Subject by Subject Revision Plans for Cambridge Exams

Every Cambridge subject rewards the same method: learn a topic, practise it with real questions, mark yourself against the official mark scheme, and fix what you lost. What changes between subjects is where the marks are lost. Below is a plan for six subjects. Use the syllabus for your exact code as the final word on content and paper structure, since levels differ.

The shared method

1. Get the syllabus. Download it for your code and tick off topics as you cover them.
2. Learn, then test. After a topic, do real exam questions on it, not more reading.
3. Mark strictly. Use the official mark scheme and note the exact wording that earned marks.
4. Keep a mistake log. One line per lost mark: what went wrong and the fix.
5. Move to full papers. Once the syllabus is covered, practise whole papers under time. See how to revise with Cambridge past papers.

How to adapt these plans

Each plan below is a starting shape, not a timetable to obey. A session means roughly 40 to 60 focused minutes, and you can stretch or shrink it. If you are two months out, follow the plan as written. If you are two weeks out, drop new learning and spend most sessions on timed questions and your mistake log.

Two habits make every plan work. First, always end a session by writing what you got wrong and what you will do about it, in one line. Second, put the hardest topic first in the week, while you have energy. For the idea behind drilling one topic and then mixing, see how to use topical questions.

Physics

Physics papers (IGCSE 0625, O Level 5054, A Level 9702) typically mix calculation with explanation; check your syllabus for the exact paper structure.

Priorities: equations and units, graph reading, and short explanations in cause and effect form. Practise rearranging formulae before plugging in numbers.

Common trap: a correct number with a missing or wrong unit, or an explanation that restates the question instead of giving a reason.

Weekly plan:

• Two sessions: topical questions on one topic, marked strictly.
• One session: a mixed set from earlier topics, with timed calculations.

When you mark a calculation, check three things separately: the method, the number and the unit. It shows you which of the three you keep losing.

Find papers for IGCSE Physics, O Level Physics or A Level Physics. For longer written answers, read A Level physics 9702 explain questions.

Chemistry

Chemistry (IGCSE 0620, O Level 5070, A Level 9701) combines facts, equations and calculations. Exact structure depends on your level, so check it.

Priorities: balanced equations with state symbols where asked, mole calculations, and the specific vocabulary the mark scheme looks for, such as the difference between a molecule and an atom, or a precise definition.

Common trap: vague wording like "it reacts faster" without saying why, for example more frequent collisions, or giving a correct fact that does not answer the exact question.

Weekly plan:

• One session: flashcards or self-quizzing for facts, reactions and definitions.
• One session: calculation questions from one topic.
• One session: past paper questions on trends or explanations, marked word by word.

Keep a single page of the reactions and tests you keep forgetting, and rewrite it from memory each week. What you cannot rewrite is what you revise next.

Papers are here: IGCSE Chemistry, O Level Chemistry, A Level Chemistry.

Mathematics

Mathematics runs from IGCSE 0580 and O Level 4024 to A Level 9709, and Further Mathematics 9231. The papers differ a lot by level, so read your syllabus.

Priorities: method before speed. Practise algebra, graphs and the standard techniques for your topics until the setup is automatic, then work on longer multi-step questions.

Common trap: losing method marks by skipping working, or rounding too early. A wrong final answer with clear working can still earn marks. A bare wrong answer cannot.

Weekly plan:

• Three short sessions on different topics, a few questions each.
• One mixed set with no topic labels.
• Redo last week's errors from scratch.

When you get a question wrong, do not just read the solution. Cover it, and redo the question from the first line until you can finish without looking.

Start from the right page: IGCSE Mathematics, O Level Mathematics, A Level Mathematics or Further Mathematics. Our binomial expansion guide is one example of a topic worth drilling.

Computer Science

Computer Science (IGCSE 0478, O Level 2210, A Level 9618) usually involves both theory and programming or algorithm work. Check which papers your level has.

Priorities: keep the theory vocabulary precise, and practise writing and tracing algorithms by hand, since you must be able to do it without running code.

Common trap: writing code that is almost right or describing a concept in everyday words. Use the correct terms, and trace your pseudocode with a small example before moving on.

Weekly plan:

• One session: theory recall from your syllabus topic list.
• One session: trace tables and algorithm questions on paper.
• One session: write a short program or pseudocode from a description, then check it against the mark scheme.

Write programs by hand at least some of the time, with the same care you would give the exam: clear indentation, sensible variable names and every bracket closed.

Papers: IGCSE Computer Science, O Level Computer Science, A Level Computer Science.

Islamiyat

O Level Islamiyat (2058) is mostly written work, so the skill is organising knowledge into clear, well supported answers. Check the syllabus for the set content and the structure of the questions.

Priorities: know your set material thoroughly, practise recalling it from memory, and learn to give specific points with relevant evidence rather than general statements.

Common trap: writing a general essay on the topic instead of answering the specific question asked. Read the command word and every part of the question.

Weekly plan:

• One session: recall key content from memory, then check.
• One session: write two timed answers to past questions.
• One session: compare them with the mark scheme and note missing points.

A useful drill is to write a plan of three to five points for a question in two minutes, then compare it with the mark scheme before writing the full answer. It trains selection, which is where many answers go wrong.

Browse O Level Islamiyat papers.

Pakistan Studies

O Level Pakistan Studies (2059) is also written work and covers more than one area of study. Check the syllabus for what each paper covers and how it is assessed.

Priorities: dates, names and events, causes and consequences, and applying a fact to the question. For any geography content, practise using maps, data and examples.

Common trap: listing facts without explaining their significance, or giving a detailed answer to the wrong question. Link every point back to what was asked.

Weekly plan:

• One session: timeline and key facts, tested from memory.
• One session: short structured answers from past papers, timed.
• One session: review against the mark scheme and fix gaps.

For longer answers, practise stating a point, giving the evidence, and saying why it matters, in that order. The same pattern works across most topics.

See O Level Pakistan Studies papers.

Put the plan to work

Choose one subject and one paper from the past papers hub, write your answers by hand and have them marked against the official Cambridge mark scheme. Reading papers, downloading the PDFs and seeing mark schemes is free, and a free account adds AI marking and Pal, which gives hints but never answers.

Not every paper or year is available to mark yet. 2023 and 2024 papers come first, and earlier years are being added. Use topical sets for one-topic drills.

If you take more than one of these subjects, do not give each its own long block every day. Rotate them through the week so that each gets a short, regular slot, and keep the mistake log for each subject on a separate page so you can see its own patterns clearly.