Electricity and magnetism — IGCSE Science - Combined (0653) questions by topic
Circuit diagrams, resistance calculations and power equations sit at the core of this topic: positioning switches correctly in series and parallel circuits, applying V = IR and P = IV, and working out how current splits between parallel branches. Calculate, state and identify lead the command words, and calculate in particular demands full working, not just a final figure.
With 38 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers and marks running from 1 to 10, single-value recall sits alongside multi-step resistance and power calculations. Instant marking on each submission is especially useful for catching rounding errors, such as reporting one significant figure too many, or mixing up charge and current in a Q = It calculation.
What examiners look for
- Circuit diagrams commonly lose marks when a switch is unlabelled or placed in the wrong branch.
- A frequent rounding error gives a final resistance as 4.6 ohms or 5 ohms instead of matching the significant figures used in the data.
- Examiners note candidates evaluating current divided by time instead of current multiplied by time when calculating charge.
- A common misconception treats lower resistance as directly increasing current, rather than as a property needed to carry an already-high current without overheating.
- Strong answers set out clear working for total resistance in each branch, and use the split of total current between branches to justify a parallel arrangement.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
An electrical device has a label with the information shown. 50 W, 1100 ohm, 230 V Which information does the label provide? A current, power and resistance B current, power and…
Answer this question and get it marked →Which equation relates the resistance R of a resistor to the current I in the resistor and the voltage V across the resistor? A R = I / V B R = I V C R = 1 / (I V) D R = V / I
Answer this question and get it marked →Which electrical device is used to protect a circuit? A ammeter B battery C fuse D voltmeter
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
The diagram shows a circuit containing a battery, an ammeter (A) in the main circuit, a resistor, and a voltmeter (V) connected across the resistor. Which expression gives the…
Answer this question and get it marked →The voltage across a lamp is 10 V. The current in the lamp is 0.010 A. How much energy does the lamp transfer in 50 s? A 0.050 J B 5.0 J C 500 J D 50 000 J
Answer this question and get it marked →The diagram shows a circuit containing three identical lamps, P, Q and R. All the lamps are shining. Lamp P is in a branch with a variable resistor, lamp Q is in a branch with a…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
Which equations for power and energy transferred in an electrical component are correct? power energy --- --- --- A P = V/I E = IV/t B P = V/I E = IVt C P = IV E = IV/t D P = IV E…
Answer this question and get it marked →When the switch in the circuit shown is closed, the lamp glows dimly. The circuit contains a lamp, a cell/battery, an ammeter (labelled A), a switch (labelled B), a variable…
Answer this question and get it marked →The current in a kettle is 8.4 A. Which fuse rating is appropriate for a fuse used to protect the kettle? A 5 A B 8 A C 13 A D 30 A
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 21
In which unit is charge measured? A ampere B coulomb C volt D watt
Answer this question and get it marked →There is a current of 2.0 A in a resistor of resistance 7.5 Ω. What is the power and energy transferred in the resistor in 5.0 s? power / W energy / J --- --- --- A 15 3.0 B 15 75…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 22
Two charged rods, X and Y, are brought, one at a time, close to positively charged rod Z. Rod Z is repelled by rod X. Rod Z is attracted by rod Y. Which row shows the charges on…
Answer this question and get it marked →There is a current of 2.0 A in a resistor of resistance 2.0 Ω. How much charge flows through the resistor in 4.0 s? A 0.50 C B 2.0 C C 8.0 C D 16 C
Answer this question and get it marked →A 400 Ω resistor and a 100 Ω resistor are connected in parallel. What is the combined resistance of the two resistors? A 40 Ω B 80 Ω C 250 Ω D 500 Ω
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 23
What is the relationship between the current in a resistor, the potential difference (p.d.) across it and its resistance? A current = p.d. / resistance B current = (p.d.)² /…
Answer this question and get it marked →The diagram shows two resistors connected to a battery. Two resistors are connected in parallel. The total current from the battery in the main circuit is 6.0 A. The current in…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 31
A spacecraft is on a journey to the planet Saturn. Fig. 9.1 shows a circuit for an electric motor used in the spacecraft. State the name and purpose of component C. name…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 41
Fig. 9.1 shows a circuit that contains an electric motor and a light-emitting diode (LED) connected to a direct current (d.c.) power supply. The circuit has the d.c. power supply…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 42
A student constructs an electrical circuit containing a metal heating element. Fig. 8.1 shows the circuit diagram. The circuit contains an a.c. power supply, a switch, the metal…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 31
Fig. 9.1 shows an electrical circuit with components labelled E (cell/battery), F (ammeter A), G (variable resistor), H and J (voltmeter V), where H and J are in parallel. State…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 32
A student investigates the current in different resistors by connecting them in a circuit with a battery and an ammeter. When a 4.0 Ω resistor is connected in this circuit, the…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 33
Fig. 9.1 shows a circuit containing two identical lamps, cells, an ammeter, a variable resistor and a switch. The variable resistor is at its minimum resistance and the voltage…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 41
Fig. 9.1 shows an electrical circuit with components labelled E, F, G, H and J (E a cell/battery, F a component, G an ammeter A, H two lamps, J a variable resistor). State the…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 42
Fig. 9.1 shows a circuit diagram for part of an electric dishwashing machine (a 240 V supply connected to a heater and a motor M, with a power supply symbol). State the circuit…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 43
Fig. 9.1 shows a simple circuit containing two identical lamps in series, a cell and an ammeter. Complete these sentences. Potential difference is measured in units called . The…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 31
Fig. 9.1 shows an electrical circuit used to investigate the resistance of a lamp. It contains a cell, an ammeter, a voltmeter, a variable resistor, a lamp and a switch. (a)…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 32
(a) Fig. 3.1 shows the electrical symbol for a circuit component (a circle containing the letter M). State the name of the component.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 33
(a) Fig. 3.1 shows the electrical symbol for a circuit component (a circle containing the letter M). State the name of the component.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 41
Fig. 9.1 shows an electrical circuit that includes three identical lamps and a fixed resistor (a 6.0 V battery, a switch, an ammeter A, one lamp in series and two lamps in…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 42
(a) Fig. 6.1 shows a circuit with two resistors, X and Y, connected in series, with ammeter P in the main circuit and voltmeter V across both X and Y. Resistor X has a resistance…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 43
(a) State the name of the component with the electrical symbol shown (a rectangle with a line through it).
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 32
Fig. 9.1 shows an electrical circuit with a loudspeaker and a component X. The potential difference across the loudspeaker is 9 V and the current in the loudspeaker is 1.5 A.…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 33
Fig. 6.1 shows a car battery connected to an electric heater used in a caravan, with two identical heating elements. State the type of circuit connection for the heating elements.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 42
Fig. 9.1 shows a circuit diagram for an electric doorbell (6.0 V battery, bell push switch, electric bell and a lamp). A p.d. of at least 6.0 V is needed to make the bell ring and…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 43
Fig. 6.1 shows an electric fan and a lighting unit with two lamps, connected to a car battery. State the type of circuit connection for the fan and lighting unit.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 31
A student determines the resistance of resistor R. Fig. 6.1 shows resistor R connected in series with a battery and an ammeter; the ammeter reads 0.24 A. State the name of the…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 41
Fig. 6.1 shows an incomplete circuit diagram for the heater, two headlamps and two rear lamps in a car, connected to a 12 V supply. The headlamps and rear lamps are switched on at…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 42
Fig. 9.1 shows two identical floodlights, F and G, at a sports ground. Fig. 9.2 shows a wind turbine used to generate electricity for the two floodlights. The wind turbine…
Answer this question and get it marked →Other IGCSE Science - Combined topics
- Practical skills (96)
- Motion, forces and energy (53)
- Waves (32)
- Human nutrition (23)
- Acids, bases and salts (22)
- Organisms and their environment (21)
- Organic chemistry (21)
- Reproduction (20)
- Thermal physics (20)
- Plant nutrition (19)
- The Periodic Table (18)
- Metals (18)