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IGCSE Physics 0625 Paper 2: Multiple-Choice Decisions
Physics: units and dimensions as a multiple-choice instinct
Multiple-choice marks are rarely lost through total ignorance; they are lost because all four options can be produced from the same formula. Get the unit conversion, the direction or the order of magnitude wrong and accurate arithmetic still lands on the wrong letter. Drill the dimension check before the calculation.
How is IGCSE Physics 0625 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 Physics Paper 2 drilling technique: 40 questions in 45 minutes is about 68 s each. Formulas: a = dv/t, W = mg, v = f x lambda, I = V/R; do confident items first and flag hard ones.
What each paper is actually testing
| Paper | Drill focus | How marks are lost |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 2 (Multiple Choice, Extended) | core + supplement content | Unit conversion fails – milliamps read as amps, kilowatt-hours as joules – and the distractors are built on exactly that slip, so the wrong letter looks unremarkable. |
| Paper 4 (Theory, Extended) | calculation + explanation | Direction and sign reverse: force, velocity, induced current or field drawn the wrong way, or vectors added as scalars, giving the right number with the wrong direction. |
What is each IGCSE Physics 0625 Paper 2 paper really testing, and what should you drill?
Paper 2 (Multiple Choice, Extended): core + supplement content; Paper 4 (Theory, Extended): calculation + 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: mechanics and motion. Free-body diagram, then the direction convention, then the formula; convert to standard units first.\nWeeks 4-6: thermal and waves. One diagram comparing conduction, convection and radiation; label wavelength, frequency and speed on every wave item.\nWeeks 7-9: electricity and atomic physics. Mark current direction and potential before calculating; open every induction answer with the change in flux.\nWeeks 10-12: timed papers, a limit per question, answers marked on the spot; redo only the unit and direction 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 Physics 0625 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceleration unit | Writing m/s | Use m/s^2 | 4 m/s^2 |
| Weight as mass | W = 4 | W = mg = 39.2 N | 39.2 N |
| Resistance/voltage mixed | I = 12×4 | I = V/R | 3 A |
The error log and the mark scheme
Three columns: the question and the letter chosen; the correct answer and the decisive step; and whether the loss was unit, direction or a missed keyword. A unit error earns the full conversion chain, since the same chain reappears in mechanics and electricity.
How many years should you drill?
The 0625 multiple-choice style has been stable and the last five sessions cover the main topics; older papers remain useful for units and direction, though some wording and topic order have changed, so follow the current textbook where an old paper differs.
How many years of past papers is enough?
The 0625 multiple-choice style has been stable and the last five sessions cover the main topics; older papers remain useful for units and direction, though some wording and topic order have changed, so follow the current textbook where an old paper differs.
Frequently asked questions
Is this page a mock paper or a drilling guide?
This is the IGCSE Physics 0625 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 Physics 0625 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.
All four options look right – how do I choose?
Run a dimension and magnitude check: substitute the units into the formula and see whether the result carries the unit asked for, then estimate the size. Usually one option survives.
Must formulas be memorised?
Memorise relationships and units rather than letters. Being able to state the unit of every symbol is what lets a forgotten formula be rebuilt from dimensions in the exam.
Official references
| Resource | What to use it for |
|---|---|
| Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 page | Confirm the paper marks and times |
| https://www.tutorzone.com.hk/en-igcse-physics-0625-paper-4-mock-2027/ | IGCSE Physics Paper 4 drilling mock |
Related: practice area · IGCSE Physics 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.