Syllabus
Cambridge IGCSE™ (9–1)
Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)
0973
Use this syllabus for exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
Exams are available in the June and November series.
Version 1
Please check the syllabus page at www.cambridgeinternational.org/0973
to see if this syllabus is available in your administrative zone.
For the purposes of screen readers, any mention in this document of Cambridge IGCSE
refers to Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education.
,Why choose Cambridge International?
Cambridge International prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a
lasting passion for learning. We are part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which is a department
of the University of Cambridge.
Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Schools can
shape the curriculum around how they want students to learn – with a wide range of subjects and flexible ways
to offer them. It helps students discover new abilities and a wider world, and gives them the skills they need for
life, so they can achieve at school, university and work.
Our programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created by
subject experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research. They provide a strong
platform for learners to progress from one stage to the next, and are well supported by teaching and learning
resources.
Our mission is to provide educational benefit through provision of international programmes and qualifications
for school education and to be the world leader in this field. Together with schools, we develop Cambridge
learners who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged – equipped for success in the
modern world.
Every year, nearly a million Cambridge students from 10 000 schools in 160 countries prepare for their future
with the Cambridge Pathway.
School feedback: ‘We think the Cambridge curriculum is superb preparation for university.’
Feedback from: Christoph Guttentag, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Duke University, USA
Quality management
Cambridge International is committed to providing exceptional quality. In line with this commitment, our
quality management system for the provision of international qualifications and education programmes
for students aged 5 to 19 is independently certified as meeting the internationally recognised standard,
ISO 9001:2015. Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/ISO9001
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment September 2022
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Cambridge University Press &
Assessment is a department of the University of Cambridge.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered centres are permitted to copy
material from this booklet for their own internal use. However, we cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is
acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within a centre.
,Contents
Why choose Cambridge International?......................................................................... 2
1 Why choose this syllabus? ......................................................................................... 5
2 Syllabus overview ........................................................................................................ 8
Aims 8
Content overview 9
Assessment overview 10
Assessment objectives 11
3 Subject content ..........................................................................................................13
Biology 13
Chemistry 35
Physics 57
4 Details of the assessment ........................................................................................ 79
Core assessment 79
Extended assessment 79
Practical assessment 80
Language of measurement 83
Apparatus, materials and reagents 84
Safety in the laboratory 90
Electrical symbols 91
Symbols and units for physical quantities 92
Notes for use in qualitative analysis 94
The Periodic Table of Elements 96
Mathematical requirements 97
Presentation of data 98
Conventions (e.g. signs, symbols, terminology and nomenclature) 100
Command words 101
, 5 What else you need to know .................................................................................. 102
Before you start 102
Making entries 103
Accessibility and equality 104
After the exam 105
How students and teachers can use the grades 105
Grade descriptions 105
Changes to this syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027 106
Important: Changes to this syllabus
For information about changes to this syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027, go to page 106.
Cambridge IGCSE™ (9–1)
Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award)
0973
Use this syllabus for exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
Exams are available in the June and November series.
Version 1
Please check the syllabus page at www.cambridgeinternational.org/0973
to see if this syllabus is available in your administrative zone.
For the purposes of screen readers, any mention in this document of Cambridge IGCSE
refers to Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education.
,Why choose Cambridge International?
Cambridge International prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a
lasting passion for learning. We are part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment, which is a department
of the University of Cambridge.
Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Schools can
shape the curriculum around how they want students to learn – with a wide range of subjects and flexible ways
to offer them. It helps students discover new abilities and a wider world, and gives them the skills they need for
life, so they can achieve at school, university and work.
Our programmes and qualifications set the global standard for international education. They are created by
subject experts, rooted in academic rigour and reflect the latest educational research. They provide a strong
platform for learners to progress from one stage to the next, and are well supported by teaching and learning
resources.
Our mission is to provide educational benefit through provision of international programmes and qualifications
for school education and to be the world leader in this field. Together with schools, we develop Cambridge
learners who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged – equipped for success in the
modern world.
Every year, nearly a million Cambridge students from 10 000 schools in 160 countries prepare for their future
with the Cambridge Pathway.
School feedback: ‘We think the Cambridge curriculum is superb preparation for university.’
Feedback from: Christoph Guttentag, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Duke University, USA
Quality management
Cambridge International is committed to providing exceptional quality. In line with this commitment, our
quality management system for the provision of international qualifications and education programmes
for students aged 5 to 19 is independently certified as meeting the internationally recognised standard,
ISO 9001:2015. Learn more at www.cambridgeinternational.org/ISO9001
© Cambridge University Press & Assessment September 2022
Cambridge Assessment International Education is part of Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Cambridge University Press &
Assessment is a department of the University of Cambridge.
Cambridge University Press & Assessment retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered centres are permitted to copy
material from this booklet for their own internal use. However, we cannot give permission to centres to photocopy any material that is
acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within a centre.
,Contents
Why choose Cambridge International?......................................................................... 2
1 Why choose this syllabus? ......................................................................................... 5
2 Syllabus overview ........................................................................................................ 8
Aims 8
Content overview 9
Assessment overview 10
Assessment objectives 11
3 Subject content ..........................................................................................................13
Biology 13
Chemistry 35
Physics 57
4 Details of the assessment ........................................................................................ 79
Core assessment 79
Extended assessment 79
Practical assessment 80
Language of measurement 83
Apparatus, materials and reagents 84
Safety in the laboratory 90
Electrical symbols 91
Symbols and units for physical quantities 92
Notes for use in qualitative analysis 94
The Periodic Table of Elements 96
Mathematical requirements 97
Presentation of data 98
Conventions (e.g. signs, symbols, terminology and nomenclature) 100
Command words 101
, 5 What else you need to know .................................................................................. 102
Before you start 102
Making entries 103
Accessibility and equality 104
After the exam 105
How students and teachers can use the grades 105
Grade descriptions 105
Changes to this syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027 106
Important: Changes to this syllabus
For information about changes to this syllabus for 2025, 2026 and 2027, go to page 106.
