Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) - March 2023 Past Papers
Download 15 free IGCSE Physics past papers, mark schemes, and examiner reports from the March 2023 Cambridge examination session. Includes question papers for all variants with full solutions.
About IGCSE Physics (0625)
IGCSE Physics examines fundamental concepts including motion, forces, energy, waves, electricity, magnetism, and nuclear physics. Candidates must demonstrate understanding of physical phenomena, apply mathematical equations, and analyze experimental data.
What this exam tests: Key skills tested include calculations, graph interpretation, practical methodology, and explaining scientific concepts.
Papers available in variants 11, 12, 13 for different time zones. All variants cover the same Physics syllabus with equal difficulty.
Study Resources for Physics
Prepare for your exam with these complementary resources:
0625 March 2023 Papers
0625 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.
0625 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.
0625 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 (11 topics, 80 marks total)
This 0625 Paper 3 from March 2023 tests 11 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Energy, work and power (Motion, forces and energy) worth 15 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Density (10 marks) and General properties of waves (9 marks).
Mark distribution by topic:
Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Physics revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Energy, work and power to maximize your score.
0625 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 (9 topics, 80 marks total)
This 0625 Paper 4 from March 2023 tests 9 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Energy, work and power (Motion, forces and energy) worth 13 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Kinetic particle model of matter (11 marks) and Light (10 marks).
Mark distribution by topic:
Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Physics revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Energy, work and power to maximize your score.
0625 Paper 5 - Practical Test
1 hr 15 min • 40 marks
Tests practical skills including planning experiments, recording data, and drawing conclusions from results.
View syllabus topics tested in Paper 5 (3 topics, 40 marks total)
This 0625 Paper 5 from March 2023 tests 3 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Physical quantities and measurement techniques (Motion, forces and energy) worth 11 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Kinetic particle model of matter (11 marks) and Electrical quantities (11 marks).
Mark distribution by topic:
Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Physics revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Physical quantities and measurement techniques to maximize your score.
0625 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 0625 Paper 6 from March 2023 tests 3 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Physical quantities and measurement techniques (Motion, forces and energy) worth 11 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Kinetic particle model of matter (11 marks) and Electrical quantities (11 marks).
Mark distribution by topic:
Understanding which topics carry the most marks helps you prioritize your Physics revision. Practice questions from high-mark topics like Physical quantities and measurement techniques to maximize your score.
Other Resources
Additional materials to help you prepare and understand how exams are marked.
0625 March 2023 - Topics Breakdown by Paper
Each Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) paper tests specific syllabus topics. Below is a breakdown of topics for each paper in March 2023, showing how marks are distributed. Use this to focus your revision on topics relevant to your papers.
0625 Paper 3 (Theory (Core))
80 marks total+ 5 more topics
0625 Paper 4 (Theory (Extended))
80 marks total+ 3 more topics
0625 Paper 5 (Practical Test)
40 marks totalStudy 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 2023
Key feedback from Cambridge examiners on how students performed
Key Takeaways
- • Read questions carefully and understand the specific context and what is being asked before attempting an answer.
- • Pay close attention to units and conversions, ensuring all quantities are in base SI units before calculations.
- • Practice applying known equations and concepts to new and unfamiliar situations.
- • Develop practical skills through regular experimental work and learn to identify potential sources of error.
- • Always show your working in calculations to maximize the potential for partial credit.
Paper 12 - Multiple Choice (Core)
Candidates demonstrated a solid understanding of basic concepts but struggled with questions requiring deeper analysis and application of knowledge. A common issue was overlooking units or misinterpreting data presented in different units. They need to pay close attention to the specific measurements and their units.
Study Tips:
- ✓ Practice identifying forces and their directions in different scenarios.
- ✓ Pay close attention to units and conversions, especially when applying formulas.
- ✓ Review the concepts of gravity, moments, and spring extension.
Common Mistakes:
Paper 22 - Multiple Choice (Extended)
Candidates demonstrated a good grasp of core concepts, but struggled with questions requiring multi-step calculations and a deeper understanding of underlying principles. A key area of difficulty was the application of concepts to less familiar situations.
Study Tips:
- ✓ Practice multi-step calculations to improve problem-solving skills.
- ✓ Review the relationships between forces, motion, and acceleration.
- ✓ Focus on understanding the underlying principles of electromagnetic induction.
Common Mistakes:
Paper 32 - Core Theory
Candidates demonstrated good knowledge of equations but struggled with applying them to new situations and providing detailed explanations. Many candidates did not read the questions carefully enough or failed to show their working, limiting their potential for partial credit.
Study Tips:
- ✓ Practice applying known equations to new and unfamiliar situations.
- ✓ Always show your working in calculations to allow for partial credit.
- ✓ Read questions carefully and ensure you understand exactly what is being asked.
Common Mistakes:
Paper 42 - Theory (Extended)
Most candidates were capable of complex calculations, but struggled with precise definitions, applying knowledge to specific situations, and drawing accurate diagrams. There was an overall tendency to not read questions carefully enough.
Study Tips:
- ✓ Practice precise definitions of key terms and units.
- ✓ Carefully analyze the specific situation described in each question before applying your knowledge.
- ✓ Always show your working in calculations, including correct units.
Common Mistakes:
Insights extracted from the official Cambridge Examiner Report for 0625 March 2023. View full report →
About Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625)
Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) is one of the most popular qualifications taken by students worldwide. The March 2023 examination session included 6 paper components, each testing different skills and knowledge areas.
This page contains all 0625 past papers from March 2023, 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.
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0625 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 0625 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 Physics Past Papers
📝 Timed Practice
Complete papers under exam conditions. 0625 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 Physics responses.
📊 Examiner Reports
Read the 0625 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 Physics typically requires 85-90%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download IGCSE Physics March 2023 past papers?
Are 0625 mark schemes included?
What papers are available for IGCSE Physics 0625?
What is the difference between paper variants 11, 12, and 13?
How can I practice these past papers effectively?
Continue Studying Physics
Prepare for these topics before attempting the past papers:
Copyright & Educational Use
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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.
For official examination resources, registration, and support, please visit cambridgeinternational.org.