October/November IGCSE Chemistry Exam Preparation Timeline
A month-by-month preparation timeline for the October/November IGCSE Chemistry 0620 exam series.
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.
The October/November series follows the same 0620 syllabus and exam format as May/June but sits approximately five months later. For students in Malaysian international schools and other institutions following a January start calendar, this is the primary sitting. The preparation strategy is the same as for May/June, shifted to match the different timeline. This guide gives the month-by-month structure.
July: diagnostic and setup
First week of July
Sit one full diagnostic paper set: Paper 2 and Paper 4 under timed conditions. Mark against the real mark scheme. Sort lost marks by topic. Identify your three weakest areas.
If the school term is still running, this diagnostic can be done alongside ongoing lessons. The point is to know where you stand with four months to go.
July plan
- Complete any remaining syllabus content.
- Begin flashcard decks for qualitative analysis tests, organic reactions and the reactivity series.
- Spend 20-30 minutes daily on active recall for weak topics.
- Start an error log.
If you are a private candidate without a school structure, set up a weekly study schedule now. The self-study guide covers this in detail.
August: intensive topic work
August is often a school holiday in Malaysia. This is the most valuable revision window because there are no competing school commitments.
Weekly structure
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Monday-Tuesday | Weak topic 1: active recall, notes review, practice questions |
| Wednesday-Thursday | Weak topic 2: active recall, notes review, practice questions |
| Friday | Weak topic 3 + flashcard review |
| Saturday | Timed past paper (full Paper 4 or Paper 2 + Paper 4 combined) |
| Sunday | Mark paper, update error log, rest |
August targets
- Work through all 12 syllabus topics systematically, spending more time on weak areas.
- Complete 3-4 full timed papers this month.
- Ensure flashcard decks are complete and being reviewed on a spaced schedule.
- If mole calculations are a weak area, dedicate extra sessions to the method in mole calculations technique.
September: transition to past papers
By September, all content should be learned. The focus shifts to applying it under exam conditions.
Weekly structure
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Monday | Timed Paper 2 + marking and error logging |
| Tuesday | Topic drill on errors from Monday |
| Wednesday | Timed Paper 4 + marking |
| Thursday | Re-do failed questions from Wednesday |
| Friday | Paper 6 practice |
| Saturday | Full timed paper under strict exam conditions |
| Sunday | Review, flashcards, rest |
September targets
- Complete 4-5 full timed paper sets.
- Error log should show decreasing repetition of the same mistakes.
- Practice Paper 6 skills: table drawing, graph plotting, planning and evaluation.
- If the error log shows the same topic appearing repeatedly, this is the last point where intervention can help before the exam. Consider a trial lesson to break through the plateau.
October: final preparation
First three weeks of October
- Sit the most recent past papers you saved for this phase.
- Focus entirely on exam technique: timing, command words, showing working.
- Review your complete error log and drill your top 5 recurring error types.
- Do one full Paper 6 per week.
Final week (late October / just before the exam)
- No new past papers in the last 3 days.
- Flashcard review: 15 minutes per day to keep memory-based content fresh.
- Review your error log one final time.
- Prepare exam equipment.
- Read what to do the night before the exam.
- Sleep properly. A rested brain performs better than one that crammed until 2 a.m.
Malaysia-specific notes
The school calendar advantage
Malaysian international schools typically run from January to November, meaning students have more recent teaching and a shorter gap between classroom learning and the exam compared to May/June candidates. Use this advantage: the content is fresher, so revision can focus more on exam technique and less on relearning content.
The Hari Raya and mid-term holiday window
Depending on the year, public holidays in August or September may provide extra revision days. Plan your intensive past-paper sessions around these breaks.
October school exams
Some schools run internal exams in September or early October alongside the Cambridge calendar. Use these as a dress rehearsal but do not let school exam preparation crowd out past-paper practice for the actual Cambridge paper. The formats may differ.
What if you are a retake candidate
If you sat May/June and are retaking in October/November:
- Your May/June paper is your diagnostic. Focus on the topics where you lost the most marks.
- You have seen the exam format; that experience is valuable. Focus on technique, not content review.
- Do not restudy the entire syllabus. Target the specific weaknesses your May/June result revealed.
- More guidance on retaking is in retaking IGCSE Chemistry.
The October/November series is no harder than May/June, but the preparation window often overlaps with school commitments. A structured timeline that starts in July and builds in intensity ensures you peak at the right moment.