'ion' rather than 'atom'.

→ Carefully read and understand the entire statement in the options, paying close attention to key words like 'ion' vs 'atom'.

Q6 (Properties of ionic compounds)

✗ Guessing the answer, suggesting poor recall of ionic compound properties.

→ Review and memorize the key properties of ionic compounds.

Q7 (Properties of Graphite)

✗ Choosing an option that describes a correct property of graphite but not its use as a lubricant.

→ Understand the relationship between a substance's properties and its specific applications.

Q9 (Relative Atomic Mass)

✗ Not giving the relative mass of a proton relative to one twelfth of one atom of 12C

→ Remember that when asked to state the relative mass of a particle, provide its value relative to the standard (one twelfth of one atom of 12C).

Paper 22 - Multiple Choice (Extended)

This paper was accessible with many candidates performing well. The most demanding questions involved applying multiple concepts, such as identifying monomers and linkages in polymers or understanding redox reactions in displacement reactions. Careful reading of longer statements and questions with multiple columns of information is essential.

Study Tips:

✓ Practice drawing dot-and-cross diagrams for different compounds.
✓ Review the rules for determining oxidation states of ions in compounds.
✓ Create a table summarizing the key differences between alloys and compounds.

Common Mistakes:

Q6 (Molecular Structures)

✗ Choosing option B, unable to use the boiling point information to identify methanal as a simple molecular compound.

→ Practice relating physical properties like boiling point to molecular structure and intermolecular forces.

Q10 (Ionic Charges)

✗ Choosing option B, not realizing Fe2O3 must contain two Fe3+ ions only and so it does not meet the description of magnetite.

→ Ensure the overall charge of a compound is zero, and apply this when determining the ratio of ions in a compound.

Q15 (Stoichiometry Calculations)

✗ Not recognizing that the balanced equation uses two moles of ethyne instead of one, causing the incorrect calculation using mole ratios.

→ Always carefully examine the balanced equation to correctly determine the mole ratios before performing calculations.

Q19 (Oxidation of Iodide)

✗ Not knowing the colour change when aqueous iodide ions are oxidized to form aqueous iodine.

→ Learn the colour changes associated with common oxidation-reduction reactions, such as the oxidation of iodide.

Paper 32 - Paper 3 Theory (Core)

Candidates demonstrated good knowledge in matching substances to statements, simple calculations, balancing equations, and the kinetic particle theory. Challenges arose with chemical tests, pollution-based questions, and accurate interpretation of data-handling questions. Misinterpretations of the rubric and command words also hindered some candidates.

Study Tips:

✓ Create mind maps connecting different types of pollution to their specific sources and impacts.
✓ Practice drawing displayed formulas of organic compounds frequently.
✓ Focus on learning key definitions and revisisting them during revision time

Common Mistakes:

Q2(b) (Chemical Tests)

✗ Writing the wrong test, getting mixed up between tests, or not writing a chemical test at all, and writing incorrect observations.

→ Practice and learn all the chemical tests, including reagents and expected observations.

Q2(d) (Pollution)

✗ Giving vague answers about sewage or phosphates being harmful, instead of specifying the actual impact.

→ Describe the specific impacts of pollution (e.g., sewage causes disease, phosphates reduce oxygen in water).

Q2(e)(i) (Displayed Formula)

✗ Struggling to draw the displayed formula of ethanoic acid, especially showing the covalent bond between the oxygen and hydrogen in the OH group.

→ Practice drawing displayed formulas, paying close attention to all covalent bonds.

Q3(a)(i) (Metallic Character)

✗ Describing melting point, boiling point, density, outer electrons and reactivity rather than stating the trend of changes in the metallic character of the elements across a period

→ Focus on understanding the definition of each property and relating it to trends in the periodic table.

Paper 42 - Paper 4 Theory (Extended)

The overall standard was high, but some candidates were not familiar with the newer content of the syllabus. Candidates need to be careful in the use of subscripts in formulae and upper/lower case in symbols and read the question carefully. Calculations were generally done well but some candidates did not secure partial credit through lack of working.

Study Tips:

✓ Review sections in syllabus, especially on the new content.
✓ Practice writing ionic equations for precipitation reactions.
✓ Review the rules of solubility for common salts.

Common Mistakes:

Q1(b)(i) (Percentage Calculations)

✗ Assuming the total mass of iron within Fe2O3 was 56 (instead of 112) or to use the atomic number of Fe rather than the relative atomic mass.

→ Be careful to consider subscripts when calculating formula masses and use the relative atomic mass.

Q2(d)(i) (Covalent Bonding)

✗ Stating that 'when two or more atoms …’ or ‘when two or more electrons …’ are involved in covalent bonding, instead of two atoms sharing two electrons.

→ Remember that a covalent bond involves a pair of electrons (two electrons) shared between two atoms only

Q2(d)(ii)(iii) (Halogens and Halides)

✗ Stating iodine (a halogen) instead of iodide (a halide) and not stating what bromine was more reactive than.

→ Distinguish carefully between halogens and halides, and be specific when comparing reactivity.

Q2(g)(i) (Solubility Rules)

✗ Not knowing the rules of solubility of salts and stating 'lead bromide' rather than 'lead nitrate'.

→ Memorize and apply the solubility rules for common salts.

Insights extracted from the official Cambridge Examiner Report for 0620 March 2024. View full report →

About Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620)

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) is one of the most popular qualifications taken by students worldwide. The March 2024 examination session included 6 paper components, each testing different skills and knowledge areas.

This page contains all 0620 past papers from March 2024, including question papers (QP), mark schemes (MS), and examiner reports (ER). Use these resources to practice under timed conditions and understand how examiners award marks.

View all 0620 past papers → | All 2024 sessions →

Get Chemistry Study Tips

Join students preparing for 0620. Get weekly study tips, new past papers alerts, and exam reminders.

0620 Study Tips & FAQ

What are paper variants?

Cambridge releases multiple variants of each paper (e.g., Paper 11, 12, 13) to accommodate different time zones around the world and maintain exam security.

Variant 1 (e.g., 11, 21): Usually for Zone 1 (Americas)
Variant 2 (e.g., 12, 22): Usually for Zone 2 (Europe, Africa)
Variant 3 (e.g., 13, 23): Usually for Zone 3 (Asia, Oceania)

All variants cover the same syllabus and have similar difficulty. Practice with any variant to prepare effectively for your exam.

How to use Mark Schemes effectively

Mark schemes show exactly how examiners award marks for each question. Understanding them helps you write answers that earn full marks.

Example from a Physics mark scheme:

Q: Calculate the speed of a car that travels 150m in 5 seconds. [2]

Mark scheme answer:

• speed = distance / time [1 mark for formula]

• speed = 150 / 5 = 30 m/s [1 mark for correct answer with unit]

Tips:

Look for key words that must appear in your answer
Note how many points are needed for each mark
Check if units are required for the final mark
Understand the difference between "state" (brief) and "explain" (detailed)

Understanding Grade Thresholds

Grade thresholds show the minimum marks needed for each grade. They vary each session based on paper difficulty — harder papers have lower thresholds.

Example Grade Thresholds (out of 100 total):

90+

80-89

70-79

60-69

* Actual thresholds vary by subject and session

How to use thresholds:

Set realistic target marks based on your goal grade
Track your practice paper scores against thresholds
Remember: you don't need 100% for an A* — aim for consistency
Compare thresholds across sessions to gauge difficulty trends

How is the topic breakdown calculated?

The "Topics Breakdown by Paper" section above shows which syllabus topics are tested in each paper and how many marks they carry. Here's how we calculate this:

Our methodology:

Extract questions: We analyze each question paper (QP) and identify individual questions and their mark allocations (shown in square brackets, e.g., [3]).
Match to syllabus: Each question is matched to the official Cambridge 0620 syllabus topics based on keywords, concepts, and question content.
Sum marks per topic: For each paper, we add up the marks for all questions testing the same topic. For example, if Q1 (4 marks) and Q5b (3 marks) both test "Enzymes", that topic shows as "7 marks" for that paper.

Example: If Paper 3 shows "Photosynthesis - 13 marks", it means questions worth a total of 13 marks (out of the paper's 80 marks) tested the Photosynthesis topic from the Plant Nutrition unit of the syllabus.

How to use this: Look at the paper(s) you'll be taking (e.g., Papers 2, 4, 6 for Extended tier). The topics with the highest marks in YOUR papers are where you should focus your revision. A topic worth 15 marks deserves more study time than one worth 3 marks.

Note: Our topic matching may be inaccurate for questions that span multiple topics. Use this as a guide alongside the official syllabus.

How to Use IGCSE Chemistry Past Papers

📝 Timed Practice

Complete papers under exam conditions. 0620 Paper 4 is 1 hr 15 min - practice finishing within this time to build exam stamina.

✅ Self-Marking

Use the mark scheme to score your answers. Look for marking points you missed and understand what examiners expect in Chemistry responses.

📊 Examiner Reports

Read the 0620 examiner report to see common mistakes. Focus revision on topics where candidates typically lose marks.

🎯 Grade Targets

Check grade thresholds to see how many marks you need for your target grade. An A* in IGCSE Chemistry typically requires 85-90%.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I download IGCSE Chemistry March 2024 past papers?

You can download all IGCSE Chemistry (0620) March 2024 past papers directly from this page. We provide 15 files including question papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports for all variants (11, 12, 13). Click "View" to open in browser or "Download" to save the PDF.

Are 0620 mark schemes included?

Yes, mark schemes for all 0620 March 2024 papers are included. Each question paper has a corresponding mark scheme showing expected answers and mark allocation.

What papers are available for IGCSE Chemistry 0620?

IGCSE Chemistry (0620) has 6 papers: Paper 1 (Multiple Choice (Core)), Paper 2 (Multiple Choice (Extended)), Paper 3 (Theory (Core)), Paper 4 (Theory (Extended)), Paper 5 (Practical Test), Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical). Core tier students take Papers 1, 3, 5/6. Extended tier students take Papers 2, 4, 5/6.

What is the difference between paper variants 11, 12, and 13?

The three variants (11, 12, 13) are different versions of the same paper used in different time zones to prevent cheating. All variants test the same syllabus content at the same difficulty level. You can practice with any variant as they are equally valid for revision.

How can I practice these past papers effectively?

Use our free Exam Hub to practice past papers like real exams. It lets you view question papers and mark schemes side-by-side, so you can self-mark your answers. No sign-up required, works with any PDF, and your files stay completely private.

Continue Studying Chemistry

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