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IGCSE Chemistry 0620 Paper 2: Equations and Conservation
Chemistry: multiple choice is decided by formulae and conservation
Paper 2 is multiple choice, and the whole paper fits into forty-five minutes at well under ninety seconds an item. Losses usually come from stalling between two nearly-right options, or from finishing a mole calculation without checking units. Drill one fixed rhythm: write the equation, substitute, then check conservation.
How is IGCSE Chemistry 0620 Paper 2 assessed, and what does each part carry?
Paper 2 (Multiple Choice, Extended): 40 four-option items, 40 marks (30%); Paper 4 (Theory, Extended): Short-answer and structured, 80 marks (50%)
Assessment at a glance (2027)
| Component | Content | Weighting | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 2 (Multiple Choice, Extended) | 40 four-option items, 40 marks | 30% | 45 min |
| Paper 4 (Theory, Extended) | Short-answer and structured, 80 marks | 50% | 1 h 15 min |
IGCSE Chemistry Paper 2 drilling technique: 40 questions in 45 minutes is about 68 s each. Tools: sum Mr, n = m / Mr, reduction at the cathode, oxidation at the anode; balance charge in ionic equations.
What each paper is actually testing
| Paper | Drill focus | How marks are lost |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 2 (Multiple Choice, Extended) | core + supplement content | A stoichiometry item jumps to substitution with an unbalanced equation, so the mole ratio is wrong from the start and three of the four options follow it. |
| Paper 4 (Theory, Extended) | formulae + explanation | Acid and redox items memorise a colour change without deciding the direction of electron transfer, and an ion equation that does not balance charge still gets chosen. |
What is each IGCSE Chemistry 0620 Paper 2 paper really testing, and what should you drill?
Paper 2 (Multiple Choice, Extended): core + supplement content; Paper 4 (Theory, Extended): formulae + explanation
Drill order: by topic, then by year, then the mark scheme
| Step | What you do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. By topic | Work through each topic, starting with the paper that allows least help (no calculator / closed book) | Exposes what is genuinely not understood |
| 2. By year | Whole papers to time, one or two a week | Trains pace, stamina and question selection |
| 3. Mark scheme | Go through the marking scheme question by question and log the scoring steps you missed | Most lost marks are written wrong, not thought wrong |
Should drilling go by topic first or by year?
By topic first, then whole papers by year, then the mark scheme. The first third of the time goes topic by topic (8-10 years of the same topic back to back), the middle switches to timed whole papers, and the last fortnight only redoes the recurring errors from your log.
A 12-week drilling timetable
| Week | Phase | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1-3 | By topic: foundation | Topic by topic, starting with the easiest marks, building habits and recall |
| Weeks 4-6 | By topic: core | 8-10 years of the same topic back to back, errors classified by topic |
| Weeks 7-8 | By topic: advanced and electives | Elective and higher-order topics, now under time pressure |
| Weeks 9-10 | By year: timed papers | One full paper a week, timed, no reference materials |
| Week 11 | Mark scheme work | Question by question against the marking scheme; list the scoring steps you omitted |
| Week 12 | Plug holes and simulate | Only the recurring errors from your log, then one full exam simulation |
Subject-specific weighting for this timetable: Weeks 1-3: atomic structure and the periodic table. Write the electron arrangement first, then read off group and properties.\nWeeks 4-6: stoichiometry. Balance, write the ratio, substitute, and keep units beside every line.\nWeeks 7-9: acids, redox and electrolysis. State who loses and who gains electrons, and keep the two electrode reactions on separate lines.\nWeeks 10-12: whole papers to time at eighty seconds an item, skipping on the buzzer; redo only the stoichiometry and electron-transfer errors.
Use it properly: this is not a checklist to finish. Every week must keep time for redoing errors, or from week 9 you will be repeating the same batch.
Pacing
| Paper | Time | Suggested split |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 2 (Multiple Choice, Extended) | 45 min | about 68 s per question |
| Paper 4 (Theory, Extended) | 1 h 15 min | about 9 min per question |
How should the time be split inside each IGCSE Chemistry 0620 Paper 2 paper?
Paper 2 (Multiple Choice, Extended): about 68 s per question; Paper 4 (Theory, Extended): about 9 min per question
The drilling mistakes that cost the most marks
| Mistake | What it looks like | What actually happens | Instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mr not multiplied | CO2 as 28 | Two oxygens: 12+16×2 | 44 |
| Mole formula inverted | n = Mr/m | n = m/Mr | 1 mol |
| Electrode reactions swapped | Cathode oxidises | Cathode reduces, anode oxidises | cathode reduces |
The error log and the mark scheme
Three columns: the question with the equation written, the correct ratio or electron direction, and whether the loss was an unbalanced equation, a unit or the concept. Count unbalanced equations separately – they recur in exactly the same shape.
How many years should you drill?
The 0620 multiple-choice style has been stable for years, and the last five sessions cover the extended content; older papers are still good for calculation, though the wording has moved on, so follow the current textbook where a notation looks unfamiliar.
How many years of past papers is enough?
The 0620 multiple-choice style has been stable for years, and the last five sessions cover the extended content; older papers are still good for calculation, though the wording has moved on, so follow the current textbook where a notation looks unfamiliar.
Frequently asked questions
Is this page a mock paper or a drilling guide?
This is the IGCSE Chemistry 0620 Paper 2 drilling guide: assessment structure, drill order, a 12-week timetable, pacing, common mark losses and the error-log method. For questions with answers, use the IGCSE Chemistry 0620 Paper 2 mock papers linked under Related.
By topic or by year first?
By topic. Eight to ten years of the same topic back to back is what exposes repeating errors; going straight to whole papers just repeats the same batch under time pressure.
How should the error log be written?
Do not copy out questions. Per error record four things: question reference, which step failed (concept, wording, calculation), what the mark scheme requires, and the correct action next time.
How should an unknown item be guessed?
Delete two options, then use conservation or units to separate the remaining pair. If there is no foothold, flag it and move on – a calculation item is worth the same as a recall item.
Must equations be memorised?
Yes, but not one by one. Learn the ionic pattern for each family – acid plus metal, acid plus carbonate – then the handful of exceptions, so nothing has to be derived from scratch.
Official references
| Resource | What to use it for |
|---|---|
| Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 page | Confirm the paper marks and times |
| https://www.tutorzone.com.hk/en-igcse-chemistry-0620-paper-4-mock-2027/ | IGCSE Chemistry Paper 4 drilling mock |
Related: practice area · IGCSE Chemistry Paper 4 drilling mock
Next step: find a tutor / register as a tutor
After drilling, the hard part is telling a conceptual error from a writing error. Tell us the year group, the school and your available times, and TutorZone will match you with a tutor who knows the HKEAA assessment requirements.
Demand for tutors in this subject is steady, and those who can explain the marking scheme and where marks are won are especially sought after. Register free; you pay only when a match succeeds.
