Physics rewards a particular kind of revision. Reading notes won't get you far; what raises grades is recalling equations quickly, applying them to unfamiliar situations, and explaining ideas in precise physics language. These tips are written for Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625) and O Level Physics (5054), but they apply to most secondary Physics courses.
1. Build an equation sheet and learn it cold
Write every equation from the syllabus on one sheet, with the name and unit of each quantity. Test yourself daily until you can reproduce the whole sheet from memory, then practise rearranging each one. A few that come up constantly:
| Equation | Quantities | Units |
|---|---|---|
| v = f × λ | wave speed, frequency, wavelength | m/s, Hz, m |
| V = IR | voltage, current, resistance | V, A, Ω |
| P = IV | power, current, voltage | W, A, V |
| F = ma | resultant force, mass, acceleration | N, kg, m/s² |
| ρ = m / V | density, mass, volume | kg/m³ or g/cm³ |
| p = F / A | pressure, force, area | Pa (N/m²) |
| moment = F × d | force, perpendicular distance from pivot | N m |
2. Show working and units on every calculation
Use the same three lines every time: write the equation, substitute the numbers with units, then give the answer with its unit. If you slip on the arithmetic, the equation and substitution can still earn marks. Watch for unit conversions such as grams to kilograms, centimetres to metres, minutes to seconds and kilojoules to joules; they catch out strong students every year.
3. Learn definitions in mark scheme wording
Terms such as speed, acceleration, moment, density, specific heat capacity, current and half-life are marked on precise phrases. Collect definitions from mark schemes rather than paraphrasing a textbook, and learn them word for word.
4. Read graphs like an examiner
- On a distance–time graph, the gradient is speed.
- On a speed–time graph, the gradient is acceleration and the area under the line is distance travelled.
- When asked to describe a graph, state the trend and quote values from it, with units.
- When plotting, choose sensible scales that use most of the grid, label axes with quantity and unit, and draw a smooth line or curve of best fit.
5. Explain with physics words, step by step
Explanation questions (explain why a ship floats, why a wire heats up, why pressure rises when a gas is heated) are marked point by point. Build a chain of cause and effect using the key terms: particles, kinetic energy, collisions, force, current. Look at the number of marks and give at least that many distinct points.
6. Draw circuits and ray diagrams carefully
Use the standard circuit symbols from the syllabus, with no gaps in the wires. For light, use a ruler, add arrows to rays, and draw the normal as a dashed line. Neat diagrams earn marks that messy ones lose.
7. Don't neglect the practical paper
Whether you sit a practical test or the Alternative to Practical paper, the same skills appear again and again: reading instruments correctly, recording results in a table with units in the headings, keeping a consistent number of decimal places, plotting graphs, identifying variables, and suggesting sources of error and realistic improvements. A handful of past papers on these skills pays off quickly.
8. Revise by topic, then by paper
After each topic, answer topical past paper questions on it and log every mistake. In the last three months, move to full timed papers, as explained in our guide on how to use past papers. If you need a structure for the months before the exam, our IGCSE and O Level study plan sets it out week by week.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Mixing up mass and weight (weight is a force, measured in newtons).
- Confusing current and voltage in circuit explanations.
- Giving answers to too many significant figures, or with no unit.
- Writing "energy is used up" instead of describing the energy transfer.
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Frequently asked questions
01What is the hardest topic in IGCSE Physics?
Students most often struggle with electricity (circuits and electromagnetism), forces and motion graphs, and thermal physics explanations. Each improves quickly once the core equations and definitions are secure and you practise past paper questions topic by topic.
02Should I take Core or Extended IGCSE Physics?
Take Extended if you want a grade above C or plan to study Physics, Engineering or another science at A Level. Core covers less content and caps the grade at C. O Level Physics has no tiers, so O Level students should prepare at the full level.
03Do I need to memorise Physics formulas?
Yes. Treat every equation in your syllabus as one you need to recall and rearrange without help. Examiners regularly award a mark just for writing the correct equation before substituting numbers.
