Question 1

What does Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry cover?

Accepted Answer

Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (0654) covers all three sciences together, and the Chemistry component spans 12 chapters across the 2025–2027 syllabus: states of matter, atoms and bonding, stoichiometry, electrochemistry, chemical energetics, rates of reaction and redox, acids and salts, the Periodic Table, metals, environmental chemistry, organic chemistry, and experimental techniques and chemical analysis (C1–C12).

On the Extended route, you study both the Core content and the Supplement, which builds on each chapter with greater depth, more detailed explanations, and additional quantitative work. Our notes are structured to show Core and Extended content clearly, so you always know which level of detail you need for your papers.

Question 2

How is practical work assessed in Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry?

Accepted Answer

Practical work in Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (0654) is assessed through a dedicated written paper that all candidates must sit: either **Paper 5 (Practical Test)**, which lasts 2 hours, or **Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical)**, which lasts 1 hour 30 minutes. Both papers carry 60 marks and account for 20% of your overall qualification. The questions are written rather than hands-on, covering experimental skills such as planning investigations, recording observations, interpreting data, and evaluating methods.

Practical skills are woven throughout the Co-ordinated Sciences specification rather than forming a separate named list of required practicals, so the best preparation is building a strong understanding of experimental techniques across all the Chemistry chapters. Our notes walk through the key practical content topic by topic, and our exam practice gives you the chance to apply those skills to the style of questions you'll face in Paper 5 or Paper 6.

Question 3

How does the Core tier differ from the Extended tier?

Accepted Answer

**Grades:** Core candidates can achieve CC to GG; Extended candidates can achieve A*A* to GG on the Double Award scale.

**Topics:** Extended candidates study the Core content plus the Supplement, which adds deeper material across all 12 Chemistry chapters; Core candidates study the Core content only and can achieve a maximum of grade CC.

**Required practicals:** Both routes sit the same practical paper, either Paper 5 (Practical Test, 2 hours) or Paper 6 (Alternative to Practical, 1 hour 30 minutes), each worth 20% of the qualification.

**Exam structure:**

| | Core | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| MCQ | Paper 1, 45 min, 40 marks (30%) | Paper 2, 45 min, 40 marks (30%) |
| Theory | Paper 3, 2 hours, 120 marks (50%) | Paper 4, 2 hours, 120 marks (50%) |
| Practical | Paper 5 or 6 (20%) | Paper 5 or 6 (20%) |

**Question types:** Both routes include 40 four-option multiple-choice questions and short-answer and structured questions in the theory paper; Extended papers draw on Supplement content, so our Extended notes walk through all of that deeper material for you.

Question 4

Where should I start with IGCSE Chemistry revision?

Accepted Answer

Getting to grips with the content first is a sensible place to begin, especially because AO1 (knowledge with understanding) makes up 50% of your overall marks, meaning solid chemistry knowledge gives you the biggest return early in revision. Our notes walk through all 12 Chemistry chapters (C1 to C12), from States of matter right through to Experimental techniques and chemical analysis, so working through them in order gives you a clear, structured path through the whole course. Once you feel confident on the content, our quizzes are a great way to test yourself using active recall, which really helps the knowledge stick. For the Extended route specifically, make sure you cover the Supplement material in each chapter alongside the Core, since both are tested across Paper 2 and Paper 4.

Question 5

What's on Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry?

Accepted Answer

Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award, 0654) is one qualification covering all three sciences, so every paper you sit as an Extended candidate tests Biology, Chemistry and Physics together.

| Paper | Topics covered | Length | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 2: Multiple Choice (Extended) | Biology, Chemistry and Physics (Core + Supplement content) | 45 minutes | 30% |
| Paper 4: Theory (Extended) | Biology, Chemistry and Physics (Core + Supplement content) | 2 hours | 50% |
| Paper 5: Practical Test *or* Paper 6: Alternative to Practical | Experimental skills across all three sciences | 2 hours (Paper 5) or 1 hour 30 minutes (Paper 6) | 20% |

The Chemistry content spans 12 chapters (C1–C12), running from states of matter and atomic structure through to organic chemistry and experimental techniques. Our notes walk through each Chemistry chapter carefully, helping you build the knowledge and understanding that accounts for the largest share of the marks.

Question 6

Can I use these notes as my Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry textbook?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our notes are written to cover the Chemistry component of Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (0654) at the Extended level, tracking all 12 Chemistry chapters (C1–C12) in the 2025–2027 syllabus, so they work brilliantly as your go-to chemistry resource.

It's worth knowing that 0654 is a Double Award covering all three sciences, meaning your papers will also test Biology and Physics content alongside Chemistry. For full exam readiness, we'd suggest pairing these Chemistry notes with our Biology and Physics resources too.

Our flashcards and quizzes complement the notes well for spaced retrieval practice, and our exam practice helps you apply what you've covered across each chapter.

Question 7

How do I get a grade A* in Cambridge International IGCSE Chemistry Extended?

Accepted Answer

Reaching A*A* on the Extended route means performing strongly across all three assessment objectives that Cambridge International uses to set grades. AO1 (Knowledge with understanding) makes up 50% of the qualification, so secure recall of Chemistry chapters C1–C12 alongside the Biology and Physics content is foundational. AO2 (Handling information and problem-solving) accounts for 30%, which means you also need to apply that knowledge confidently to unfamiliar data and multi-step calculations. AO3 (Experimental skills and investigations) makes up the remaining 20%, tested through Paper 5 or Paper 6, so practising how to plan, record, and evaluate experiments matters too.

The exact grade boundary shifts every year based on paper difficulty and candidate performance, so we'd suggest focusing on genuine command of the material rather than targeting a fixed percentage. Our notes walk through all 12 Chemistry chapters at Extended level, and our exam practice helps you work through the kind of data-handling and problem-solving questions that separate A* candidates from the rest. Spaced retrieval across all three science strands is worth building into your revision routine, since every paper tests Biology, Chemistry and Physics together.