0620

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) - May-June 2024 Past Papers

Download 41 free IGCSE Chemistry past papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports from the May-June 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 May-June 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.

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All variants (different time zones):

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.

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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.

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View syllabus topics tested in Paper 3 (7 topics, 80 marks total)

This 0620 Paper 3 from May-June 2024 tests 7 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Reactivity series (Metals) worth 22 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Formulae, functional groups and nomenclature (12 marks) and Group I - Alkali metals (11 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Reactivity series 22/80
Formulae, functional groups and nomenclature 12/80
Group I - Alkali metals 11/80
Air and air quality 11/80
Particle theory 9/80
Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells 8/80
Elements, compounds and mixtures 7/80

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Chemistry revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Reactivity series 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.

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

This 0620 Paper 4 from May-June 2024 tests 5 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Formulae (Stoichiometry) worth 30 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Group I - Alkali metals (14 marks) and Reactivity series (14 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Formulae 30/80
Group I - Alkali metals 14/80
Reactivity series 14/80
Reversible reactions and equilibrium 10/80
Electrolysis of specific substances 7/80

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

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

This 0620 Paper 5 from May-June 2024 tests 2 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Particle theory (States of matter) worth 20 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Solids, liquids and gases (14 marks)

Mark distribution by topic:

Particle theory 20/40
Solids, liquids and gases 14/40

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Chemistry revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Particle theory 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.

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

This 0620 Paper 6 from May-June 2024 tests 3 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Particle theory (States of matter) worth 20 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Acids and bases (7 marks) and Solids, liquids and gases (7 marks).

Mark distribution by topic:

Particle theory 20/40
Acids and bases 7/40
Solids, liquids and gases 7/40

Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Chemistry revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Particle theory 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.

Confidential Instructions

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

0620 May-June 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 May-June 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
Reactivity series (Metals)
22m
Formulae, functional groups and nomenclature (Organic chemistry)
12m
Group I - Alkali metals (The Periodic Table)
11m
Air and air quality (Chemistry of the environment)
11m
Particle theory (States of matter)
9m
Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells (Electrochemistry)
8m

+ 1 more topics

0620 Paper 4 (Theory (Extended))

80 marks total
Formulae (Stoichiometry)
30m
Group I - Alkali metals (The Periodic Table)
14m
Reactivity series (Metals)
14m
Reversible reactions and equilibrium (Chemical reactions)
10m
Electrolysis of specific substances (Electrochemistry)
7m

0620 Paper 5 (Practical Test)

40 marks total
Particle theory (States of matter)
20m
Solids, liquids and gases (States of matter)
14m

0620 Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical)

40 marks total
Particle theory (States of matter)
20m
Acids and bases (Acids, bases and salts)
7m
Solids, liquids and gases (States of matter)
7m

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.

About Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620)

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

This page contains all 0620 past papers from May-June 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.

Get Chemistry Study Tips

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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):

A*
90+
A
80-89
B
70-79
C
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:

  1. Extract questions: We analyze each question paper (QP) and identify individual questions and their mark allocations (shown in square brackets, e.g., [3]).
  2. Match to syllabus: Each question is matched to the official Cambridge 0620 syllabus topics based on keywords, concepts, and question content.
  3. 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 May-June 2024 past papers?
You can download all IGCSE Chemistry (0620) May-June 2024 past papers directly from this page. We provide 41 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 May-June 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.

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We share these materials freely for educational purposes to help students prepare for their examinations. This platform is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge International.

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