IGCSE · 26 September 2026 · 7 min read
IGCSE Physics Core vs Extended: grades, papers and how to decide
Core and Extended are not just labels for an easy and a hard practice book. The choice affects which Cambridge papers you sit, which content is assessed and which grades are available. That makes it a school entry decision as well as a revision decision.
This guide concerns Cambridge IGCSE Physics, especially the 0625 syllabus for examinations in 2026–2028 and the numerical-grade 0972 counterpart. It does not describe Edexcel Physics Paper 1 and Paper 2: Edexcel's separate Physics papers are untiered and serve a different purpose.
Core and Supplement describe content; Extended describes the route
An Extended candidate studies both the Core and Supplement material. Supplement is not a replacement for Core, and a strong Extended revision plan should not abandon basic definitions, units or straightforward calculations. More demanding questions often rely on those foundations being available without hesitation.
Use your syllabus to mark the content that applies to you before choosing questions. If a resource does not distinguish the two columns, check its coverage with your teacher. A general topic heading such as electricity may contain both shared foundations and additional requirements. Guessing the route from a question's apparent difficulty is less reliable than checking its source and specification point.
Understand the grade range before setting a target
The 0625 Core route has C as its highest available grade; Extended makes A* available. For 0972, the highest Core grade is 5 and Extended makes 9 available. These are eligibility ranges, not promised results. A high percentage on a Core practice task does not make an A or A* available through a Core entry.
Equally, choosing Extended does not guarantee a high grade. Discuss the evidence with your teacher: performance on appropriately chosen questions, consistency across topics and the time available to prepare. If a next course requires a grade above the Core ceiling, bring that written requirement into the conversation early enough for the school to consider a realistic route.
Know which papers belong together
For 0625, Core candidates take Papers 1 and 3; Extended candidates take Papers 2 and 4. Both routes also take either Paper 5 or Paper 6 for practical skills. The practical option is not an additional tier and should be confirmed with the school. Do not build a practice set by mixing component numbers without checking the entry combination.
Keep separate folders for multiple choice, theory and the practical component you will sit. Within each, label every paper with code, year and component. Reviewing a shared topic from another route may help understanding, but a timed readiness check should use the correct route. Otherwise the result can exaggerate either your confidence or your concern.
A readiness discussion needs more than one mock percentage
Ask whether a low mark came from content not yet taught, missing foundations, unfamiliar question wording or incomplete timing. Look at individual answers before reaching a conclusion. A student who knows the physics but repeatedly misses unit conversions needs a different intervention from a student who cannot explain the core model.
Bring two or three pieces of recent independent work from different topics. Highlight an answer you improved after feedback and another you still cannot start. This lets the teacher judge progress as well as the current result. There is no universal percentage in this guide that authorises a route change: schools make entries in the context of their policies, deadlines and knowledge of the student.
Worked scenario: improving evidence before a route review
Suppose a student can calculate speed from distance and time but struggles with force questions. An original check gives a 0.50 kg trolley a 3.0 N pull opposed by 1.0 N friction. The resultant force is 2.0 N and acceleration is 2.0 / 0.50 = 4.0 m/s² in the direction of the pull. Using 3.0 N in F = ma would miss the first modelling step.
The student then solves a changed example without help: a 0.80 kg trolley with a 5.0 N pull and 1.8 N resistance has a 3.2 N resultant and the same 4.0 m/s² acceleration. This is evidence that the decision about resultant force transferred. It is not a tier-placement test by itself; it is the kind of concrete improvement to bring to the next teacher review.
If you change route, audit the resulting gaps
Moving from Core preparation to Extended requires an organised check of Supplement content, not simply changing the cover of your practice-paper folder. Ask which additional ideas have already been taught, which need teaching and how practical work fits the plan. Set small checks so that newly learned material is tested independently rather than merely read.
If school advises a Core entry, continue preparing the full assessed Core content and practical skills. Treat it as a route with its own requirements, not permission to stop working. Review how the available grades connect to the student's next steps. Any future change or resit plan should be confirmed with the exams officer rather than assumed from a resource website.
Use a clear school-conversation checklist
Before the discussion, write down the syllabus code, current entry route if known, next-course grade requirement and two specific strengths or gaps from marked work. Ask the teacher what evidence would support a different entry and when any decision must be made. Record the agreed actions and the date of the next review.
A tutor can help teach a gap and provide practice, but the school or exam centre controls the examination entry. If seeking support from Dr Desouky, include the Cambridge code and intended route in your enquiry so the materials match your needs. Keep independent questions in the plan so that progress can be seen beyond a lesson you found easy to follow.
Questions, explained
Choose a question for a direct answer, then explore the explanation and supporting resources. Each answer has its own link to save or share.
Can I get an A* in Core IGCSE Physics?
Not through a Cambridge 0625 Core entry: its highest available grade is C. A* is available through the Extended route. For Cambridge 0972, Core has a maximum grade of 5 and Extended makes grade 9 available. Speak with your school early if your intended next course needs a grade above the Core ceiling.
Does Extended Physics include Core content?
Yes. Extended covers Core plus Supplement, so the shared foundations remain essential. Build a checklist that includes both instead of revising only material labelled Supplement. A question can combine a familiar basic relationship with a more demanding application.
Can I switch from Core to Extended Physics?
Ask your school or exam centre about its decision process, entry deadlines and the preparation required. A change may require teaching additional content and practising different theory and multiple-choice components. Do not assume that buying Extended notes changes your exam entry; confirm the official entry separately.
Does Edexcel IGCSE Physics have Core and Extended papers?
No. The separate Edexcel International GCSE Physics linear papers and modular units discussed on this site are untiered. Paper 1 and Paper 2 in the linear course are not Core and Extended alternatives. Use the Edexcel qualification code to choose the appropriate guide.