IGCSE Physics 0625 — May-June 2023 Past Papers, Topics & Exam Tips
The Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) May-June 2023 session consisted of 6 papers across 18 variants, covering 20 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.
Study Resources for Physics
Prepare for your exam with these complementary resources:
Jump straight to the topics this session tested most:
0625 May-June 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 May-June 2023 tests 11 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Energy, work and power (Motion, forces and energy) worth 14 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Forces (9 marks) and Motion (8 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 May-June 2023 tests 9 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Motion (Motion, forces and energy) worth 17 marks out of 80 total marks. Other significant topics include Electromagnetic spectrum (9 marks) and Electromagnetic effects (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 Motion 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 May-June 2023 tests 3 different syllabus topics. The highest-weighted topic is Mass and weight (Motion, forces and energy) worth 11 marks out of 40 total marks. Other significant topics include Kinetic particle model of matter (11 marks) and Light (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 Mass and weight 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 May-June 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 Light (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.
Topic coverage in May-June 2023
Marks in this session were weighted unevenly across the 20 syllabus topics, with the heaviest emphasis on Light. Substantial weight also fell on Kinetic particle model of matter and Energy, work and power , with Motion and Electric circuits rounding out the five most-tested areas. Together these five topics made up about 51% of the topic-level marks awarded in the May-June 2023 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 May-June 2023
- → Light: Fix in your mind that a light-year quantifies distance: the total distance light covers in one complete year.
- → Kinetic particle model of matter: Whenever explaining kinetic theory, specifically talk about the motion of particles and how momentum changes.
- → Energy, work and power: Memorise the work equation: Work (in joules) = Force (in newtons) × Distance (in metres).
- → Motion: Before analysing a motion graph, double-check what the x-axis and y-axis represent.
- → Electric circuits: Use Lenz's Law to picture repulsion: an approaching North pole induces a North pole to oppose that movement, and vice versa for a South pole.
Other Resources
Additional materials to help you prepare and understand how exams are marked.
What was tested on each paper — 0625 May-June 2023
Here's which syllabus topics appeared in each of the 6 Physics 0625 papers in May-June 2023 and how the marks broke down. Focus your revision on the papers you're sitting — Papers 1, 3 and 5 or 6 for Core tier; Papers 2, 4 and 5 or 6 for Extended tier. Click any topic below to jump straight to our revision notes, or browse the full Physics 0625 revision guide →.
Paper 3 — Theory (Core) · 80 marks total
Tested 11 topics. The heaviest-weighted were Energy, work and power (14m), Forces (9m), Motion (8m), General properties of waves (7m), Electrical quantities (7m) and The nuclear model of the atom (7m), plus 5 other topics.
Paper 4 — Theory (Extended) · 80 marks total
Tested 9 topics. The heaviest-weighted were Motion (17m), Electromagnetic spectrum (9m), Electromagnetic effects (9m), Energy, work and power (8m), Light (8m) and Electric circuits (8m), plus 3 other topics.
Paper 6 — Alternative to Practical · 40 marks total
Tested 3 topics. The heaviest-weighted were Physical quantities and measurement techniques (11m), Kinetic particle model of matter (11m) and Light (11m).
0625 May-June 2023 at a glance
- Papers: 6 (18 variants total)
- Topics covered: 20
- Highest-weighted topic: Light
- Grade thresholds: released by Cambridge (linked above)
- Session feedback: Cambridge report available
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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.
Which variant you sit is set by your school's administrative zone: in the November 2026 timetable, for 0625, Variant 1 is sat in Zones 2 and 3, Variant 2 in Zones 4 and 5, and Variant 3 in Zones 1 and 6. Which zones sit which variant differs from subject to subject, so ask your exams officer which zone your school is in.
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.
June 2023, option BX (components 21, 41, 51), out of 200:
From the Cambridge grade threshold table, June 2023. Each option has its own thresholds: see every 0625 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 the same topic, that topic shows as "7 marks" for that paper.
How to use this: Look at the paper(s) you'll be taking (e.g., Papers 2, 4 and 5 or 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 (Theory, Extended) 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
In June 2023, an A* in IGCSE Physics needed 128 to 151 out of 200 (64% to 76%) on the Extended options, depending on the option (Cambridge grade threshold table, June 2023). See the grade thresholds for every 0625 session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download IGCSE Physics May-June 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?
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