A good Physics route has three parts: the right syllabus, a sensible topic order and a weekly rhythm you can keep. Build them in that order, because a beautiful timetable for the wrong content wastes the effort.
This page shows how to do each part for Cambridge IGCSE Physics (code 0625), and how our realistic revision planner turns the result into printable blocks.
Step 1: Which syllabus applies to you?
Your school or exam centre enters you for a specific syllabus and exam year. We do not do that entry, so the answer must come from them. Ask two short questions: which exam year am I entered for, and which route (Core or Extended, or the equivalent wording in your syllabus) applies to me?
Then open the current syllabus on the Cambridge Physics page (linked in the sources below) and check that the content list matches what your school is teaching. The syllabus and exam-year navigator builds a checking list for you, and the 0625 code guide explains what to confirm.
Step 2: Put the modules in a workable order
Physics is built in layers. Units, scales and graph reading sit underneath almost everything, so they come first.
| Phase | Modules | Why here |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | Measurement, Motion and graphs | Units, vectors and graphs are reused everywhere |
| Mechanics | Forces, Density, Moments, Pressure | Direction and force reasoning |
| Energy and heat | Work and energy, Power, Thermal, Heat calculations | Energy stores and transfers |
| Waves | Waves, Light, EM spectrum and sound | One shared wave language |
| Electricity and fields | Charge, Circuits, Electrical energy, Magnetism, Induction | Builds on energy and force ideas |
| Modern physics | Atoms and nuclei, Half-life, Space | Models and data |
| Skills | Investigations | Practise alongside all other phases |
If your school teaches in a different order, follow the school for new content and use this table for revision.
Step 3: Turn the order into weeks
Here is a worked example with numbers you can copy. A student has 11 usable weeks and 22 modules.
Modules per week: 22 ÷ 11 = 2 modules per week.
Blocks per week: two learning blocks (one per module), one practice block and one gap block. That is 4 blocks.
Time per week: 4 blocks × 45 minutes = 180 minutes = 3 hours.
The gap block is the important one. It is where you revisit whatever went wrong last week, so problems do not pile up.
If your real free time is only 120 minutes a week, the plan should show that conflict openly: 120 ÷ 45 is about 2.7 blocks. Either drop the practice block for some weeks or stretch the route to 16 weeks. Choose honestly.
A mistake that breaks routes
The usual mistake is planning by topic names only, such as “Electricity, Tuesday”. A topic is not a task. A block that says “Electricity” invites re-reading notes for 45 minutes and feeling busy.
Write a task instead: “Do four circuit questions, mark them, log each error.” The mistake log and retest queue gives you a place to record what went wrong so the next block has a clear target.
Check your own route
1. Your exam is in 9 weeks and you have 18 modules left. How many modules per week?
Show answer
18 ÷ 9 = 2 modules per week.
2. You can give 150 minutes a week and use 50-minute blocks. How many blocks fit?
Show answer
150 ÷ 50 = 3 blocks. Two learning blocks and one practice or gap block is a sensible split.
3. Why is “Waves, Friday” a weak plan item, and what would make it stronger?
Show answer
It names a topic, not a task. Replace it with something checkable, such as “Complete the wave-speed questions and mark them”, so you can tell afterwards whether the block worked.
Where to go next
Open the Physics learning guide for the full topic map, then use the revision page once you have covered a few modules. The original practice hub gives you questions to fill the practice blocks.
Some students can plan but not keep the plan alone. Our teachers can look at your route with you in online one-to-one Physics tuition.