Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620: syllabus, papers and preparation

Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620: the one-minute answer

The 2026–2028 Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 syllabus contains 12 official topic areas. A student follows either the Core or the Extended route, but both routes require three components: a 45-minute Multiple Choice paper, a 1-hour 15-minute Theory paper and one paper assessing practical skills.

Core candidates take Paper 1 + Paper 3 + Paper 5 or 6. Extended candidates take Paper 2 + Paper 4 + Paper 5 or 6. The weighting is the same in each route: 30% + 50% + 20%. Paper 5 is a laboratory Practical Test; Paper 6 is a written Alternative to Practical. The school or examination centre enters the candidate for one of them—it is not a choice made on examination day.

Four 0620 facts to confirm

01Core route

Paper 1 + Paper 3 + Paper 5 or Paper 6.

02Extended route

Paper 2 + Paper 4 + Paper 5 or Paper 6.

03Weighting

Theory and practical components contribute 30% + 50% + 20%.

04Practical entry

Paper 5 is laboratory work; Paper 6 is written Alternative to Practical.

Four facts to confirm before making a study plan

1. Examination year: this guide is based on the official syllabus for examinations in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
2. Syllabus code: 0620 uses the A*–G scale. 0971 is the 9–1 version and is available only in specified administrative zones; its subject content and examination structure are otherwise identical.
3. Route: the available grade range for 0620 is C–G for Core and A*–G for Extended. This is an eligibility range, not a promise of a result.
4. Practical paper: the school or centre confirms whether the entry includes Paper 5 or Paper 6.

What are the 12 topic areas in the Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry syllabus?

The official sequence is:

1. States of matter – the particle model, changes of state and diffusion;
2. Atoms, elements and compounds – atomic structure, formulae, bonding and structure–property relationships;
3. Stoichiometry – equations, relative masses, moles and solution calculations;
4. Electrochemistry – electrolysis and redox processes;
5. Chemical energetics – exothermic and endothermic changes and energy diagrams;
6. Chemical reactions – rates of reaction, reversible reactions and equilibrium;
7. Acids, bases and salts – pH, acid–base reactions and salt preparation;
8. The Periodic Table – group trends and properties of elements;
9. Metals – reactivity, extraction, corrosion and alloys;
10. Chemistry of the environment – air, water, resources and industrial contexts;
11. Organic chemistry – homologous series, reactions and polymers;
12. Experimental techniques and chemical analysis – separation, measurement and qualitative analysis.

This list is not a recommended teaching order. Stoichiometry, for example, should be practised alongside equations and solutions, while qualitative analysis should be built as an observation–inference chain.

Particles and representation

• States of matter
• Atoms, elements and compounds
• Stoichiometry

Change and energy

• Electrochemistry
• Chemical energetics
• Chemical reactions

Patterns and materials

• Acids, bases and salts
• Periodic Table
• Metals
• Environment

Molecules and evidence

• Organic chemistry
• Experimental techniques and analysis

Core or Extended: what changes?

Extended is not an alternative to Core; it is Core + Supplement. Additional content, more complex application and access to a wider grade range build on the common foundation. The route should therefore not be chosen from a textbook cover or one practice paper.

Core

1. Paper 1 · Multiple Choice
2. Paper 3 · Theory
3. Paper 5 or Paper 6 · Practical skills

Available grades: C–G

Extended

1. Paper 2 · Multiple Choice
2. Paper 4 · Theory
3. Paper 5 or Paper 6 · Practical skills

Available grades: A*–G

Feature	Core	Extended
Content	Core learning outcomes	Core + Supplement
Multiple Choice	Paper 1	Paper 2
Theory	Paper 3	Paper 4
Practical assessment	Paper 5 or 6	Paper 5 or 6
Available 0620 grade range	C–G	A*–G

Extended makes grades A*, A and B available on the 0620 scale, but it does not guarantee a higher result. The Core or Extended decision guide explains the evidence to use when choosing.

How the three examination papers are structured

Paper	Time	Marks	Weight	Question type
Paper 1 or 2	45 minutes	40	30%	40 compulsory four-option multiple-choice questions
Paper 3 or 4	1 hour 15 minutes	80	50%	compulsory short-answer and structured theory questions
Paper 5	1 hour 15 minutes	40	20%	laboratory Practical Test
Paper 6	1 hour	40	20%	written Alternative to Practical

Core

30% Multiple choice50% Theory20% Practical skills

Extended

30% Multiple choice50% Theory20% Practical skills

Papers 1/2 and 3/4 assess AO1 knowledge and understanding and AO2 handling information and problem-solving. Papers 5/6 are entirely AO3: selecting apparatus and methods, planning, measuring, processing and interpreting data, and evaluating. Practical-paper preparation should therefore run alongside theory rather than being left until the final week.

Separate guides cover Paper 1/2 multiple choice, Paper 3/4 structured answers and Paper 5/6 practical skills.

Why isolated chapters are not enough

One examination question can connect several topics. An investigation of the magnesium–acid reaction may involve an equation, stoichiometry, rate, gas measurement, a graph and a source of error. If the answer is wrong, the point that needs repair is not necessarily the final step.

For example, an incorrect concentration may begin with:

• an unbalanced equation;
• a mole ratio read incorrectly;
• a volume that should have been converted from cm³ to dm³;
• premature rounding;
• a correct number with a missing or incorrect unit.

Useful correction names the first wrong decision. That decision determines the next targeted task, followed by a new unaided attempt 48–72 hours later.

One topic can appear differently in all three papers

Take the reaction of acids with metals. Paper 1/2 may ask the student to identify a product, rate trend or mole ratio from four options. Paper 3/4 may require a balanced equation, a calculation or a particle-level explanation. Paper 5/6 may require apparatus for measuring the gas produced, a table or graph, and a limitation with a justified improvement.

The statement “the acids chapter is complete” is therefore useful only when there is recent evidence in all three forms. Add three paper columns to the content checklist: I can recognise it, I can derive or explain it, I can apply it to experimental data. The weakest column determines the next practice task.

The syllabus, specimen and past paper do different jobs

The syllabus defines what may be assessed and at what level; it is the primary content map. A specimen paper demonstrates format and question types. A past paper provides authentic earlier examination practice, but only matches completely when its content fits the candidate’s syllabus version. A mark scheme is for checking evidence, not memorising ready-made answers.

Use them in this order: identify the syllabus learning outcome → build a short note or use a teacher explanation → complete a targeted task → write an independent answer → check its evidence against the mark scheme → retry with a new question after a delay. Opening the mark scheme first hides what the student could have retrieved unaided.

How to begin preparing

First complete a one-page examination profile: syllabus code, examination year and series, Core or Extended, Paper 5 or 6, examination date and realistic weekly study time. Then complete a short mixed diagnostic containing multiple choice, a structured explanation, a calculation and practical data.

Sort errors into three categories after the diagnostic:

• knowledge gap: the necessary idea or reaction is unavailable;
• decision error: the knowledge exists, but the wrong relationship, ratio or option is selected;
• communication error: the correct idea is not stated, calculated or labelled with a unit precisely enough.

If eight weeks remain, use the 8-week IGCSE Chemistry study plan. Older examination questions can still build skills, but Cambridge explicitly notes that their content may not reflect the current syllabus. For a complete mock, choose material matching the candidate’s examination year and route.

Separate time for learning, independent application and correction in the weekly plan. When all three merge into one long question session, familiarity is easily mistaken for independent knowledge. For example, build a conceptual connection on Monday, solve a new paper-style question on Wednesday, then correct it and retry in a different context on Friday. This checks not only whether the task worked immediately after an explanation, but also whether the knowledge lasted and transferred.

Reconfirm the examination profile with the school monthly or at important decision points. Syllabus code, route and practical paper are administrative facts: work from current written confirmation rather than uncertain memory.

Frequently asked questions

How many papers does an IGCSE Chemistry candidate take?

Three: one Multiple Choice paper, one Theory paper and either Paper 5 or Paper 6 for practical assessment.

Does Paper 6 mean laboratory experience is unnecessary?

No. Candidates do not perform an experiment in Paper 6, but it assesses the same experimental relationships and AO3 skills. Online preparation cannot replace genuine experience with apparatus.

Can a Core candidate achieve grade A or B in 0620?

No. The official available range is C–G for Core and A*–G for Extended.

Do 0620 and 0971 use the same syllabus?

Cambridge states that the content and examination structure of 0971 are otherwise identical to 0620, but it uses 9–1 grading and is available only in limited zones.

When should I begin completing full papers?

When the main error patterns have been identified and most of the required content is available. Before then, shorter targeted blocks followed by partially timed work provide more useful information for correction.