Cambridge O Level · 5054 · Paper 2 · Theory
Physics 5054/21 Oct/Nov 2025 past paper
Cambridge O Level Physics (5054) Paper 2 (Theory), variant 1, Oct/Nov 2025: the question paper and its official mark scheme, 9 questions worth 80 marks, with the grade thresholds. Free to open, no account needed.
- Questions
- 9
- Marks
- 80
- Grade A from
- 47
File names: 5054_w25_qp_21 · 5054_w25_ms_21
Grade thresholds for 5054/21 Oct/Nov 2025
The minimum raw marks Cambridge set for each grade on this component (out of 80). Thresholds change every session and variant, so always compare your score with the paper you actually sat.
| A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 36 | 26 | 21 | 14 |
Topics in this paper
Which syllabus chapters 5054/21 Oct/Nov 2025 tested, by marks. Each chapter links to every past-paper question on it.
| Chapter | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Light | 1 | 10 |
| Kinetic particle model of matter | 1 | 10 |
| Electric circuits | 1 | 10 |
| Earth & the Solar System | 1 | 10 |
| Radioactivity | 1 | 9 |
| Momentum | 1 | 8 |
| Energy, work & power | 1 | 8 |
| Electrical quantities | 1 | 8 |
| Transfer of thermal energy | 1 | 7 |
Questions in 5054/21 Oct/Nov 2025
- Question 1
A car is at rest on a straight horizontal road. At time …
- Question 2
In a factory, an electric motor is used to lift the boxes shown in Fig. 2.1. boxes cable motor cage power supply Fig. 2.1 The boxes are placed in a cage and the motor winds a cable around a cylinder …
- Question 3
Fig. 3.1 shows a small block of ice at 0 °C and a plastic cup that contains 0.24 kg of water. block of ice water plastic cup Fig. 3.1 The initial temperature of the water in the cup is 22.0 …
- Question 4
Fig. 4.1 shows a ray of light striking the left-hand surface of a thin glass converging lens. ray of light lens Fig. 4.1 (a) Explain why the ray refracts and changes direction as it enters the glass. (b) Explain what …
- Question 5
An iron beaker containing liquid X is placed on the bench in a laboratory. Liquid X begins to evaporate slowly. (a) Explain why the evaporation causes the temperature of liquid X to decrease. (b) The iron beaker containing liquid X …
- Question 6
A circuit consists of a battery of …
- Question 7
An insulating rod is made of plastic and is initially uncharged. The rod is rubbed with a cloth and becomes negatively charged. (a) Describe, in terms of particles, what happens as the rod becomes negatively charged. (b) A light ball …
- Question 8
The nuclide notation for the radioactive isotope radon-222 is …
- Question 9
An object moves through space. It is a large distance from any other object. (a) There are no external forces acting on the object. Describe two features of the motion of the object that are a consequence of Newton’s first …
Other Physics papers from Oct/Nov 2025
- 5054/11 Multiple choice
- 5054/12 Multiple choice
- 5054/22 Theory
- 5054/41 Alternative to Practical
- 5054/42 Alternative to Practical