Complete 2

Physics
for Cambridge IGCSE

The language in exam papers

You must read exam questions carefully, and answer
only what they ask.
You will get no marks for writing a really good answer
to the wrong question!
Here are some terms used in exam papers, and their
meanings, with examples.
Space has been left on each page so you can print and
annotate them in whatever way you find useful.

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2
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Physics
for Cambridge IGCSE

1 Define … means give the precise meaning of a word,

phrase, or physical quantity.
Example: Define the term isotopes.
Answer: An isotope is a different version of the
same element. It has the same number
of protons, but a different number of
neutrons in the nucleus.

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Physics
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2 State what you understand by/What is meant by … is similar

to Define.
Example: State what is meant by the term weight.
Answer: Weight is the gravitational force upon an object.
It is calculated as the product of its mass and the
gravitational field strength.

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Physics
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3 State … means give a specific name, value, or other brief

answer without explanation or calculation. State and Name
are very similar instructions.
Example: State the name given to the random motion of
dust particles when bombarded by air molecules.
Answer: Brownian motion

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Physics
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4 List … means give a sequence of names or other brief answers

with no explanation.
Example: List the ferromagnetic elements.
Answer: Iron (Fe), Cobalt (Co), and Nickel (Ni).

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Physics
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5 Explain … means give a detailed account of causes, reasons,

or mechanisms.
Example: Explain why smoke particles undergo small random
movements when viewed under a microscope.
Answer: Fast moving air molecules are randomly colliding
with the smoke particles, exerting forces on the
particles which cause them to move.

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Physics
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6 Describe … means give a detailed account. You could include

a diagram if that is appropriate.
Example: Describe the nature of an image produced by a
plane mirror.
Answer: The image is virtual, upright, located behind the
mirror at the same distance from the mirror surface
as the object is to the mirror, and laterally inverted.

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Physics
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7 Describe and explain … means give a detailed account,

including causes, reasons, or mechanisms.
Example: Describe and explain what happens when an iron nail
comes close to a magnet.
Answer: The iron nail will be attracted to the magnet and, in
the absence of any other forces, the nail will become
attached to the magnet. The magnet induces
magnetism in the iron nail. The induced pole nearest
the magnet will have the opposite pole at the end of
the magnet. The attraction between unlike poles holds
the nail to the magnet.
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Physics
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8 Suggest … means propose a hypothesis or other possible

answer.
Example: An IGCSE student obtains a value of 6500 J/(kg °C)
for the specific heat capacity of water, using an
electrical method. Suggest a reason why her value
is too high compared with the accepted value of
4186 J/(kg °C).
Answer: Some of the heat, assumed to be transferred to
the water, was lost to the environment.

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Physics
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9 Calculate … means find a numerical answer, showing the

relevant stages in your working (unless you are instructed not
to do so). The question will provide the data you need to
complete the calculation.
Example: Calculate the extension of a spring, with a spring
constant of 100 N/m, when 0.5 kg is attached to it.
Assume that g = 10 N/kg.
Answer: Using Hooke’s Law:
F = kx
x = F = mg = 0.5 × 10 = 0.05 m = 5 cm
k k 100
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Physics
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10 Find … means ‘work out’. You usually have to do a calculation.

Example: Find the resistance of three lamps, each with a
resistance of 9 Ω when they are connected in parallel.
Answer: 3 Ω
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
(R = R + R + R = 9 + 9 + 9 = 3 , so RT = 3 Ω)
T 1 2 3

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Physics
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11 Determine … same as Find. It means to find the only possible

answer.
Example: Determine the distance covered by a car that
accelerates uniformly from rest to 12 m/s in 10 s.
Answer: 60 m
(Distance covered is the area under a speed-time graph.
D = 1 × b × h = 0.5 × 10 × 12)
2

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Physics
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12 Estimate … means find an approximate value for an unknown

quantity. You may need to do a rough calculation. You should
use the term about, approximately, or roughly, in your answer.
Example: The table below shows how the activity of a
radioactive sample changes with time.
Estimate the half-life of the sample.
time / hours activity / counts per second
0 520
4 352
8 255
12 169
16 132

Answer: Approximately 8 hours.

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Physics
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13 Sketch … means draw freehand. Your sketch can be quite rough,

but make sure you show the key points correctly.
Example: Sketch the variation of the output current of an AC
generator with time.
Answer:
Current, I / A

Time/s

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Physics
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14 Outline … means give a brief account or summary.

Example: Outline an experiment to determine the resistance
of a lamp.
Answer: Connect a cell, an ammeter, and cell in series using
insulated wires.
Connect voltmeter across the lamp.
Record the current through the lamp and the
potential difference across the lamp.
The resistance of the lamp is given by the potential
difference across the lamp divided by the current
through the lamp.
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Physics
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15 Deduce … means to reach a conclusion from the information given.

You should include a sentence to support your answer where you explain
your reasoning, or refer to a principle or law that you have learnt.
Example: Deduce the background radiation from the data in the
table below.
Time (mins) Count rate/counts per second
0 38
10 26
20 18
30 16
40 10
50 8
60 8

Answer: 8 counts/sec. The count rate stops falling in the last two data
points, so this is the level of background radiation.
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