IGCSE Physics: Tips and Tricks for a Challenging Exam
What is IGCSE Physics?
IGCSE physics is one of many science-based courses offered to students taking their IGCSEs (International General Certificate of Secondary Education). Based largely on the U.K. science curriculum, IGCSE physics is a rigorous and challenging course for any student.
The aim of IGCSE physics is to give students a decent understanding and overview of physics as a wide-ranging discipline. Over the two year IGCSE course, students study topics ranging from waves, to astrophysics, to circuits. By the end, IGCSE physics students understand the basic methodologies and topics found in this fascinating discipline, allowing them to make an informed decision on whether to carry it into further study or not.
Double Award or Triple Science?
Many schools offer students the opportunity to take either ‘triple science’ for IGCSE, or some form of ‘double award’. Triple science refers to studying physics, biology and chemistry as separate IGCSE subjects, meaning that students will emerge with three separate IGCSEs. Meanwhile, most exam boards, including both Edexcel and CAIE (the two most popular exam boards for IGCSE in Hong Kong), offer the option to earn two IGCSEs where the three science disciplines are examined together.
The choice between the courses often depends firstly on the student’s scientific ability and interest. Those students who are less interested in science may wish to reduce the amount of time they spend on the subjects through taking a double award IGCSE course. Students who are academically capable and enjoy the sciences might instead take separate IGCSEs in physics, chemistry and biology. Not only does this allow them to gain an additional IGCSE for their CV, but it also gives them a more thorough understanding of the three sciences as academic disciplines.
What Makes IGCSE Physics Interesting?
Many students find IGCSE physics a fascinating challenge. It combines the experimentation and methodological rigour of the other disciplines with an additional focus on mathematical reasoning. Our tutors frequently find that students enjoy examining the underlying laws that govern matter, from energy transfers to the grand forces of astrophysics. IGCSE physics is an invaluable opportunity to develop a scientific understanding of the world around us.
There are inherent challenges to IGCSE physics, however. Many students find it a difficult course, particularly in conjunction with the other two science IGCSEs. Yet, once students start to feel more confident in their understanding of the course’s content, the difficulty changes into a satisfying experience that allows students to showcase their knowledge and understanding of the physics curriculum. The IGCSE physics curriculum has students use a wide range of skills to prove their knowledge, and this greater variety of question types helps to generate interest in the course content for students.
What Revision Resources Are There for IGCSE Physics?
Past papers are an invaluable resource for any subject, including IGCSE physics. They allow students to become familiar with question types and the command words used in exams. All IGCSE students should aim to become familiar with this to support their progress in their revision, as it makes a real difference in exams. Not only does further exposure to exam-style questions allow students to test their knowledge, but it also improves understanding of the assessment instruments used in IGCSE physics. Understanding the difference between an explain question and justify question can allow students to improve their scores in IGCSE physics rapidly.
Students should also make full use of the IGCSE physics course specification. Not only does this further their understanding of the course structure, but it also helps students identify and isolate trickier areas of the course for revision.
When starting IGCSE revision, particularly in a broad syllabus such as physics, it can be useful to go through the syllabus and use the ‘traffic light method’ to identify areas for review. A topic a student feels confident with can be labelled with green, whereas one where they feel lost can be labelled with red or orange. This helps students prioritise and structure their revision.
How to Approach IGCSE Revision
IGCSE students often find it difficult to know how to revise. Partly, this is due to the fact that they have never had to revise for exams before. It is, and should be, very different from revising for summative assessments or in-class quizzes, not least because students are expected to display understanding of 2 years’ worth of material, instead of a few weeks’.
As noted above, IGCSE physics students should aim to proceed in an organised fashion. Rather than trying to sink as much time as possible into IGCSE revision, consider the topics you found the most challenging. Spending more time consolidating the trickier topics will ensure more efficient use of revision time.
IGCSE physics actually offers a fantastic opportunity for students in that they are able to apply a range of revision techniques. Flashcards are, like in most IGCSE subjects, always useful. This can help students memorise key definitions and useful formulas ahead of the exam.
Meanwhile, practice questions for physics should be used across the studied topics to ensure a stronger understanding and therefore performance in the exam. Students should also be sure to practice plotting graphs and sketching diagrams. These areas are often underdeveloped in students’ revision, as it is unique to IGCSE physics revision. Nevertheless, it remains an important area to practice and study ahead of the IGCSE exams.
How to Succeed in the IGCSE Physics Exams
Success in any exam is decided weeks, if not months, before the student enters the exam hall. Thorough preparation ahead of time can help students secure a high grade in any IGCSE, including in physics.
However, there are certain tips that can help a student set themselves up for success in the IGCSE physics exams.
Firstly, students should thoroughly understand the objectives being assessed in each exam. For example, Edexcel IGCSE physics students should be aware that Paper 1 includes a greater focus on experimental skills and analysis of data. Meanwhile, Paper 1 of the CAIE IGCSE in physics consists of 40 multiple choice questions, making the exam technique very different between the two most popular exam boards.
The other major tip that will help a student succeed in IGCSE physics is to keep a close eye on the keywords that they are employing in their answers. Physics mark schemes (across both Edexcel and CAIE) often include specific terminology. For example, a mark might be lost for not including the term ‘kinetic energy increases’, rather than simply writing ‘energy increases’. It is important for students to pay close attention to the question and consider if there is a precise term that the examiners will be wanting them to use in their responses. Of course, this advice applies across a student’s IGCSEs, but it is especially important for a subject like physics where students are expected to display a good understanding of scientific concepts and terminology.
Does IGCSE Science Tutoring Help?
The sciences form some of the trickiest IGCSEs, as there is a vast amount of content to be covered across two years, and students cannot rely on rote memorisation for success. The additional support offered by experienced IGCSE science tutors can be invaluable for students who feel overwhelmed by the busy curriculum.
Most of all, tutoring offers students the structured practice time needed to feel more confident ahead of their IGCSEs. Rather than trying to cram physics revision between a sport activity and a nightly bout of video games with friends, students are able to structure their time around a specific appointment and know that their time will be used productively. This then allows them to relax when at home and form a clear boundary between ‘work’ and ‘relaxation’ time—something which is essential for IGCSE success.
BartyED’s IGCSE Physics Support
BartyED’s support in every subject is tailored to the student and their unique needs. This also applies to our IGCSE physics support. Some students feel lost in the material being covered in class, whereas others need help applying their knowledge to exam-style questions.
Our experienced team of tutors assess a student’s current needs and adapt their teaching style accordingly. This allows students to feel more confident in the support received. For a subject like physics, which can be challenging in both content and exam preparation, this style of holistic support is invaluable.
To find out more about BartyED’s IGCSE physics support, or indeed our offerings in any other subject, get in touch via our contact page, or phone us on +852 2882 1017 today.
Frequently Asked Questions
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IGCSE Physics is one of the courses offered to students taking their IGCSEs. It aims to give students a thorough understanding of the basics of Physics as an academic discipline, educating students on both the theory and experimental aspects of the subject.
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Thorough revision is essential for IGCSE physics. Unlike some other IGCSEs, physics students need to be prepared to memorise facts, definitions and formulas, before applying them to questions designed to test their knowledge. Getting a start on IGCSE physics revision 3-4 months ahead of exams is essential for success.
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There are two components to any successful IGCSE physics revision programme. The first is consolidating content. This includes reviewing concepts and definitions, as well as getting practice with aspects unique to physics, such as sketching graphs and diagrams. Then, students should also familiarise themselves with IGCSE-appropriate exam techniques through completing IGCSE physics past papers.
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Many students find IGCSE science tutoring helpful. This is particularly the case with physics, where the challenging nature of the subject requires a thorough understanding of many concepts. Having a tutor to explain ideas and provide resources can be very helpful for students preparing to sit their IGCSE physics exams.