THE SHORT ANSWER
See how the subject fits together
Forces and motion, waves, fields and modern physics form the main contexts. Scientific reasoning and investigation connect them.
A revision map, not a prediction of which questions will appear. Official sources and scope
First examined in 2027: use the specification introduced in September 2025. Older papers do not describe the complete assessment for this cohort.
MORE THAN A TOPIC LIST
How is Physics assessed?
- Written examination: 60%, at Higher or Ordinary Level.
- Physics in Practice Investigation: 40%, using a common brief.
This describes the syllabus assessment components. Use the SEC instructions for your year for timing, question choices, materials and submission arrangements. Read the official assessment section. (opens in a new tab)
YOUR SUBJECT, YOUR CHECKLIST
What should I revise?
Choose the checklist for your level. Topic groups are a starting map, not every syllabus outcome. Optional cards only apply if they are part of your programme.
These are broad revision groups shared across Higher and Ordinary Level, not identical lists of learning outcomes. Use the level-specific outcomes in the linked syllabus and questions from your own level. The checklist records each level separately.
Saved in this browser, separately for each subject and level. A tick is not a mastery score.
Motion & graphs
Position, velocity and acceleration.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
What does the gradient of a motion graph tell you?
Read the axis quantities first; a rising line does not always mean acceleration.
Forces & dynamics
Interactions, motion and physical models.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How would you decide which forces act on an object?
Draw the object separately and add only forces acting on it.
Energy & wave motion
Energy transfer and wave behaviour.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How could observations distinguish different wave behaviours?
Sketch the situation and label quantities before selecting a relationship.
Electricity & fields
Electric and magnetic interactions.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How would changing part of a circuit affect a measurement?
Describe the physical relationship as well as substituting into an equation.
Modern physics
Atomic and nuclear phenomena.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How does an observation challenge a simple model of matter?
State what the original model predicts, then compare that prediction with evidence.
Practical measurement
Instruments, graphs, uncertainty and investigations.
Try a practice prompt
COLLEGEROUTE PRACTICE PROMPT
How would you determine a physical constant from measurements?
Explain what your graph’s gradient represents and retain appropriate units.
The prompts are original study exercises, not quotations from SEC papers or predictions of examination questions. Check the official topic scope.
TURN TOPICS INTO PRACTICE
A useful next revision session
- Practise drawing the model before choosing a formula.
- Use one graph-based and one explanation-based question per session.
- Record assumptions, measurement limitations and investigation improvements.
After practising, write down the exact point that stopped you. Revisit that step, then try again without the notes. A tick should record work you have done, not confidence alone.
Before you narrow your revision
Does a topic’s absence last year mean it is due this year?
No. This guide does not infer question probabilities from previous papers. Use past papers to practise skills and interpret instructions, not to exclude valid syllabus content.
Should I complete every optional card?
No. Check your class’s selected programme and your level. A chosen text, elective or prescribed topic is not interchangeable with another student’s programme. Use the full official syllabus for detailed outcomes.
Are the practice prompts real exam questions?
No. They are short, original CollegeRoute study prompts designed to help you apply the topic. They do not carry an official SEC mark allocation or predict examination wording.
Sources and scope
Checked 8 September 2026. Intended for the 2027 examination cohort.
- Curriculum Online: Physics (opens in a new tab). Official subject information, specifications and associated guidance.
- Physics: official syllabus / specification (PDF) (opens in a new tab). Used sections: Nature of Science and the four contextual strands; assessment, printed page 31.
- State Examinations Commission (opens in a new tab): examination-year instructions, official papers and marking schemes.
These are editorial revision groups, not a transcription of every learning outcome. The practice prompts and study tips are independent CollegeRoute suggestions. Your teacher’s programme, prescribed material and current official instructions remain the reference for exact requirements.