Sciences are best studied with plenty of hands-on experiences and practical investigations. This can be done, but if you cannot access all the materials or a laboratory for a practical examination, you can take an alternative to practical component as part of Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625), and you can answer practical-based questions in AQA GCSE Physics (8463) and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1).
Each examination board uses a syllabus or specification to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, each examination board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning. You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus or specification and online resources as needed.
I will include resources here for all three examination boards, and wish you the best in your research into IGCSE or GCSE Physics.
Each examination board uses a syllabus or specification to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, each examination board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning. You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus or specification and online resources as needed.
I will include resources here for all three examination boards, and wish you the best in your research into IGCSE or GCSE Physics.
Syllabuses and specifications
To have the most success in final assessments, read the syllabus or specification carefully. Consider this as the rule book, as it gives clear details about the subject.
Here are the links for the IGCSE and GCSE courses at AQA, CAIE, and Pearson Edexcel:
Here are the links for the IGCSE and GCSE courses at AQA, CAIE, and Pearson Edexcel:
AQA GCSE Physics (8463)
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463
Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625)
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-physics-0625/
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1)
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-international-gcses/international-gcse-physics-2017.html
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463
Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625)
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-igcse-physics-0625/
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1)
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-international-gcses/international-gcse-physics-2017.html
Past paper practice
One of the best ways to understand how well you will do in the final assessments is to complete some past papers, mark them, and reflect on your strengths and challenges. Then repeat the process. Strong IGCSE and GCSE knowledge and skills are built through practice, so you should make sure to get support from teachers, tutors, or mentors as necessary. In the meantime, visit the examination board's website and look for past papers, the mark schemes (answer keys or rubrics) and the examiners' reports. All these documents will be helpful in honing your skills in this subject.
Suggested textbooks
The endorsed textbooks are closely aligned to examination board courses and will be the best resource to use as a scaffold for learning. Each examination board also suggests other textbooks and resources for each subject course. The choice of books for teaching and learning is yours, but I have always relied on one or two endorsed textbooks, and then used other resources to supplement my own learning and teaching.
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for IGCSE and GCSE courses, with the ISBN to help search for the resources more effectively. Remember: you do not need all the resources, so take the time to find the best texts for you.
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for IGCSE and GCSE courses, with the ISBN to help search for the resources more effectively. Remember: you do not need all the resources, so take the time to find the best texts for you.
AQA GCSE Physics (8463)
- Ryan, L. (Ed) &Breithaupt, J. (2016) AQA GCSE Physics, 3rd Edition. ISBN: 978359395 [Endorsed]
- Mitchell, S. (2010) AQA GCSE (9-1) Physics: Student Book. ISBN: 9780008158774 [Endorsed]
- England, N. & Witney, S. (2016) AQA GCSE (9-1) Physics. ISBN: 9781471851377 [Endorsed]
Cambridge IGCSE Physics (0625)
- Duncan, T. & Kennett, H. (2014) Cambridge IGCSE Physics with CD-ROM, 3rd Edition. ISBN: 9781444176421 [Endorsed]
- Bradley, M. & Gardner, S. (2014) Collins Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Student Book, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9780007592678 [Endorsed]
- Bradley, M. & Gardner, S (2014) Collins Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Teacher Pack, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9780007592685 [Endorsed]
- Winterbottom, M. & de Winter, J. (2017) Approaches to learning and teaching Science: a toolkit for international teachers. ISBN: 9781316645857 [Endorsed]
- Sang, D. (2015) Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Coursebook Cambridge Elevate, Enhanced Edition. ISBN: 9781107502925 [Endorsed]
- Akbar, K. (2014) Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Explained. ISBN: 9781999661137 [Endorsed]
- Sang, D. (2014) Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Coursebook with CD-ROM, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9781107614581 [Endorsed]
- Thompson, J. (2018) Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Maths Skills Workbook. ISBN: 9781108728461 [Endorsed]
- Nightingale, G. (2016) Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Practical Teacher's Guide. ISBN: 9781316611081 [Endorsed]
- Nightingale, G. (2016) Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Practical Workbook. ISBN: 9781316611074 [Endorsed]
- Sang, D. (2014) Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Teacher's Resource CD-ROM, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9781107614901 [Endorsed]
- Sang, D. (2014) Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Workbook, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9781107614888 [Endorsed]
- n.a. (2019) Kognity Cambridge IGCSE Physics. Available at: www.kognity.com [Endorsed]
- Bradley, M. (2017) Letts Cambridge IGCSE Physics: Revision Guide. ISBN: 9780008210335 [Endorsed]
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1)
- Bibby, S. et al. (2017) Edexcel International GCSE (9-1) Physics: Student Book. ISBN: 9780008236205 [Endorsed]
- England, N. (2017) Edexcel International GCSE Physics: Student Book, 2nd Edition. ISBN: 9781510405189 [Endorsed]
- Akbar, K. (2014) Edexcel International GCSE Physics: Simplified. OSBN: 9781784564339 [Endorsed]
- Arnold, B. (2017) Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) Physics: Student Book and ActiveBook. ISBN: 9780435185275 [Endorsed]
- Arnold, B. (2017) Pearson Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) Physics: Online Teacher Resource Pack. ISBN: 9780435185244 [Endorsed]
Useful websites for IGCSE and GCSE Physics
Using an endorsed textbook alongside the syllabus or specification is always my first strategy in teaching or tutoring IGCSEs or GCSEs. Then I look through the online resources to supplement and complement what is being learnt, and I am constantly researching new resources.
There are many useful resources here, so take your time to look through them:
There are many useful resources here, so take your time to look through them:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zpm6fg8
The BBC website page on Physics for GCSE. High quality content, well worth the visit.
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/physics
The revision site for GCSE physics has plenty of useful information for the CAIE syllabus.
http://www.gcse.com/physics.htm
Another revision site, giving bite-size chunks of information.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLijqQiSMHnP2aEdAajHRDsralGH9n3gHT
A highly qualified educator, Dr. Physics has uploaded lots of physics videos. This is a useful way to learn physics (especially for me!).
https://sites.google.com/site/quantumboffin/
Science is best learnt by doing, so this website of videos is a great way to understand the content of the course. Not specifically CAIE material, but fun physics videos to watch.
www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/31230/nuffield-gcse-physics
The Nuffield Foundation is packed full with science content. This particular link is for GCSE Physics, but if you look around the website, you can also find links to practicals.
http://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/
This website was created by a Physics teacher, to help us navigate through the syllabus content. Thank you!
www.physicsclassroom.com
A comprehensive website covering Physics topics. Well worth a look.
Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: April, 2021.
The BBC website page on Physics for GCSE. High quality content, well worth the visit.
http://www.s-cool.co.uk/gcse/physics
The revision site for GCSE physics has plenty of useful information for the CAIE syllabus.
http://www.gcse.com/physics.htm
Another revision site, giving bite-size chunks of information.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLijqQiSMHnP2aEdAajHRDsralGH9n3gHT
A highly qualified educator, Dr. Physics has uploaded lots of physics videos. This is a useful way to learn physics (especially for me!).
https://sites.google.com/site/quantumboffin/
Science is best learnt by doing, so this website of videos is a great way to understand the content of the course. Not specifically CAIE material, but fun physics videos to watch.
www.stem.org.uk/resources/elibrary/resource/31230/nuffield-gcse-physics
The Nuffield Foundation is packed full with science content. This particular link is for GCSE Physics, but if you look around the website, you can also find links to practicals.
http://www.cyberphysics.co.uk/
This website was created by a Physics teacher, to help us navigate through the syllabus content. Thank you!
www.physicsclassroom.com
A comprehensive website covering Physics topics. Well worth a look.
Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: April, 2021.