My Child Is Struggling With IGCSE Physics — What Should We Fix First?

When a child is struggling with IGCSE Physics, revising every chapter again may feel sensible. It is rarely the best first move.

Physics difficulties normally come from one of three places: the concept is unclear, the mathematics is insecure, or the student cannot recognise what an exam question is testing. The marked paper will show which one needs attention first.

Sort the lost marks

Take a recent test and label each mistake:

• concept not understood
• wrong equation or principle selected
• algebra, substitution or unit error
• graph or practical question misread
• explanation too vague
• question unfinished because of time

Whichever category contains the most marks becomes the first priority.

Repair concepts before memorising more formulas

A student may know that speed equals distance divided by time without understanding what a changing gradient means. They may recall an electricity equation but confuse current, voltage and resistance.

Ask your child to explain the situation before calculating. What is moving? What is transferring energy? What is changing, and why? If they cannot describe the Physics, formula practice alone will not solve the problem.

Check the mathematical foundations

Rearranging equations, standard form, unit conversions and reading graphs can quietly lower a Physics grade. Practise these skills separately, then place them back into exam questions.

Our guide on why strong Maths students still get IGCSE Physics calculations wrong explains why mathematical ability alone does not guarantee correct Physics.

Match preparation to the exam board

Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel do not use identical specifications or paper structures. If your child takes Cambridge, use the official IGCSE Physics 0625 syllabus and resources as the reference point.

Use a focused recovery cycle

Choose two weak areas. Review each briefly, complete targeted questions, correct the errors and test the same skill later with an unseen question. Improvement is what the student can now do independently—not how many pages they have reread.

At OTA Learning Studio, we diagnose the reason behind the lost marks before planning lessons. Book a free consultation if your child is struggling with IGCSE Physics and you need a clear starting point.