Physics Tips for SPM Candidates

Section A

1.             Section A of Paper 2 consists of 8 structure questions. You will have to answer all the 8 questions in this section.

2.             The total marks in Section A is 60 marks. The marks allocated to each question vary 4 to 12 marks.

3.             You are advised to spend 90 minutes on this section. Spending more than 90 minutes on this section will result in having insufficient time to answer questions in Section B and C.

4.             The structured questions in Section A are usually based on diagrams, tables, graphs, or data related to a certain situation or phenomenon. It is therefore absolutely necessary for you to study the diagrams, tables, graphs or data provided before attempting to answer the question.

5.             Before attempting to answer a question at least twice and highlight the key words provided so that you will not go out of point.

6.             Note the marks allocated to each section of a question. A section that is allocated only 1 mark will require a short answer. It will be futile if you write a few lines for a section that is allocated only 1 mark. On the other hand, a section that is allocated 3 marks will require you to state 3 properties or characteristics associated with that particular section.

7.             While answering questions that involve calculations make sure that you write down all the steps in the spaces provided in the question paper, including the formula used. Writing down the complete steps will allow the examiner to study your approach and if you make a careless mistake in a sub-section, follow through marks may still be given for other sub-sections that are correctly done. Otherwise you may loose all marks in other sub-sections as well.

Section B

1.         Section B consists of two questions. You need to answer only one question from this section.

2.         The marks allocated for this section is 20 marks.