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0625 · Cambridge IGCSE

0625/42

Theory (Extended)

Physics · June 2024 · Variant 2

Relative difficulty

Demanding · 3.8/5

Analysis source: Cambridge Assessment International Education

Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.

Relative difficulty

3.8 / 5

Total marks

160

Duration

180 min

Most tested topic

Wave Properties, Mechanics Calculations, and Electrical Circuit Dynamics

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

Total marks

160

Duration

180 min

Session difficulty

3.8 / 5

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

The boundary between an A* and an A was heavily determined by a candidate's execution in several key areas:

Question difficulty map

How candidates performed on each question in this series

No data available in official reports

Assessment objectives

Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary

Mathematical7
Scientific Definitions6
Conceptual Explanation4
Graphical & Practical Skills2
Diagrams1

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

MathematicalMathematicalScientific DefinitionsScientificDefinitionsConceptual ExplanationConceptualExplanationGraphical & Practical SkillsGraphical &Practical SkillsDiagramsDiagrams
SkillWeightShare
  • Mathematical

    Weight: 7100%
  • Scientific Definitions

    Weight: 686%
  • Conceptual Explanation

    Weight: 457%
  • Graphical & Practical Skills

    Weight: 229%
  • Diagrams

    Weight: 114%

Method marks watchlist

Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost

No data available in official reports

Recurring mistakes across years

Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject

No data available in official reports

Question choice intelligence

Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)

No data available in official reports

Level exemplars

What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like

No data available in official reports

Grade & admission context

How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards

Report type

Cambridge Principal Examiner Report — component performance and international standards

Level A*

Approx. 73% of maximum mark

Level A

Approx. 60% of maximum mark

Level B

Approx. 48% of maximum mark

Level C

Approx. 36% of maximum mark

Level D

Approx. 31% of maximum mark

Level E

Approx. 26% of maximum mark

Deep insights

What top candidates did

Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series

No data available in official reports

Command word playbook

How to match each command word to the expected response style

CalculateFrequency: 11

Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.

DescribeFrequency: 8

State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.

ExplainFrequency: 6

Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.

StateFrequency: 5

Match the expected response style for “State” questions.

DetermineFrequency: 3

Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.

CompareFrequency: 2

Identify similarities and differences explicitly — paired sentences or a table helps.

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

Section A: Mechanic20m / 18 marks

Min per mark: 1.1

Section C: Electric17m / 16 marks

Min per mark: 1.1

Section D: Nuclear21m / 20 marks

Min per mark: 1.1

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

Sound

8 marks this session

Forces

8 marks this session

Electric circuits

8 marks this session

MCQ trap analytics

Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary

No data available in official reports

Topic heatmap across years

Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject

Mark intensity

LowHigh
Topic
2023
2024
2025
Σ

Motion

16
10
7
33

Electric circuits

14
9
23

Forces

18
18

Electromagnetic effects

10
10

Light

10
10

Electrical quantities

9
9

Stars and the Universe

9
9

Radioactivity

8
8

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

Paper 42 Theory (Extended):

80 marks75 min

Paper 22 Multiple Choice (Extended):

40 marks45 min

Paper 62 Alternative to Practical:

40 marks60 min

Marks you can still earn

Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit

No data available in official reports

Practise what examiners flagged

Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app

Self-diagnostic checklist

Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise

  • 1Message

    The boundary between an A* and an A was heavily determined by a candidate's execution in several key areas:

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2024 2024

Physics

The boundary between an A* and an A was heavily determined by a candidate's execution in several key areas:

  • The boundary between an A* and an A was heavily determined by a candidate's execution in several key areas:

Total marks
160
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5

Session analysis

The boundary between an A* and an A was heavily determined by a candidate's execution in several key areas:

Updated Jun 13, 2026

Paper breakdown

Paper 42 Theory (Extended):

80 marks75 min

Paper 22 Multiple Choice (Extended):

40 marks45 min

Paper 62 Alternative to Practical:

40 marks60 min

Top chapters

Sound8 marks
Forces8 marks
Electric circuits8 marks

Exam structure insights

Marks by chapter

See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.

Forces8 marks
Motion6 marks
Energy, work and power6 marks
Kinetic particle model of matter5 marks
Thermal properties and temperat1 marks
Transfer of thermal energy2 marks
Light6 marks
Electromagnetic spectrum2 marks

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

80% within easy or medium reach

30
34
16
Easy: 30 marksMedium: 34 marksHard: 16 marks

Command word frequency

Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.

Calculate11 times
Describe8 times
Explain6 times
State5 times
Determine3 times
Compare2 times

Question type mix

Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.

80Marks
  • descriptive

    33·15·41%

  • calculation

    27·10·34%

  • diagram/plotting

    12·5·15%

  • recall

    8·8·10%

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

DifficultyRecurrence %Stars and the Univ…Radioactivity and …Motion (Kinematics…Sound Wave Propert…Electric Circuits …

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

3.520173.820183.520193.820203.820213.420223.520233.82024

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

MarksMinutesMarks / min

Section A: Mechanic

0.90 m/min
18
20

Section C: Electric

0.94 m/min
16
17

Section D: Nuclear

0.95 m/min
20
21

Total marks

54

Total time

58 min

Avg pace

0.93

Cumulative marks ladder

The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.

020406080A* estimatedA estimatedB estimatedC estimatedD estimatedE estimatedF estimatedG estimatedU estimated8Question 1 (F1420Question 3 (E2836Question 5 (P4454Question 7 (M6168Question 9 (I7580Question 11 (

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Specific Heat Capacity and Thermal Latent Energy

90%

90%

Momentum Conservation and Impulse

85%

85%

Exam tips

Paper format

Duration
1h 15min
Total marks
80

June 2024

View full examiner insights for this session

View full examiner insights for this session

Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.

0625/42 — Cambridge IGCSE Physics (June 2024) | Revui