Is it normal to find IGCSE Chemistry hard?

Yes. IGCSE Chemistry is a demanding subject, especially the quantitative sections. Most students find at least some parts difficult. Struggling does not mean you cannot succeed; it means you need to change your approach.

Is it too late to improve if I am already in Year 11?

No. Significant improvement is possible even in the months leading up to the exam. The key is identifying exactly where you are struggling and focusing your effort on those specific areas.

Should I drop to Core tier?

Discuss this with your teacher. Core limits your maximum grade to C. If you need a higher grade for your plans, staying on Extended and getting targeted support may be a better option.

IGCSE Chemistry for Students Who Are Struggling

Practical help for students finding Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 difficult. Identify the problem, get the right support, and start making progress.

Published by IGCSEChemistry.com.my

Chemistry teaching team: K. S. Tan (15+ years teaching IGCSE Chemistry) and Ms Yash (10+ years teaching IGCSE Chemistry) and Ms Kartini (15+ years teaching IGCSE Chemistry).

Mapped to Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry 0620 (2026–2028). Last updated 2026-08-19.

If you are finding IGCSE Chemistry difficult, you are not alone, and the fact that you are reading this page means you are looking for a way forward. That is the right instinct. Chemistry does not get easier by waiting; it gets easier by identifying exactly where you are stuck and working on those specific areas.

Why chemistry feels hard

Chemistry is not one skill; it is several different skills combined. Some students find the descriptive parts manageable but struggle with calculations. Others understand the theory but cannot write exam answers that earn marks. The first step is figuring out which type of difficulty you are facing.

Type 1: The content does not make sense. You sit in class and the explanations go past you. You read the textbook and the words do not translate into understanding. This is usually because an earlier concept was not fully understood, and everything that builds on it now feels confusing.

Type 2: You understand in class but cannot do questions. The lesson makes sense at the time, but when you try past paper questions, you do not know where to start. This is a gap between passive understanding and active application. You need more practice with questions, not more reading.

Type 3: Calculations are the problem. Chemistry was fine until stoichiometry arrived. Now there are formulae, moles, and multi-step calculations, and it feels like a different subject. This is the most common difficulty and the most fixable.

Type 4: Exam technique is the problem. You know the content but your marks do not reflect it. You run out of time, you write too much or too little, or you lose marks on technicalities. This is a technique issue, not a knowledge issue.

What to do about it

If the content does not make sense

Go back to the last topic you understood well and start from there. Chemistry is sequential: if atomic structure is shaky, bonding will not make sense, and if bonding is shaky, acids and bases will be confusing. Use the topics pages on this site to review each area.

A tutor can help enormously here because they can find the exact point where your understanding breaks down, something that is hard to identify on your own.

If you understand but cannot apply

The solution is practice. Do past paper questions on each topic as soon as you finish reviewing it. Mark your answers against the mark scheme. For every question you get wrong, understand why the correct answer is correct. Then try a similar question. Repeat until the pattern clicks.

If calculations are the problem

Work through the calculations pages on this site in order. Start with relative formula mass and moles from mass, because every other calculation depends on these. Do not move to the next type until you can do the current one without help. The step-by-step methods and worked examples are designed to make each calculation type transparent.

If exam technique is the problem

Read the common exam mistakes guide. Then do past papers and mark them against the mark scheme. Every time you lose a mark, identify whether it was a content error or a technique error. Build specific habits: show all working, use precise terminology, read the command word before writing.

Getting help

If you have tried studying independently and it is not working, a tutor can break the cycle. A specialist IGCSE Chemistry tutor will:

Find exactly where your understanding breaks down
Explain concepts at your pace, not the class pace
Give you immediate feedback on your answers
Build your confidence through small, achievable steps

Online 1-to-1 tutoring is practical and effective. Sessions run as live video lessons with a shared digital whiteboard. The tutor works alongside you, not ahead of you.

Find out about how online IGCSE Chemistry classes work or book a trial lesson.

The honest truth

Improvement takes effort and time. There is no shortcut. But the chemistry you need for IGCSE is entirely learnable. Every student who gets an A* sat in a classroom that also contained students who found it difficult. The difference is not talent; it is approach. If you change what you are doing, you can change your results.

Studying this yourself? Tutoring arrangements are normally made by a parent or guardian. Message us for the details to share with them, or send them this page.