Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat 0493 Past Papers 2026
Download free Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat 0493 past papers, mark schemes, examiner reports & grade thresholds. 29 exam sessions from 2012–2026.
2025 Oct-Nov
Latest Session
29
Sessions
2012–2026
106
Question Papers
106
Mark Schemes
100% coverage
17
Examiner Reports
59% of sessions
25
Grade Thresholds
Components & time pressure
Marks per minute shows how fast you have to work — the higher the number, the tighter the time pressure in that paper.
| Paper | Component | Marks | Duration | Marks / min | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Core Topics | 50 | 1h 30m | 0.56 | Steady |
| Paper 2 | History and Sources | 50 | 1h 30m | 0.56 | Steady |
Component structure extracted from 2 official Cambridge documents (2023–2025). Timings and mark totals are taken from the papers themselves.
Yearly Exam Sessions
How is Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat 0493 examined?
Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat is examined through 2 paper components. Understanding each component helps you allocate revision time effectively.
Paper 1
50 marksCore Topics
Duration: 1h 30m
Paper 2
50 marksHistory and Sources
Duration: 1h 30m
What Cambridge examiners say about Islamiyat
Verbatim quotes from 2 official Cambridge examiner reports (2023–2025). Every quote is attributable to a specific paper and session — these are the things Cambridge markers flag year after year.
Paraphrasing Quranic translations instead of analysing…
Responses that merely paraphrased the translation or offered generic themes were often limited to mid-range marks.
Repeating part (a) content in part (b) instead of…
Candidates answering Part (b) tend to write about the importance of the Hadiths. They must be alerted to the fact that Part (b) answers are evaluative.
Confusing similar battles and historical events
Few wrote about the Battle of Qadissiya instead of Nihawand.
Most Common Mistakes — Islamiyat (0493)
Based on analysis of 2 official Cambridge examiner reports (2023, 2025). Avoid these errors to maximise your marks.
Paraphrasing Quranic translations instead of analysing themes
Paper 1 · Both sessions (2023, 2025)
Repeating part (a) content in part (b) instead of evaluating or applying
Paper 1, Paper 2 · Both sessions (2023, 2025)
Confusing similar battles and historical events
Paper 2 · Paper 2, both sessions (Nihawand/Nahrawan 2023, Camel/Siffin 2025)
Confusing predestination with the Day of Judgment
Paper 2 · Both sessions (2023, 2025), Paper 2
Writing about fasting's physical benefits when moral or spiritual benefits are asked
Paper 2 · Paper 2, 2023
Topics Students Struggle With Most
Predestination and God's decree (Al-Qadr)
Candidates consistently confuse predestination with the Day of Judgment. Many wrote about resurrection and accountability when asked about God's decree, free will, and divine knowledge.
Paper 2
Salman al-Farsi and his journey to Islam
Weak knowledge of Salman al-Farsi's background, his journey from Persia, his conversion, and his specific contributions including the suggestion to dig the trench at the Battle of the Trench.
Paper 2
Battle of Nihawand and Battle of Siffin — distinguishing details
Candidates confused Nihawand with Qadissiya (both against Persians) and the Battle of the Camel with Siffin (both during Ali's caliphate). Key details of each battle were frequently mixed up or omitted.
Paper 2
Modes of revelation (wahy)
Many candidates could describe the first revelation but struggled with the different modes through which revelation came to the Prophet, including dreams, the ringing of bells, and the angel appearing in human form.
Paper 1
Hadith isnad and matn relationship
Candidates could define isnad (chain of narrators) and matn (text) separately but struggled to explain how they work together in Hadith authentication and why both are essential for determining authenticity.
Paper 2
Qiyas — rules and conditions for analogical reasoning
Weak understanding of the specific conditions under which qiyas can be applied, how it relates to the other sources of Islamic law, and the safeguards that prevent its misuse.
Paper 2
Role of authentic Hadiths in Islamic law
Candidates could list Hadiths but struggled to explain how Hadiths function as the second source of Islamic law, how they clarify Quranic teachings, and the criteria for determining a Hadith's legal authority.
Paper 2
Part (b) evaluation skills across all topics
A systemic weakness: candidates treat part (b) as an extension of part (a) rather than a separate evaluative question. Many repeat descriptive content instead of offering personal analysis, modern applications, and balanced perspectives.
Paper 1, Paper 2
Islamiyat (0493) — Cambridge IGCSE Full Archive 2012–2026
This page contains all 267 available papers for Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat (0493) — 29 exam sessions from 2012 to 2026. Each session includes question papers, mark schemes, and where available, examiner reports and grade threshold documents. All files are free to download as PDF — no account required.
Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat (0493) is examined through multiple paper components. Question papers are available in two or three variants per session (v1, v2, v3) — each variant is sat in a different time zone but covers the same syllabus content and is equivalent in difficulty. The paper number in the filename indicates which component: for example, 0493_qp_12 is Paper 1, Variant 2.
Mark schemes for 0493 show the exact marking points accepted by Cambridge examiners. Many questions have multiple acceptable phrasings — look for 'accept', 'allow', and 'credit' in the mark scheme to understand the full range of valid responses. Examiner reports (where available) reveal the most common errors made by the cohort and what top-band answers looked like, making them essential reading before the actual exam.
The most effective way to use this archive is to attempt past papers under timed exam conditions, then analyse your mark scheme results by component. Track which paper components and question types you score lowest on — this tells you exactly where to focus revision. Grade threshold documents show the minimum mark needed for each grade in that specific session, which helps calibrate how your practice scores translate to actual grades.
Islamiyat 0493 at other levels
Questions, answered.
You can download all Cambridge Islamiyat 0493 past papers right here on PapersDaddy. We have 29 exam sessions from 2012–2026 — including question papers, mark schemes, examiner reports, and grade thresholds for 0493. Click any session below to view and download PDFs.
Yes! Every Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat (0493) exam session includes the corresponding mark scheme alongside the question paper. Mark schemes show exactly how marks are allocated, helping you understand what examiners look for in top-scoring answers.
Start with recent 0493 papers (2025–2023) to understand current trends. Practice under timed conditions, then mark yourself using the mark scheme. Read examiner reports to learn common mistakes. For targeted revision, use Islamiyat 0493 topical past papers to focus on specific topics.
We have Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat (0493) papers from May/June, October/November, and March sessions (where applicable), covering 2012–2026. That's 29 exam sessions in total.