IGCSE Chemistry 0620 — October-November 2024 Past Papers, Topics & Exam Tips
The Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry (0620) October-November 2024 session consisted of 6 papers across 18 variants, covering 23 syllabus topics across all papers. This page links to every question paper, mark scheme, grade threshold and session feedback document released by Cambridge for this session, together with a topic-level breakdown of what was tested and topic-matched exam tips in our own voice.
Topic coverage in October-November 2024
Marks in this session were weighted unevenly across the 23 syllabus topics, with the heaviest emphasis on Calculations. Substantial weight also fell on Acids and bases and Solids, liquids and gases , with Electrolysis and Reactivity series rounding out the five most-tested areas. Together these five topics made up well over half of the topic-level marks awarded in the October-November 2024 session — a useful signal for where to focus revision time. The full topic-by-paper breakdown is further down the page.
Exam tips for topics in October-November 2024
- → Calculations: When finding formula mass, pay attention to the little numbers in the formula (subscripts) and always use relative ATOMIC mass, not atomic number.
- → Acids and bases: Clarify the difference: strong acids fully dissociate in water, while weak acids only partially do; pH measures [H+].
- → Solids, liquids and gases: List out the common gases (O2, N2, CO2, NH3, Cl2, etc.) and note their distinctive physical and chemical properties.
- → Electrolysis: Draw flowcharts differentiating the products formed during electrolysis of concentrated versus dilute aqueous halide solutions.
- → Reactivity series: Link manganate(VII)'s purple hue to its oxidizing role in organic reactions.
Study Resources for Chemistry
Prepare for your exam with these complementary resources:
0620 October-November 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.
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.
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.
View syllabus topics tested in Paper 3 (7 topics, 80 marks total)
This 0620 Paper 3 from October-November 2024 tests 7 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Elements, compounds and mixtures (Atoms, elements and compounds) worth 21 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Water (11 marks) and Group VII - Halogens (11 marks).
Mark distribution by topic:
Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Chemistry revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Elements, compounds and mixtures 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.
View syllabus topics tested in Paper 4 (6 topics, 80 marks total)
This 0620 Paper 4 from October-November 2024 tests 6 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Electrolysis (Electrochemistry) worth 18 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells (17 marks) and Atomic structure (14 marks).
Mark distribution by topic:
Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Chemistry revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Electrolysis 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.
0620 Paper 6 - Alternative to Practical
1 hr • 40 marks
Written paper testing practical skills through questions about experimental methods, data, and analysis.
View syllabus topics tested in Paper 6 (3 topics, 40 marks total)
This 0620 Paper 6 from October-November 2024 tests 3 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Calculations (Stoichiometry) worth 19 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Solids, liquids and gases (10 marks) and Formulae (5 marks).
Mark distribution by topic:
Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Chemistry revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Calculations to maximize your score.
Other Resources
Additional materials to help you prepare and understand how exams are marked.
What was tested on each paper — 0620 October-November 2024
Here's which syllabus topics appeared in each of the 6 Chemistry 0620 papers in October-November 2024 and how the marks broke down. Focus your revision on the papers you're sitting — Papers 1, 3 and 6 for Core tier; Papers 2, 4 and 6 for Extended tier. Click any topic below to jump straight to our revision notes, or browse the full Chemistry 0620 revision guide →.
Paper 3 — Theory (Core) · 80 marks total
Tested 7 topics. The heaviest-weighted were Elements, compounds and mixtures (21m), Water (11m), Group VII - Halogens (11m), Group I - Alkali metals (11m), Acids and bases (10m) and Bonding (8m), plus 1 other topic.
Paper 4 — Theory (Extended) · 80 marks total
Tested 6 topics. The heaviest-weighted were Electrolysis (18m), Hydrogen-oxygen fuel cells (17m), Atomic structure (14m), Acids and bases (14m), Calculations (12m) and Reversible reactions and equilibrium (5m).
Paper 6 — Alternative to Practical · 40 marks total
Tested 3 topics. The heaviest-weighted were Calculations (19m), Solids, liquids and gases (10m) and Formulae (5m).
0620 October-November 2024 at a glance
- Papers: 6 (18 variants total)
- Topics covered: 23
- Highest-weighted topic: Calculations
- Grade thresholds: released by Cambridge (linked above)
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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:
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):
* 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 October-November 2024 past papers?
Are 0620 mark schemes included?
What papers are available for IGCSE Chemistry 0620?
What is the difference between paper variants 11, 12, and 13?
How can I practice these past papers effectively?
Continue Studying Chemistry
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