IGCSE Physics - 1P - 14th May 2013

OP

Original post by apoorvahk

The June 2012 physics exam was quite difficult, as in there was a lot of experiment and conclusion analysis :/ I prefer the old (4H, 5H, 6H) papers better as they were a lot simpler etc. The newer Edexcel ones are a lot more difficult and more explanation based :|

I totally agree. They have become far too practical based. The worst questions are the ones where they have a practical, a student 'does' it and then they ask: "do you agree with the student's conclusion?" :angry:

Reply 3

apoorvahk

13

Original post by TheGrillMan

I totally agree. They have become far too practical based. The worst questions are the ones where they have a practical, a student 'does' it and then they ask: "do you agree with the student's conclusion?" :angry:

The older papers are much more straightforward and calculation based, which is in my opinion, much more relevant to what we've learnt in class rather than evaluating silly experiments. I find that Edexcel have 'dummed' it down a lot but made it much more difficult to gain marks since you're more likely to lose marks in the evaluation/written answers than calculations.

Reply 4

OP

Original post by apoorvahk

The older papers are much more straightforward and calculation based, which is in my opinion, much more relevant to what we've learnt in class rather than evaluating silly experiments. I find that Edexcel have 'dummed' it down a lot but made it much more difficult to gain marks since you're more likely to lose marks in the evaluation/written answers than calculations.

I agree. I've come to the conclusion that with the 4-6 mark written answers your best bet is to basically just write down absolutely everything you know. The chances are, something you have written down will be on the mark scheme. This technique is particularly effective for Edexcel IGCSE Biology because virtually every 'explain' question is marked using 'key words'.

Reply 5

Original post by TheGrillMan

I totally agree. They have become far too practical based. The worst questions are the ones where they have a practical, a student 'does' it and then they ask: "do you agree with the student's conclusion?" :angry:

Oh dude.. Just know that the answer to that will be exactly of what you think it is.. Edexcel never gives straightforward answers :P. u done Jan 13 physics P1. There was that question on density of rocks and it asked whether yu agree with kalpana or the other girl..first. I thought it to be the other girl but kalpana was right :P see.. Completely opposite

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Reply 6

Navo D.

2

Yeah I find the new structure of the papers really weird. Quite often my teacher disagrees with what's given in the mark scheme! Also I think we're the first batch to be doing the new specification, do you think they'll make it intentionally easy? :s Apparently the new syllabus has an even greater emphasis on practicals, oh lord. The SAM was quite odd too. I'm worried for radioactivity/electromagnetism questions.

Reply 7

Original post by Navo D.

Yeah I find the new structure of the papers really weird. Quite often my teacher disagrees with what's given in the mark scheme! Also I think we're the first batch to be doing the new specification, do you think they'll make it intentionally easy? :s Apparently the new syllabus has an even greater emphasis on practicals, oh lord. The SAM was quite odd too. I'm worried for radioactivity/electromagnetism questions.

SAM was challenging.. But really good if you have read the edexcel igcse textbook thoroughly and the revision guide as well. Such as the astronaut question in the January 2013 paper was in the revision guide. Yes we are the fist batch doing the new syllabus indeed! Just try to understand the concepts and explore them further through research on the net.. Get the specification in hand and compare what you have read to what's written in them because you have to understand that they can never bring anything outside that..

Good Luck

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(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 8

amalik_

Omg I despise the questions someone mentioned earlier about the students analysis and whether or not you agree with it! (The pictures of the students are sufficiently uncomfortable although amusing as well but that isn't a big deal haha...). Also, the question about the density of the rock, I didn't answer kalpana either oh dear.
I am not looking forward to anything on electromagnetism and electricity...
Just a question, when calculating orbital speed what units are everything in (time and radius)? Or does it not matter so long as you put the correct unit for your calculation?

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Reply 9

alice_c_97

3

Hey, I'm seriously worried now after going through the jan 2013 papers & having realised our teacher has given us the old spec to revise from! :angry:

I'm hoping not too much comes up on radioactivity and nuclear fission as loads came up in the jan 2013 papers on that... wishful thinking! Good luck everyone :smile:

Reply 10

Original post by amalik_

Omg I despise the questions someone mentioned earlier about the students analysis and whether or not you agree with it! (The pictures of the students are sufficiently uncomfortable although amusing as well but that isn't a big deal haha...). Also, the question about the density of the rock, I didn't answer kalpana either oh dear.
I am not looking forward to anything on electromagnetism and electricity...
Just a question, when calculating orbital speed what units are everything in (time and radius)? Or does it not matter so long as you put the correct unit for your calculation?

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Time should be in hours. Radius in km.. Well I recommend that but meters for radius and time as seconds is perfectly alright as well

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Reply 11

OP

How have you guys prepared in terms of knowledge of practicals?

I've simply revised the ones listed in the main section of the specification (e.g. Using a glass block and ray box to work out refractive index etc.). Inevitably there will be one question where they ask you to describe a practical for 5 marks (almost guaranteed on paper 1P).

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Reply 12

Original post by TheGrillMan

How have you guys prepared in terms of knowledge of practicals?

I've simply revised the ones listed in the main section of the specification (e.g. Using a glass block and ray box to work out refractive index etc.). Inevitably there will be one question where they ask you to describe a practical for 5 marks (almost guaranteed on paper 1P).

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Oh yea. You're talking about the part in the spec that states "suggested practicals"... I' ll search the web and create short notes on all of them tomorrow

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Reply 13

amalik_

Original post by TheGrillMan

How have you guys prepared in terms of knowledge of practicals?

I've simply revised the ones listed in the main section of the specification (e.g. Using a glass block and ray box to work out refractive index etc.). Inevitably there will be one question where they ask you to describe a practical for 5 marks (almost guaranteed on paper 1P).

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Oh god haven't prepared any of this apart from the one you mentioned and speed of sound in air... Also they always ask ways to improve accuracy and reliability for experiments so keep a few in mind as that ALWAYS comes up

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Reply 14

OP

Original post by amalik_

Oh god haven't prepared any of this apart from the one you mentioned and speed of sound in air... Also they always ask ways to improve accuracy and reliability for experiments so keep a few in mind as that ALWAYS comes up.

Just remember that reliability = repetition and accuracy means using equipment with more accurate graduations.

Also paras I meant the ones in the main body of the spec. The suggest practicals don't come up very often so I wouldn't bother with them.

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Reply 15

Original post by TheGrillMan

Just remember that reliability = repetition and accuracy means using equipment with more accurate graduations.

Also paras I meant the ones in the main body of the spec. The suggest practicals don't come up very often so I wouldn't bother with them.

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Ohh those ones :P alright.. Yea but I'll just go through those ones as well. :biggrin:

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Reply 16

apoorvahk

13

Can anyone please link me to the Jan 2013 paper? Our teacher hasn't given it to us :frown:

And we ONLY found out about the new spec a couple of weeks ago. The SAM was quite wordy and I prefer calculations to this stuff. They're probably not going to ask about speed of sound experiment as it was in last year's paper, but maybe the sycamore seeds? Thanks~

Reply 17

OP