macroscopic analysis of igcse physics...

Macroscopic Analysis of

IGCSE Physics Exams to

Help you prepare Yourself for

Better marks!

First Edition

By R. K. Abu-Msameh

Visit My educational Web Site http://ramadan.50megs.com

Table Of Content

Preface ...........................................................................................................................................................3 Macroscopic Analysis Of IGCSE Exams......................................................................................................4

1.1 Paper-1.................................................................................................................................................4 1.2 Paper-2.................................................................................................................................................9 1.3 Paper-3...............................................................................................................................................13 1.4 Paper-6...............................................................................................................................................17

Table 1: Tested Concepts in Paper-1 .............................................................................................................5 Table 2: Macroscopic Analysis of Paper-1 of IGCSE Exams.......................................................................6 Table 3: Tested Concepts in Paper-2 ...........................................................................................................10 Table 4: Macroscopic Analysis of Paper-2 of IGCSE Exams.....................................................................11 Table 5: Tested Concepts in Paper-3 ...........................................................................................................14 Table 6: Macroscopic Analysis of Paper-3 of IGCSE Exams.....................................................................15 Table 7: Tested Concepts in Paper-6 ...........................................................................................................18 Table 8: Macroscopic Analysis of Paper-6 of IGCSE Exams.....................................................................19

Preface Dear Student, Passing the IGCSE exams with high scores must be your most concern because it is the only way to say “thank you” to your parents for the care and financial support they provide to you during your course of study at Al-Dhafra private school. Your parents are putting much of their hopes on you. They always dream that you become an “important person” in the society so that they will be proud of you. So, please don’t let them down and do not deceive them. Make them happy when they come to school to see your final results. Nevertheless, life taught us that things couldn’t be earned with hope alone but with honesty, hardworking, determination and experience. Honesty means that you are serious in your hope and you are willing to seek all well-known means to put your hope into reality. Hardworking means that you will use your ultimate capabilities to put your hope into reality. Determination means insistence that will make you restart your efforts again and again until you succeed. Experience means “know-how”, “practice”, “familiarity”, “skills”, and “understanding”. You will never put your hope into reality unless you satisfy the aforementioned conditions. Honesty, hardworking and determination are obtained first from admiring, honoring and respecting your parents. Admiring, honoring and respecting your parents imply that you will never let them down in your life. This feeling will build up an internal force in your personality to be honest, hardworking and determined student. To obtain experience, you should develop “knowknowknowknow----howhowhowhow”, “practice“practice“practice“practice”, “familiarityfamiliarityfamiliarityfamiliarity”, “skillsskillsskillsskills” and “understandingunderstandingunderstandingunderstanding” of physics concepts, principles, laws and solving problems. Looking back at history will develop the “Know-how” part of your experience. Thus, looking back at past-papers will develop your experience as follows:

1. Reviewing past papers will build up the “know-how” of your experience. Reviewing gives you a clear view to the various techniques used to test your understanding of physics.

2. Solving past papers will build up the “practicality” of your experience. Practicality will make you practice what to write and how to right so that others will understand what is in your mind.

3. Practicing will build up the “familiarity” of your experience. Familiarity will build up your confidence and reduce your fear of exams and it will always make you say, “Yes. I know how to do that.”

4. Familiarity will build up the “skills” of your experience. Skills will enable you to solve unfamiliar problems by recalling back familiarities of previous but different problems.

5. Skills will build up the “understanding” of your experience. Understanding will enable you to solve challenging problems by relying on your skills.

6. Understanding will build up your success and success will translate your hopes into reality.

In an effort to help you, I looked back at past-papers and I analyzed them into two levels: macroscopic (general) and microscopic (detailed) levels. So, please go through this macroscopic review to enrich your experience. Sincerely, Ramadan K. Abu-Msameh Ramadan K. Abu-Msameh http://ramadan.50megs.com

4

Macroscopic Analysis Of IGCSE Exams

1.1 Paper-1 This review was conducted for the past eleven years (1990-2000) of IGCSE exams in paper-1. The review shows that there are very systematic patterns in tested concepts, order of questions and frequency of questions. There are 70 major concepts that can be tested in paper-1. The IGCSE picks up 45 concepts to be tested in 45 minutes. On the average, one minute is allocated for each question. However, there are questions, which take only few seconds if you are well prepared. The 45 points are allocated as follows

1. 25% for General physics about 11 points 2. 18% for Thermal Physics about 8 points 3. 13% for Waves about 6 points 4. 33% for Electricity and magnetism 15 points 5. 11% for Atomic physics about 5 points

Table 2 shows the list of all concepts based on the IGCSE examination syllabus and a list for the eleven years (1990-2000). Under each year, the months are shown where ‘J’ stands for “May/June” paper and ‘N’ stands for “November” paper. Also, the number of questions is listed for each paper. For each concept, the table shows the question number used to test it in each year from 1990 to 2000. A ‘-‘ or blank means that concept was not tested for that specific year. Some concepts are tested in more than one question. Table 1 shows the importance of each concept based on the followings:

1. Highly important concepts are tested many times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with three stars ‘***’ and their number is 42 concepts. These are the essential concepts in paper-1.

2. Very Important concepts are tested several times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with two stars ‘**’ and their number is 18 concepts.

3. Important concepts are tested few times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with one star ‘*’ and their number is 10 concepts. These are easy concepts and most students answer them.

Some of these tested concepts are repeated with same question but with minor changes from one year to another. These minor changes1 may include a change in drawings, inversion or words.

1 For further details read my microscopic analysis for paper-1.

5

Table 1: Tested Concepts in Paper-1 Concepts of Paper-1

# General Physics Rank # Electricity and Magnetism Rank 1 Length measurement ** 38 Simple phenomena of magnetism *** 2 Time measurement ** 39 Electric Charge *** 3 Speed, Velocity and Acceleration *** 40 Current *** 4 Mass and weight *** 41 Electromotive force (emf) *** 5 Density and volume *** 42 Potential difference *** 6 Forces: Newton's second Law *** 43 Resistance *** 7 Forces: Momentum * 44 V/I Characteristics *** 8 Forces: Spring (Load-extension) ** 45 Electric power ** 9 Turning effect *** 46 Electric Circuits ***

10 Conditions of Equilibrium * 47 Uses of electricity: *** 11 Center of mass + stability ** 48 Uses of electricity: transmission *** 12 Scalars and vectors *** 49 Dangers of electricity * 13 Energy, energy transformation *** 50 Electromagnetic induction * 14 Sources of energy ** 51 A.C. generator ** 15 Work ** 52 Transformer *** 16 Power ** 53 Magnetic effect of current *** 17 Pressure *** 54 Forces on a current carrying conductor ** # Thermal Physics Rank 55 D.C. motor **

18 States of matter * 56 Cathode Rays ** 19 Molecular model *** 57 Oscilloscope *** 20 Evaporation ** 58 Action Circuits: LDR * 21 Pressure changes * 59 Action Circuits: Thermistor * 22 Thermal expansion *** 60 Action Circuits: PD divider ** 23 Measurement of temperature *** 61 Action Circuits: Reed switches *** 24 Thermal capacity *** 62 Action Circuits: Capacitors *** 25 Melting and boiling *** # Atomic Physics Rank 26 Conduction *** 63 Detection of radioactivity *** 27 Convection *** 64 Emissions of α-β-γ *** 28 Radiation ** 65 Radioactive decay ** # Physics of Waves Rank 66 Half-life ***

29 Waves: properties + calculations *** 67 Safety precautions *** 30 Wave Properties: water waves *** 68 Atomic Model *** 31 Reflection of light: rays ** 69 Nucleus *** 32 Reflection of light: plane mirror *** 70 Isotopes * 33 Refraction of light *** 34 Lenses and thin converging lens *** 35 Dispersion of light ** 36 Electromagnetic spectrum ** 37 Sound ***

*** Highly important, ** very important, * important

6

Table 2: Macroscopic Analysis of Paper-1 of IGCSE Exams

Macroscopic Analysis of IGCSE Exams or Paper-1 Exam Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Month J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N Number of Questions 40 40 40 ? ? ? ? 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 ? ?

1 General Physics 1.1 Length 1 - 1 - - - - 2 1 1 - 3 1 - 2 - - 1 - - - - Time 2 - 2 - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - -

1.2 Speed, Velocity and Acceleration 3 2 3 - - - - - - 2 2 2 1 2

3 2 3 - 2

3 2 3

2 3 6

2 3 2 - -

1.3 Mass and weight - - - - - - - 3 3 3 - 2 4 4 4 - - 4 4 3 - -

1.4 Density and volume - 1 4 4 - - - - 4 4 4 1

4 4 - 1 1 1 4

1 4 - 1 4 - -

1.5 Forces

a Effect of forces: Newton's second Law 8 - - - - - - 5 6 - - 6 5 - - 6 - 5

7 - 6 6 - -

Effect of forces: Momentum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Effect of forces: Spring (Load-extension) 4 - - - - - - - - 5 3 - 6 6 5 - - - - - - -

b Turning effect 5 6 3 5 - - - - 7 6 - 5 7 5 5 - 6 - - - 5 - -

c Conditions of Equilibrium 6 7 7 - - - - - - 6 - - - - - - - - - - - d Center of mass + stability - 5 6 - - - - - 5 - - 6 - - - 5 6 5 5 - - - e Scalars and vectors - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1.6 Energy, work and power

a Energy, energy transformation 9 8 8 - - - - 8 - 7 9 - 7 7 9 8 8 7 7 7 9 - -

b Major and alternative sources of energy - - - - - - - 10 7 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 9 - 8 8 - - c Work - 9 - - - - - - 8 9 7 - - 8 7 7 - - - - - -

d Power - - - - - - - - - 8 - 9 - - - - - 9 10 9 - - -

1.7 Pressure 10 10 9 10 - - - - - 9

10 10 10 10 9 10

9 10 10 9

10 10 - 10 10 - -

2 Thermal Physics 2.1 Kinetic Molecular Model of Matter a States of matter 12 11 - - - - - 12 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b Molecular model 11 - 15 - - - - 11 12 - 11 - 12 12 - 12 12 11 12 - - - c Evaporation - 17 - - - - - 17 13 11 - - - - 11 - 13 - 11 11 - - d Pressure changes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2.2 Thermal Properties

a Thermal expansion of solids, liquids, and gasses -

12 13 14

11 - - - - 14 11 12 12 11 12

11 15

13

12 14

11 15

11 15

12 13

14 17 13 - -

b Measurement of temperature - - 13 14 - - - - 15 15 - 14 - - 15 - - - 14 15 - - -

c Thermal capacity 15 - - - - - - - - - - 13 13 - - - - - - 14 - -

d Melting and boiling +cooling 14 13 15 12 - - - - 13 - 14 13 14 14

17 11 14

13 15

13 14 14 - 13 - - -

2.3 Transfer of thermal energy a Conduction - - 16 - - - - - 16 16 15 15 16 - 17 17 16 16 16 16 - - b Convection 16 16 17 - - - - 16 17 15 17 17 17 16 16 17 15 - 17 - -

c Radiation 17 - 20 - - - - - 17 21 17 16 16

20 - - - - - 17 18 - - -

d Consequences of energy transfer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

7

3 Properties of Waves Exam Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

no Topic J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N

3.1 Waves: properties + calculations 18 19 18 18 - - - - - 18 18 - 18

19 19 18 18 18 19 18 - 18 - -

Wave Properties: water waves - - - - - - - 18 19 19 - 18 - 18 19 - - 18 - 19 19 - -

3.2 Light a Reflection of light: rays - 21 19 - - - - - - 21 - - - 20 - - 20 - - - - Reflection of light: plane mirror - - - - - - - 20 22 19 19 21 21 21 - - - - - 20 - -

b Refraction of light 21 19 22 - - - - - - 20 20 - - 20 - 19 - 20 - 20 21 - -

c Lenses and thin converging lens 20 - 21 - - - - - - - 20 - - 20 - 20 - 21 21 - - - d Dispersion of light - 20 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21 21 - - - - - e Electromagnetic spectrum - - 31 - - - - - - 21 - - - 16 21 19 - - - - - -

3.3 Sound 22 23 23 22

23 - - - - 21 22 23

23 22 23

22 23

22 23

22 23

22 23

22 23 23 22

23 19 22

22 23

22 23 - -

4 Electricity and Magnetism Exam Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000


4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism 25 25 24 25 - - - - 24

25 25 24 25

24 25 25 25 24 25 25 24

25 24 25 24 25 - -

4.2 Electricity a Electric Charge - 27 26 - - - - 26 26 26 26 26 - 26 - - 26 31 26 26 - -

b Current 27 - 27 - - - - - - 29 27 28 - - - 27 - - 27 - - - -

c Electromotive force (emf) - - - - - - - - - - - - - 27 - - - 28 27 - - - d Potential difference - - - - - - - - 28 - - - 27 - - - 27 - - - - - e Resistance - 26 - - - - - 28 - 27 29 - 28 35 36 - - - - - - - f V/I Characteristics - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Electric power - - - - - - - - 31 - - - - - - 31 - - - - - -

4.3 Electric Circuits 26 28 29

28 29 31

28 29 - - - - 27 27

29 28 30 30

28 29 30

26 29 30

28 29 30

26 28 29

26 27 28 29

28 29 30

26 29

28 29

27 28 29

- -

4.4 Practical Electric Circuitry

a Uses of electricity: 30 30 30 - - - - 29 30 31

30 31 31 31 30 31 30 31 30 31 - 30

31 30 31 - -

Uses of electricity: transmission - - - - 33 34 33 32 33 33 b Dangers of electricity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4.5 Electromagnetic Effects a Electromagnetic induction - - 32 - - - - - - - - 27 - - 34 - - - - - - -

b A.C. generator - - - - - - - 32 33 - 32 33 34 - - - - 8 32 - 34 - -

c Transformer - 34 - - - - - - 32 - 34 34 - 33 32 - 32 - 32 - - -

d The magnetic effect of current 24 33 34

24 32 34 - - - - - 24 - 33 24

32 24 32

25 34 24

24 33 34

34 33 25 34

24 32 - -

e Forces on a current carrying conductor - 33 - - - - - - 34 33 - - - - - 32 - 34 35 - - - f D.C. motor 31 - 33 - - - - 34 - 32 - - - - - - 33 - 33 - - -

4.6 Introductory Electronics a Cathode Rays 36 - 36 - - - - 36 - - 36 - - - - - 35 - 36 - - -

b Oscilloscope 32 35 36 - - - - - - 35 - 35 35 - 35 22

36 - 23 35 - 36 - -

8

c Action Circuits: LDR - - - - - - - 35 - - - - - 36 - - - 36 - - - - Action Circuits: Thermistor 35 - - - - - - - - 35 - 36 36 - - - - - - - - - Action Circuits: PD divider - - 35 - - - - - - 36 35 - - - - - - - - - - - Action Circuits: Reed switches - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Action Circuits: Capacitors - - - - - - - - 36 - - - - - - - 36 - - 35 - -

5 Atomic Physics

Exam Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

no Topic J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N 5.1 Radioactivity

a Detection of radioactivity - 38 38 - - - - - 37 37 38 - 37

38 - 37 38

37 38

37 38 38 - - - - -

b Characteristics of the three kinds of emission 37 37 37 - - - - - 38 - 37 - - - - 35 - 37 37 38 - -

c Radioactive decay - - - - - - - - - 40 - - 37 40 - - - 38 40 - - - d Half-life 38 - - - - - - 38 - - 38 - 38 - - - 37 - 38 37 - - e Safety precautions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

5.2 The nuclear atom

a Atomic Model 40 39 40

39 40 - - - - 39

40 39 40 39 39

40 39 40

39 40

39

39 40

39 40

39 40 40 39 39

40 - -

b Nucleus 39 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c Isotopes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 39 - - - -

9

1.2 Paper-2 This review was conducted for the past eleven years (1990-2000) of IGCSE exams in paper-2. The summaries of the review are summarized in Table 4, which shows the list of all concepts based on the IGCSE examination syllabus and a list for the eleven years (1990-2000). Under each year, the months are shown where ‘J’ stands for “May/June” paper and ‘N’ stands for “November” paper. Also, the number of questions is listed for each paper. For each concept, the table shows the question number used to test it in each year from 1990 to 2000. A ‘-‘ or blank means that concept was not tested for that specific year. Some concepts are tested in more than one question. The review shows that there are 22 structured-problems and 48 non-structured problems. The IGCSE picks up 12 problems to be tested in one hour (60 minutes). There are about 10 structured-problems and the remaining are non-structured problems. Table 3 shows the importance of each concept based on the followings:

4. Highly important concepts are tested many times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with three stars ‘***’ and their number is 22 concepts.

5. Very Important concepts are tested several times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with two stars ‘**’ and their number is 19 concepts.

6. Important concepts are tested few times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with one star ‘*’ and their number is 29 concepts.

10

Table 3: Tested Concepts in Paper-2 Tested Concepts in Paper-2

# General Physics Rank # Electricity and Magnetism Rank 1 Length measurement ** 38 Simple phenomena of magnetism *** 2 Time measurement ** 39 Electric Charge *** 3 Speed, Velocity and Acceleration *** 40 Current ** 4 Mass and weight * 41 Electromotive force (emf) * 5 Density and volume *** 42 Potential difference * 6 Forces: Newton's second Law ** 43 Resistance - 7 Forces: Momentum * 44 V/I Characteristics * 8 Forces: Spring (Load-extension) ** 45 Electric power * 9 Turning effect *** 46 Electric Circuits ***

10 Conditions of Equilibrium * 47 Uses of electricity: ** 11 Center of mass + stability ** 48 Uses of electricity: transmission ** 12 Scalars and vectors - 49 Dangers of electricity * 13 Energy, energy transformation *** 50 Electromagnetic induction * 14 Sources of energy * 51 A.C. generator * 15 Work * 52 Transformer *** 16 Power ** 53 Magnetic effect of current *** 17 Pressure *** 54 Forces on a current carrying conductor * # Thermal Physics Rank 55 D.C. motor **

18 States of matter * 56 Cathode Rays ** 19 Molecular model *** 57 Oscilloscope ** 20 Evaporation ** 58 Action Circuits: LDR *** 21 Pressure changes * 59 Action Circuits: Thermistor * 22 Thermal expansion *** 60 Action Circuits: PD divider * 23 Measurement of temperature *** 61 Action Circuits: Reed switches * 24 Thermal capacity *** 62 Action Circuits: Capacitors * 25 Melting and boiling ** # Atomic Physics Rank 26 Conduction * 63 Detection of radioactivity *** 27 Convection * 64 Emissions of αααα-ββββ-γγγγ *** 28 Radiation * 65 Radioactive decay ** # Physics of Waves Rank 66 Half-life ***

29 Waves: properties + calculations *** 67 Safety precautions * 30 Wave Properties: water waves * 68 Atomic Model ** 31 Reflection of light: rays ** 69 Nucleus * 32 Reflection of light: plane mirror * 70 Isotopes * 33 Refraction of light *** 34 Lenses and thin converging lens *** 35 Dispersion of light ** 36 Electromagnetic spectrum ** 37 Sound ***

*** Highly important, ** very important, * important, - irrelevant

11


Macroscopic Analysis of IGCSE Exams For Paper-2

Exam Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Month J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N

Number of Questions 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 1 General Physics

1.1 Length and time - 12 1 - - - - - 1 - 1 2 - - 1 - - - - - - - 1.2 Speed, Velocity and Acceleration 11 - 9 10 1 9 1 1 - 12 - 1 9 - - 1 - 8 - - - 1,3 1.3 Mass and weight - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - 1.4 Density and volume 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - - 10 2- - - - - 2 - 1 - 8 1.5 Forces a Effect of forces (Newton's second Law) - 1 - 3 - - - 2 - - - 11 - - - - - - - - 1 2 b Turning effect - 2 - - 3 - 3 - - 1 - - 3 - - 2 - 3 - - - - c Conditions of Equilibrium - - - 10 - 2 - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - d Center of mass - - - 2,4 - - - - - 2 - - - - 11 - - - - 2 - - e Scalars and vectors - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1.6 Energy, work and power a Energy - 11 3 - 4 3 9 - 3 - 2 - 11 9 2 - - - - - 12 - b Major and alternative sources of energy - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c Work - 11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - 12 - d Power - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1.7 Pressure - 10 - - - 4 - 9 - 3 - - - 2 10 - 12 - - - 9 - 2 Thermal Physics

2.1 Kinetic Molecular Model of Matter a States of matter - - - 12 - - 4 - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - b Molecular model - - - - - - 4 4 - - - - 1 10 9 4 - - - 12 6 4 c Evaporation 4 - - 12 - - - - - 7 - - - - - - - - - - - 4 d Pressure changes 3 - 12 - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 4 - - - - -


a Thermal expansion of solids, liquids, and gasses 9 - 12 - - 6 - - - 6 - 4 - - - - - - - - 9 -

b Measurement of temperature 9 - - - - - 10 - - - - - 12 - 5 - 3 - - 11 - 5 c Thermal capacity - 7 - - 5 - - - - - 5 - - 10 - 11 - - - - - 5- d Melting and boiling - 7 - 12 - - - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - -

2.3 Transfer of thermal energy a Conduction - 3 - - - - - - - 4 - - - 10 - - - - - - 2 - b Convection - 3 - 12 - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - 7 2 - c Radiation - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 - 4 - - 2 - d Consequences of energy transfer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 Properties of Waves

3.1 Wave Properties 12 - - - - - - 10 12 - - 3 - - - 5 10 - - - - 10 3.2 Light a Reflection of light 2 - - - - 5 - 6 6 - 11 - - 3 6 - 9 - - - - 6 b Refraction of light 12 - 5 8 - 11 - - - 5 4 9 6 - - 3 - 10 - 6 4 6 c Lenses and thin converging lens - 4 - 8 - - 12 5 7 - - 9 - - - - 5 - - 9 - - d Dispersion of light - - - - 6 - - 12 9 - - - - - - 5 - - - - - 6 e Electromagnetic spectrum - - - - - - - 12 9 - - - - - 10 - - - - - 11 -

3.3 Sound 5 12 11 5 9 - - - 12 12 10 - 4 4 - - - - - - 5 10

12


no Topic J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N 4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism - 5 - 9 7 - 6 - 4 - 6 - - 7 7 - 8 11 - 3 - - 4.2 Electricity a Electric Charge 6 - - - 8 - - 7 5 - - - 7 - - - - 9 - - - 11 b Current - - - 1 - 7 - - - 9 - - - - 4 - - - - - 10 11 c Electromotive force - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10 - d Potential difference - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e Resistance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f V/I Characteristics - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6 - - - - - - - -

4.3 Electric Circuits 7 9 10 11 10 - 11 3 10 9 9 - - - - 6 11 - - - - - 4.4 Practical Electric Circuitry a Uses of electricity - 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7 11 5 - 5 - - b Dangers of electricity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4.5 Electromagnetic Effects a Electromagnetic induction - - - - - 10 - 11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b A.C. generator - - - 6 - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c Transformer - - 4 - - - - - - 10 - - 8 - - 9 - - - 10 - - d The magnetic effect of current 9 5 6 - - 10 - 11 - - - 5 - 11 - 12 - 7 - - 3 - e Forces on a current carrying conductor - - 8 - - - - - - - - - - - 8 - - - - - - - f D.C. motor - - - - - - - - - - 7 - - - - 12 - - - - - -

4.6 Introductory Electronics a Cathode Rays - - - 7 11 - - - - 11 - 7 - - - - - - - - - - b Oscilloscope - - - - - - - - - 11 - - - 12 - - - 6 - - - - c Action Circuits 10 - - 11 10 - 7 - - - 8 6 - 5 3 - 7 11 - - - 9

5 Atomic Physics 5.1 Radioactivity a Detection of radioactivity 8 - - - - 12 - - 11 - 12 - - - 12 - - 12 - - - -

b Characteristics of the three kinds of emission - - 7 - - 8 - - - 8 12 - - - 12 - - 12 - - - -

c Radioactive decay - - - - - 12 - - 8 - 12 12 - - - - - - - - - 12 d Half-life - 8 - - 12 - 8 - 11 - - 12 - - 12 - - 12 - - 8 - e Safety precautions - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8 - - - - - - - -

5.2 The nuclear atom a Atomic Model - - - - - 12 - 8 - - - - - 1 - - 6 - - 8 - 12 b Nucleus - - - - - 12 - 8 - - - - - - - - 6 - - 8 - 12 c Isotopes - - - - - 12 - - - - - 8 - - - 8 - - - - - -

13

1.3 Paper-3 This review was conducted for the past eleven years (1990-2000) of IGCSE exams in paper-3. The summaries of the review are summarized in Table 6, which shows the list of all concepts based on the IGCSE examination syllabus and a list for the eleven years (1990-2000). Under each year, the months are shown where ‘J’ stands for “May/June” paper and ‘N’ stands for “November” paper. Also, the number of questions is listed for each paper. For each concept, the table shows the question number used to test it in each year from 1990 to 2000. A ‘-‘ or blank means that concept was not tested for that specific year. Some concepts are tested in more than one question. The review shows that there are 12 very-important problems and 12 important problems. The IGCSE picked 5-7 problems for the first 10 years and picked 10 for the NOV-2000. It is expected that the IGCSE will start to pick up 10 problems for the year 2001 for paper three. The IGCSE allocates one hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) for paper-3. Table 5 shows the importance of each concept based on the followings:

1. Highly important concepts are tested many times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with three stars ‘***’.

2. Very Important concepts are tested several times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with two stars ‘**’.

3. Important concepts are tested few times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with one star ‘*’.

14


# General Physics Rank # Electricity and Magnetism Rank 1 Length measurement - 38 Simple phenomena of magnetism * 2 Time measurement - 39 Electric Charge ** 3 Speed, Velocity and Acceleration *** 40 Current ** 4 Mass and weight - 41 Electromotive force (emf) - 5 Density and volume ** 42 Potential difference * 6 Forces: Newton's second Law - 43 Resistance ** 7 Forces: Momentum * 44 V/I Characteristics * 8 Forces: Spring (Load-extension) * 45 Electric power - 9 Turning effect - 46 Electric Circuits ***

10 Conditions of Equilibrium - 47 Uses of electricity *** 11 Center of mass + stability - 48 Uses of electricity: transmission - 12 Scalars and vectors ** 49 Dangers of electricity - 13 Energy, energy transformation *** 50 Electromagnetic induction ** 14 Energy *** 51 A.C. generator ** 15 Work * 52 Transformer *** 16 Power * 53 Magnetic effect of current ** 17 Pressure ** 54 Forces on a current carrying conductor * # Thermal Physics Rank 55 D.C. motor *

18 States of matter - 56 Cathode Rays * 19 Molecular model *** 57 Oscilloscope ** 20 Evaporation * 58 Action Circuits: LDR - 21 Pressure changes * 59 Action Circuits: Thermistor - 22 Thermal expansion *** 60 Action Circuits: PD divider - 23 Measurement of temperature * 61 Action Circuits: Reed switches - 24 Thermal capacity *** 62 Action Circuits: Capacitors - 25 Melting and boiling ** # Atomic Physics Rank 26 Conduction * 63 Detection of radioactivity *** 27 Convection * 64 Emissions of αααα-ββββ-γγγγ *** 28 Radiation * 65 Radioactive decay ** # Physics of Waves Rank 66 Half-life **

29 Waves: properties + calculations *** 67 Safety precautions ** 30 Wave Properties: water waves - 68 Atomic Model *** 31 Reflection of light: rays * 69 Nucleus * 32 Reflection of light: plane mirror - 70 Isotopes ** 33 Refraction of light *** 34 Lenses and thin converging lens ** 35 Dispersion of light * 36 Electromagnetic spectrum * 37 Sound **


15

Table 6: Macroscopic Analysis of Paper-3 of IGCSE Exams Macroscopic Analysis of IGCSE Exams

For Paper-3 Exam Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Month J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N Number of Questions 6 7 7 7 6 6 7 7 6 7 7 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 10

1 General Physics 1.1 Length and time - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.2 Speed, Velocity and Acceleration - - 1 3 1 1,3 1 - 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 1.3 Mass and weight - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.4 Density and volume - 1 - - - - - 1 2 - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - 1.5 Forces a Effect of forces (Newton's second Law) - 2 - - - - - 2 1 1 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 1 - - - 1 b Turning effect - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - 3 - c Conditions of Equilibrium - - - - - - - 1 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Center of mass - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e Scalars and vectors 1 - - 2 - - - - - 1 - - - - - - 1 - - - 1 1

1.6 Energy, work and power a Energy - 4 2 - - 1 1 3 - - - 1 - 1 - 1 1 1 - - 3 - b Major and alternative sources of energy - 4 - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c Work - - 2 - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Power - - - - - 1 - 7 - 2 - - - - 1 - - - - - - -

1.7 Pressure - - 2 - - - - 1 - 2 - - - - - - - - 1 - - 3 2 Thermal Physics

2.1 Kinetic Molecular Model of Matter a States of matter - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b Molecular model - - 3 - 2 - 3 - - - - 1 - - 2 2 2 - 2 - 4 - c Evaporation - - - 4 - - 2 - - - - - - - - 2 2 2 - - - - d Pressure changes - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - -


a Thermal expansion of solids, liquids, and gasses - - - - - 2 - - 2 - - 2 - 2 - - - - - - - 2

b Measurement of temperature - 3 - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - 2 - - 2 - - c Thermal capacity 2 - 4 - 2 1 2 - - 3 2 - 2 - -2 - 2 2 2 - - 5 d Melting and boiling 2 - - 4 2 - 2 - - - 2 - - - - - 2 - - - 2 -

2.3 Transfer of thermal energy a Conduction - - - - 3 - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - b Convection - - - - 3 - 2 - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - c Radiation - - - 4 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Consequences of energy transfer - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 Properties of Waves

3.1 Wave Properties - - 5 - 1 - - - - - - - - 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 - 4 3.2 Light a Reflection of light - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - 3 - - - - - - b Refraction of light - 5 - 5 - - 4 - - 4 - 3 - 3 3 3 - 3 3 2 5 - c Lenses and thin converging lens - - - 5 4 - - - - - 3 - 3 - - - - - 3 - - 6 d Dispersion of light - 5 - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e Electromagnetic spectrum - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3.3 Sound 4 - - - - - - 4 - - - 4 - - 3 - - - - - 6 -

16


No Topic J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N 4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - - 4.2 Electricity a Electric Charge - - - - - 4 - - - - - 5 - - - 5 - - 4 - 9 9 b Current - - 6 - - - - - 6 - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - c Electromotive force - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Potential difference - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - 7 - e Resistance - - - - - - - 5 3,6 - - - - - - - - - 4 - 7 - f V/I Characteristics 3 - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4.3 Electric Circuits - 6 - - - 6 5 - 3,6 - - - - 4 4 - - 4 - 4 - 7 4.4 Practical Electric Circuitry a Uses of electricity - - 6 - - - 5 6 3 - 5 - - 4 4 - 4 - - - - - b Dangers of electricity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4.5 Electromagnetic Effects a Electromagnetic induction 5 - - - - 5 - 6 - - 6 - - - - - - 4 - 4 - - b A.C. generator - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - 4 - - 4 - 8 c Transformer - - - 6 - - 6 6 6 - 6 - 4 - - 4 - 4 - 4 8 - d The magnetic effect of current - - - 6 - 5 6 - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - 7 - e Forces on a current carrying conductor - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f D.C. motor - - - - 5 - - - - - - 6 - - - 4 - - - - - -

4.6 Introductory Electronics a Cathode Rays - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 - - - - - 4 - - - b Oscilloscope - - - 7 - - - 4 4 - - - - - 4 - 5 - - - - - c Action Circuits - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

5 Atomic Physics 5.1 Radioactivity a Detection of radioactivity - - - - - - 7 7 5 6 7 - - 5 5 - 5 5 5 5 10 10

b Characteristics of the three kinds of emission 6 - 7 - 6 7 - 7 5 6 7 7 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 9

10 c Radioactive decay - - - - - - - - - 6 7 7 5 - - - - - - - 10 10 d Half-life - - - - - 7 7 - - - 7 - - 5 - - - - - - - - e Safety precautions - 7 7 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 - 5 - -

5.2 The nuclear atom a Atomic Model 6 7 - - - - 7 - - 6 - 7 - - 5 - - - 5 - - - b Nucleus - - - - - - 7 - - - - - - - - - - - 5 - - - c Isotopes - 7 - - - - - - - 6 - - - 5 - - 5 - - - - -

17

1.4 Paper-6 This review was conducted for the past eleven years (1990-2000) of IGCSE exams in paper-6. The summaries of the review are summarized in Table 8, which shows the list of all concepts based on the IGCSE examination syllabus and a list for the eleven years (1990-2000). Under each year, the months are shown where ‘J’ stands for “May/June” paper and ‘N’ stands for “November” paper. Also, the number of questions is listed for each paper. For each concept, the table shows the question number used to test it in each year from 1990 to 2000. A ‘-‘ or blank means that concept was not tested for that specific year. Some concepts are tested in more than one question. The review shows that there are five problems four of which test the highly-important questions and the fifth one test some of the other concepts. The IGCSE allocates one hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) for paper-6. Table 7 shows the importance of each concept based on the followings:

4. Highly important concepts are tested many times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with three stars ‘***’.

5. Very Important concepts are tested several times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with two stars ‘**’.

6. Important concepts are tested few times during the past eleven years. They are labeled with one star ‘*’.

7. Irrelevant concepts are not tested at all during the past eleven years. They are labeled with one dash “-’

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# General Physics Rank # Electricity and Magnetism Rank 1 Length measurement *** 38 Simple phenomena of magnetism ** 2 Time measurement ** 39 Electric Charge - 3 Speed, Velocity and Acceleration ** 40 Current * 4 Mass and weight ** 41 Electromotive force (emf) - 5 Density and volume - 42 Potential difference * 6 Forces: Newton's second Law - 43 Resistance ** 7 Forces: Momentum - 44 V/I Characteristics - 8 Forces: Spring (Load-extension) * 45 Electric power - 9 Turning effect ** 46 Electric Circuits ***

10 Conditions of Equilibrium - 47 Uses of electricity - 11 Center of mass + stability - 48 Uses of electricity: transmission - 12 Scalars and vectors - 49 Dangers of electricity - 13 Energy, energy transformation - 50 Electromagnetic induction - 14 Energy - 51 A.C. generator - 15 Work - 52 Transformer - 16 Power - 53 Magnetic effect of current - 17 Pressure ** 54 Forces on a current carrying conductor - # Thermal Physics Rank 55 D.C. motor *

18 States of matter - 56 Cathode Rays - 19 Molecular model - 57 Oscilloscope - 20 Evaporation * 58 Action Circuits: LDR * 21 Pressure changes - 59 Action Circuits: Thermistor * 22 Thermal expansion * 60 Action Circuits: PD divider * 23 Measurement of temperature *** 61 Action Circuits: Reed switches - 24 Thermal capacity ** 62 Action Circuits: Capacitors, diode ** 25 Melting and boiling * # Atomic Physics Rank 26 Conduction ** 63 Detection of radioactivity - 27 Convection ** 64 Emissions of α-β-γ - 28 Radiation ** 65 Radioactive decay - # Physics of Waves Rank 66 Half-life -

29 Waves: properties + calculations * 67 Safety precautions - 30 Wave Properties: water waves * 68 Atomic Model - 31 Reflection of light: rays * 69 Nucleus - 32 Reflection of light: plane mirror * 70 Isotopes - 33 Refraction of light ** 34 Lenses and thin converging lens *** 35 Dispersion of light - 36 Electromagnetic spectrum - 37 Sound -


19


Macroscopic Analysis of IGCSE Exams For Paper-6 Exam Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Number of Questions 5 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

1 General Physics J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N J N 1.1 Length measurements - - 1 3 - 1,3 5 4 4 1 - - - 1 1 - - - 2 - - 1

Time measurements - 2 2 - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - 1.2 Speed, Velocity and Acceleration 2 - - - - 5 - 2 - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - 1.3 Mass and weight - - - - 1 5 - - 1 - - - 2 - - 1 - - - - - - 1.4 Density and volume - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1.5 Forces a Effect of forces (Newton's second Law) - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - 5 - b Turning effect - - - - 3 - 1 - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - c Conditions of Equilibrium - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Center of mass - - - - - - - - - 3 1 - - - - - - 5 - - - - e Scalars and vectors - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1.6 Energy, work and power a Energy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b Major and alternative sources of energy - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c Work - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Power - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1.7 Pressure - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 - - - 5 1 - - 2 Thermal Physics

2.1 Kinetic Molecular Model of Matter a States of matter - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b Molecular model - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c Evaporation - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Pressure changes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


a Thermal expansion of solids, liquids, and gasses - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

b Measurement of temperature 4 - - - 2 - - 5 3 4 5 - - 3 - 3 1 4 3 4 4 3 c Thermal capacity - - - - 4 - - - - - - - 4 - - - 4 - - - - - d Melting and boiling - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - -

2.3 Transfer of thermal energy - - 3 4 - - - - - - - - - - 3 3 - - - - - - a Conduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b Convection - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c Radiation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Consequences of energy transfer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 Properties of Waves

3.1 Wave Properties - 3 - - - - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - 3.2 Light - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - a Reflection of light - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - 1 - - - b Refraction of light - 1 - 1 - 2 - - - - - - 1 - 4 - - 1 - - - - c Lenses and thin converging lens 5 - - - - - - - 5 1 - 3 - 5 - 2 5 2 - 5 1 2 d Dispersion of light - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - e Electromagnetic spectrum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3.3 Sound - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

20

Exam Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000


4 Electricity and Magnetism 4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism - - - - - - 4 - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - 2 5 4.2 Electricity a Electric Charge - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b Current - - - - - 4 - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - c Electromotive force - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Potential difference - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e Resistance - - - 5 - - - - - - 3 - 3 - - - - - - - - - f V/I Characteristics - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4.3 Electric Circuits 3 4 - 2 - - - - 2 - - - - - - - 3 3 4 2 3 4 4.4 Practical Electric Circuitry a Uses of electricity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b Dangers of electricity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4.5 Electromagnetic Effects a Electromagnetic induction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b A.C. generator - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c Transformer - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d The magnetic effect of current - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e Forces on a current carrying conductor - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f D.C. motor - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4.6 Introductory Electronics a Cathode Rays - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b Oscilloscope - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c Action Circuits - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -LDR - - 5 - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Thermistor - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Potential divider - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - -Diodes - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - 4 - 4 - - - - - -

5 Atomic Physics 5.1 Radioactivity a Detection of radioactivity - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

b Characteristics of the three kinds of emission - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

c Radioactive decay - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d Half-life - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e Safety precautions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

5.2 The nuclear atom a Atomic Model - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b Nucleus - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c Isotopes - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

macroscopic analysis of igcse physics...

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