PHYSICS · Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
PHYSICS/21
P: Extended Physics
Physics · 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Pearson Edexcel
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.5 / 5
180
195 min
Forces, movement, shape and momentum
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
180
Duration
195 min
Session difficulty
3.5 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
A substantial allocation of marks was centered around Forces, Movement, Shape, and Momentum (31 marks) and Electric Charge (20 marks).
Candidates performed exceptionally well on straightforward calculation questions such as W=mg W = mg W=mg and E=I×V×t E = I \times V \times t E=I×V×t.
However, key marks were dropped in the descriptive and evaluative sectors.
In Paper 1P, the wood-bending investigation demanded precise identifying of independent, dependent, and control variables, where many candidates struggled to distinguish control parameters from uncontrolled environments.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Knowledge & Understanding
Weight: 4100%Application of
Weight: 250%Experimental &
Weight: 125%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “Give” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.1
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Forces, movement, shape and momentum
31 marks this session
Electric charge
20 marks this session
The electromagnetic spectrum
18 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Forces, movement, shape and momentum
Radioactivity
Movement and position
Electromagnetic induction
Electric charge
The electromagnetic spectrum
Light and sound
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1P:
Paper 2P:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Forces, movement, shape and momentum
31 marks this session
Practise in RevuiElectric charge
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe electromagnetic spectrum
18 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
A substantial allocation of marks was centered around Forces, Movement, Shape, and Momentum (31 marks) and Electric Charge (20 marks).
- 2Message
Candidates performed exceptionally well on straightforward calculation questions such as W=mg W = mg W=mg and E=I×V×t E = I \times V \times t E=I×V×t.
- 3Message
However, key marks were dropped in the descriptive and evaluative sectors.
- 4Message
In Paper 1P, the wood-bending investigation demanded precise identifying of independent, dependent, and control variables, where many candidates struggled to distinguish control parameters from uncontrolled environments.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2024 2024
Physics
A substantial allocation of marks was centered around Forces, Movement, Shape, and Momentum (31 marks) and Electric Charge (20 marks). Candidates performed exceptionally well on straightforward calculation questions such as W=mg W = mg W=mg and E=I×V×t E = I \times V \times t E=I
A substantial allocation of marks was centered around Forces, Movement, Shape, and Momentum (31 marks) and Electric Charge (20 marks).
Candidates performed exceptionally well on straightforward calculation questions such as W=mg W = mg W=mg and E=I×V×t E = I \times V \times t E=I×V×t.
However, key marks were dropped in the descriptive and evaluative sectors.
- Total marks
- 180
- Duration
- 195 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.5 / 5
Session analysis
A substantial allocation of marks was centered around Forces, Movement, Shape, and Momentum (31 marks) and Electric Charge (20 marks). Candidates performed exceptionally well on straightforward calculation questions such as W=mg W = mg W=mg and E=I×V×t E = I \times V \times t E=I×V×t. However, key marks were dropped in the descriptive and evaluative sectors. In Paper 1P, the wood-bending investigation demanded precise identifying of independent, dependent, and control variables, where many candidates struggled to distinguish control parameters from uncontrolled environments. Similarly, plotting curves of best fit required students to understand that non-proportional relationships must not be forced into a straight-line trend.
Updated Jun 13, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1P:
Paper 2P:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
78% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
shortAnswer
90·38·50%
extendedStructured
80·15·44%
multipleChoice
10·10·6%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1P
0.93 m/minTotal marks
70
Total time
75 min
Avg pace
0.93
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Electromagnetic induction
95%95%
Fission and fusion
90%90%
Cosmology
85%85%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Unit Conversions: Many candidates failed to convert minutes to seconds (for electrical energy equations) and grams to kilograms (for force and gravitational work equations), resulting in avoidable errors.
- Technical Explanations: Vague references to soft iron magnetism were heavily penalized. Candidates must explicitly refer to iron as a soft magnetic material that loses its induced magnetism upon field removal.
- Orbit Dynamics: When analyzing circular motion, many students mistakenly claimed that velocity remains constant. Examiners looked for the critical insight that while speed is constant, the changing direction means the velocity is continuously changing.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 15min
- Total marks
- 70
- Weighting
- 38.9%
- Question types
- Multiple Choice, Short Answer / Calculation, Long Answer / Explanation
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.