0620 is the code for Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry. It identifies the qualification on entry forms, syllabus documents and past papers, and it is the first thing to confirm before you choose what to revise.
This page states only what is stable and tells you where to check the rest. The official source is always the Cambridge subject page linked below.
What does the code tell you?
The code names the qualification, not the exam year. The same code appears year after year, and Cambridge issues a syllabus document that covers a run of exam years. For 0620, Cambridge publishes a syllabus for 2026 to 2028.
Two things follow. First, the code alone is not enough to pick a syllabus, so you also need your exam year. Second, a document labelled for a different run of years may describe content or wording that differs from your own.
How do I confirm my syllabus in five steps?
- Ask your school or exam centre for your entry code and exam year.
- Open the Cambridge 0620 subject page and find the syllabus document listed for that year.
- Record the document name and year at the start of your revision file.
- Use the syllabus navigator to write down what you confirmed and what is still unresolved.
- Compare versions with the syllabus version viewer if you are using older notes or textbooks.
What should I check in the specification?
For Chemistry, three things decide how you practise, so read them in the document for your exam year before you label anything as required.
- The topic list: which topics are included for your year, and whether any are marked as extra depth for a particular entry.
- The assessment route: which papers apply to your entry and what each paper assesses.
- Practical skills: how practical skills are assessed and what your centre arranges.
Write the answers in your revision file with the page or section of the syllabus document beside them. Our assessment guide explains how to read the route once you have found it.
What should I check with my exam centre?
Your exam centre handles things that we and this site cannot. Ask them:
- Which exam series are you entered for? Do not assume May/June or October/November.
- What are the registration and entry deadlines?
- Which entry route applies to you, and are any access arrangements relevant?
Private candidates also deal with the centre and Cambridge directly. Follow the Cambridge private candidate guidance and confirm details with the centre you plan to use.
Is 0620 the same as other science codes?
No. Each Cambridge IGCSE science qualification has its own code and syllabus document. Some ideas overlap, such as particles, energy and forces, but always use the document that matches the code on your entry.
If a textbook or website says only “IGCSE science”, look for the four-digit code before you trust its contents list.
A short example of using the code
A student has a revision book labelled “IGCSE Chemistry” and an old worksheet with no code on it. The entry form says 0620 with an exam year inside the 2026 to 2028 run.
The steps: the student opens the 0620 subject page, downloads the 2026 to 2028 syllabus, writes that document name at the start of the file, and checks the worksheet’s topics against the topic list. Topics that match stay in the plan. Anything that does not match is marked “check first” and raised with a teacher.
The habit matters more than the answer: the code and year decide what goes into the revision plan.
What do we not state here?
We do not list paper numbers, durations, weightings or grade thresholds on this page. Those belong to Cambridge and can change between syllabus versions. The Cambridge subject page and the syllabus PDF are where to read them.
Where to go next
Build a plan with the study route guide and see the whole subject in the Chemistry learning guide. If an old resource is part of your plan, the old resource audit shows how to check it.
Once your code and year are confirmed, online one-to-one Chemistry tuition can start from the right syllabus instead of a guess.