IGCSE Physics High Yield Topics, Pitfalls, and Exam Tips (Ext
1) Measurement & Kinematics
Must know basics
SI units and prefixes (k, m, , n); scalar vs vector.
Measurement and uncertainty: reading analog/digital, precision, % error.
Kinematics: distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration; v = u + at; s = ut + 1/2
at^2; v^2 = u^2 + 2as.
Speed time and distance time graphs: gradients and areas.
Key difficulties
Choosing correct SUVAT equation for knowns/unknowns; consistent sign convention.
Average vs instantaneous quantities; reading non uniform graph segments.
Common pitfalls
Missing vector direction; mixing m/s and km/h; not converting units before calculating.
Axes without units; too few significant figures where specified.
Exam tips
Sketch a quick diagram; list knowns/unknowns; convert units first; box final answer with correct
s.f.
2) Dynamics & Forces
Must know basics
Newton s laws; free body diagrams; weight W = mg; friction and resultant force.
Momentum p = mv; impulse; conservation of momentum in 1D collisions.
Key difficulties
Tension vs weight components on slopes; resolving forces parallel/perpendicular.
Interpreting at rest/constant velocity as zero resultant force/acceleration.
Common pitfalls
Using g = 10 m/s^2 where 9.8 is required; mixing mass and weight.
Forgetting action reaction pairs act on different bodies.
Exam tips
Always draw and resolve; write F = ma along chosen axes; check limiting cases for
reasonableness.
3) Energy, Work & Power; Thermal Physics
Must know basics
Work W = Fs; GPE = mgh; KE = 1/2 mv^2; Power P = W/t; efficiency = useful/total × 100%.
Specific heat capacity; specific latent heat; conduction, convection, radiation.
Key difficulties
Energy conservation with friction; interpreting power/time graphs.
Thermal problems mixing c, m, T, and latent heat L.
Common pitfalls
Confusing J with W; forgetting energy losses; incorrect T sign.
Not stating assumptions (no heat loss, thermal equilibrium).
Exam tips
Tabulate energy changes; draw before/after states; keep units in every step.
4) Waves, Light & Sound
Must know basics
Wave terms: f, T, , v = f ; transverse vs longitudinal; reflection, refraction, diffraction,
interference (qualitative).
Light: ray diagrams, laws of reflection; refraction and Snell s law n1 sin 1 = n2 sin 2;
critical angle and TIR.
Lenses (convex/concave) and image characteristics; sound properties and speed.
Key difficulties
Accurate ray diagrams for lenses/mirrors; sign conventions.
Refraction index from gradients; critical angle calculations.
Common pitfalls
Treating refraction angles from wrong normal; mixing amplitude with frequency effects.
Exam tips
Use pencil and ruler for rays; mark normals; label object distance u, image distance v, focal
length f.
5) Electricity & Magnetism; Radioactivity
Must know basics
Charge, current, voltage, resistance; V = IR; P = VI = I^2R = V^2/R.
Series vs parallel: I, V, and R rules; IV characteristics; potential divider basics.
Magnetism: fields, electromagnets; electromagnetic induction qualitatively; transformers
(V_s/V_p = N_s/N_p).
Radioactivity: alpha, beta, gamma properties; half life; safety.
Key difficulties
Circuit analysis combining series/parallel; reading IV graphs for non ohmic devices.
Transformer power relations with efficiency; half life exponential reasoning.
Common pitfalls
Incorrect equivalent resistance; mixing current and voltage splits.
Forgetting to state units (A, V, ) and direction conventions.
Exam tips
Redraw complex circuits; compute step by step; check extremes (open/short) to validate logic.
6) Practical skills & Data handling
Must know basics
Graph skills: choose linear plots; identify slope/intercept with units; line of best fit.
Uncertainty: absolute vs percentage; repeat readings; control variables; fair test.
Common pitfalls
Forcing intercept through origin; no units on axes; not enough significant figures.
Describing improvements without specifying how they reduce uncertainty.
Exam tips
Link gradient/intercept to physical quantities; justify improvements (e.g., use data logger to
reduce reaction time error ).
