Almost always yes — schools require it and A-Level builds directly on the IGCSE foundation. Here is what to do if your child didn't take it and wants to start at A-Level.
Velocity Tuition Academy · Physics · A-Level Entry
Updated May 2026·Written by Velocity Tuition Academy·Reviewed by Cambridge and Edexcel A-Level Physics tutors
The short, honest answer: almost universally yes. Sixth forms and international schools running A-Level Physics typically require IGCSE Physics at grade 6 / B or above for entry, and the A-Level syllabus builds directly on the IGCSE foundation. A student starting A-Level Physics without the IGCSE preparation faces a first term of substantial catch-up alongside the new A-Level content — manageable, but harder than it needs to be.
This guide explains why IGCSE Physics is the assumed prerequisite, what school admissions actually require, and what to do if your child wants to start A-Level Physics without an IGCSE Physics background. For the broader Physics pathway see A* in Physics and Physics tutoring.
Energy and work concepts. IGCSE introduces the conceptual core; A-Level extends to energy in oscillations, capacitors, electromagnetic fields.
Atomic structure and radioactivity. IGCSE introduces alpha/beta/gamma; A-Level extends to nuclear binding energy, mass defect, decay constant.
The IGCSE content is the floor, not the ceiling. Removing it doesn't make A-Level shorter — it makes the first term twice as dense.
What Schools Actually Require For Entry
Most international and UK sixth forms publish A-Level Physics entry requirements. The norms:
Minimum: IGCSE Physics at grade 6 / B (some accept 5 / C with a strong rationale).
Recommended: grade 7 / A.
For competitive A-Level Physics (top sixth forms aiming at Russell Group / Oxbridge / Imperial): grade 8-9 / A*-A.
Plus: IGCSE Mathematics at minimum grade 6 / B (since A-Level Physics requires concurrent A-Level Maths at most universities, and IGCSE Maths is the prerequisite for that).
Schools that accept students without IGCSE Physics usually do so on condition of a bridging course — a 4-6 week summer programme covering the core IGCSE content before A-Level starts.
What If Your Child Didn't Take IGCSE Physics?
Three realistic routes:
Sit IGCSE Physics as a private candidate before A-Level starts. The fastest route — Edexcel January and October/November sessions, or Cambridge October/November, allow a focused 6-12 month preparation. See private candidate guide and when IGCSE exams run.
Bridge the gap through pre-A-Level tutoring. Cover the IGCSE Physics syllabus (mechanics, electricity, waves, atomic) in a focused programme over 8-12 weeks. Not a formal qualification, but provides the conceptual base A-Level assumes.
Combined Science / Coordinated Science background. If the student took Combined Science (Edexcel Double Award or Cambridge Coordinated Sciences), the Physics content is roughly half of the separate-Physics IGCSE. Schools may accept this with additional bridging.
What The Bridging Programme Should Cover
If your child is moving into A-Level Physics with a thin IGCSE Physics background, the focused content to cover:
Kinematics — full SUVAT equations, displacement vs distance, velocity vs speed, acceleration including gravity.
Forces and motion — Newton's three laws, weight vs mass, friction, free-body diagrams.
Energy — kinetic energy ½mv², gravitational potential energy mgh, work done = F × d, power = energy/time.
Waves — frequency, wavelength, period, speed = frequency × wavelength, reflection and refraction.
Electricity — current, voltage, resistance, V = IR, series vs parallel circuits, power = VI.
A 1-on-1 bridging programme typically covers this in 10-15 sessions of focused work. Our Physics tutoring page lists what we cover at IGCSE and A-Level.
Honest Reality Check
Two things to acknowledge:
It is possible to start A-Level Physics without IGCSE Physics. Some students have done so successfully — usually with substantial private tutoring in the first term.
It is genuinely harder. A student without IGCSE Physics learning a new A-Level kinematic concept is processing the IGCSE base content for the first time AND the A-Level extension at the same time. Students with the IGCSE foundation already encode that base content.
The realistic guidance: if your child is sure they want A-Level Physics, the easiest route is to sit IGCSE Physics first — even as a private candidate — and arrive at A-Level with the foundation in place.
Need to bridge to A-Level Physics?
Our 1-on-1 Physics tutors can run a focused IGCSE-bridging programme — 10-15 sessions covering the foundation A-Level assumes — or full IGCSE Physics private candidate preparation. Free diagnostic trial to map exactly what to cover.
Almost always yes. Most sixth forms and international schools require IGCSE Physics at grade 6 / B or above for A-Level Physics entry, and the A-Level syllabus builds directly on the IGCSE foundation. Starting A-Level Physics without IGCSE Physics is possible but requires substantial first-term catch-up.
Possible, but harder. Combined Science (Edexcel Double Award or Cambridge Coordinated Sciences) covers roughly half the content of separate IGCSE Physics. Schools may accept Combined Science with additional bridging — a 4-6 week pre-A-Level programme covering the missed depth. Confirm with the specific school's admissions policy.
Most schools require grade 6 / B as a minimum. Competitive A-Level Physics programmes (top sixth forms) expect grade 7-8 / A. For students aiming at engineering or Physics at competitive universities, grade 8-9 / A* in IGCSE Physics is the clear signal.
Some schools allow it; competitive university Physics and Engineering programmes do not. A-Level Physics uses calculus, vectors and algebra at a level that assumes concurrent A-Level Maths study. Universities offering Physics or Engineering typically require A-Level Maths alongside Physics. Always check the specific university and course.
Three options: sit IGCSE Physics as a private candidate before A-Level (Edexcel January and Oct/Nov sessions allow focused 6-12 month preparation); take a 1-on-1 bridging programme covering the IGCSE Physics core in 10-15 sessions; or rely on a Combined Science background plus a 4-6 week bridging course. The first option is the cleanest and most defensible.
Yes, it is a real step up. A-Level Physics introduces calculus in physical contexts, deeper electromagnetism (capacitors, induction, fields), quantum and modern physics, and synoptic essay-style questions. The conceptual demand jumps and the maths is more demanding. The students who manage it well have a strong IGCSE Physics foundation and are taking A-Level Maths concurrently.
