Question 1

How do I get full marks on a 6-mark question in Cambridge International (CIE / Cambridge Assessment International Education) IGCSE Physics?

Accepted Answer

Longer structured questions on Paper 4 (Theory Extended) reward answers that combine accurate physics knowledge with clear, connected reasoning. Where a question uses a levels-of-response approach, examiners assess the overall quality of your explanation rather than ticking off isolated facts, so a logically built answer with precise scientific vocabulary will consistently outscore a scattered one.

We'd suggest starting by reading the command word carefully, since CIE uses specific command words to signal the type of response expected. Plan two or three distinct physics points before you write, use the correct terminology from the syllabus, and make sure each point connects to the next rather than sitting in isolation. Our exam practice includes worked examples showing the depth and phrasing CIE rewards, which is one of the most effective ways to understand what a full-mark answer looks like.

Question 2

What do the levels in the Cambridge International (CIE / Cambridge Assessment International Education) IGCSE Physics mark scheme mean?

Accepted Answer

Mark schemes can feel cryptic at first, so understanding the marking framework really helps. For Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625), all marks trace back to three assessment objectives: **AO1** (knowledge and understanding, worth 50% of the qualification), **AO2** (handling information and problem-solving, 30%), and **AO3** (experimental skills and investigations, 20%).

The specific way marks are credited varies by question type, and the detail of what earns each mark is best seen through worked examples rather than a general description. Our exam practice includes model answers that show the quality of response an examiner is looking for, and we'd suggest working through those alongside past papers to build a feel for the standard required at each mark level.

Question 3

What's the difference between Cognito's exam practice and past papers?

Accepted Answer

Our exam practice organises questions by topic, so you can focus your revision on specific areas of the Cambridge IGCSE Physics spec without needing to work through a full paper every time. Past papers give you the full Extended route experience across Paper 2, Paper 4 and your choice of Paper 5 or Paper 6, which is useful when you want to test yourself against the whole paper in one go. We'd suggest using our exam practice and our by-topic view to build confidence area by area first, then turning to past papers once the individual topics feel solid.

Question 4

How long should I spend on each question in the exam?

Accepted Answer

A simple way to plan your time is to use the mark allocation as your guide, since each paper is designed so that roughly one mark equals roughly one minute. Here's how that plays out across your three papers:

| Paper | Duration | Marks | Rough guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 2 (MCQ, Extended) | 45 min | 40 questions | ~1 min per question |
| Paper 4 (Theory, Extended) | 1 hr 15 min | 80 marks | ~1 min per mark |
| Paper 5 (Practical Test) | 1 hr 15 min | 40 marks | ~2 min per mark |
| Paper 6 (Alt. to Practical) | 1 hr | 40 marks | ~1.5 min per mark |

For Paper 4, we'd suggest using the mark allocation printed beside each question part as your pacing signal, so a 6-mark question gets around 6 minutes of your time. Our exam practice shows the marks available for every question part, which makes it much easier to build this habit as you work through practice questions.