Strategy to Answer

& Physics Tips

SPM PAPER 1
STRATEGY TO ANSWER
PAPER 1
Objective questions
(1 hour 15 minutes)

SPM PAPER 1
1. 50 objective questions.
Answer all.

2. The time is 1 hours.

The average time for one question is
1 minutes.

3. Objective questions may have 4

options:
A, B, C, and D
SPM PAPER 1
4. To tackle difficult questions is to
eliminate incorrect options one by one
until you are left with the best possible
option.
5. Know the usual meaning of
symbol/unit used.

SPM PAPER 1
STRATEGY TO ANSWER
PAPER 2
- Subjective questions
( 2 hours 30 minutes)

SPM PAPER 2
Section A
1. Consists of 8 structure questions.
answer all.

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.

SPM PAPER 2
4. The structured questions in Section A are
usually based on diagrams, tables, graphs, or
data related to a certain situation or
phenomenon.

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.
A section that is allocated 3 marks will require
you to state 3 properties or characteristics
associated with that particular section.
SPM PAPER 2
7. While answering questions that involve
calculations, make sure that you
write down all the steps, including the
formula used.

SPM PAPER 1
Section A (Structure)
1. Be able to interpret diagrams, photographs, tables and
graphs to relate to physics concepts and principles.

2. Give short and concise answer.

3. Underline keywords such as WHAT, HOW etc.

4. Underline the important information given in a question

5. Methods to solve calculation problems

- State the related formula
- Substitute the value for each formula
- Answer with the correct unit

6. Pay attention to the marks allocated. The mark usually

indicates the number of points required.
SPM PAPER 1
KEY WORDS IN EXAMINATION Q
UESTIONS

SPM PAPER 1
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.

3. You are advised to spend 30 minutes on this

section.

4. The questions from Section B are normally preceded

by a diagram that shows a certain state or situation
that is related to a specific Physics concept.

SPM PAPER 1
5. You are normally asked to state the characteristics
shown in the diagram and also to state the Physics
principle involved.

6. Study the marks allocated to each section or sub-

section in the question.
The marks allocated in each section may be as high
as 10 marks. So you should have at least 10 points or
properties.

7. Equations, diagrams, tables, graphs or other suitable

methods may be used to explain your answer.
However your answers should be clear and logical.

SPM PAPER 2
Section C
1. Section C consists of two questions but you must
answer one question only from this section.

2. The marks for this section are 20 marks. You are

advised to spend 30 minutes on this section.

3. Questions in this section normally require the

interpretation of the data provided.

4. The questions from Section C are normally preceded

by a table that is related to a specific Physics concept.

5. You may be required to plot a graph based on the data

given. Make sure that you know the proper steps to
plot a graph.
SPM PAPER 2
6. Study the marks allocated to each section
or sub-section in the question.
The marks allocated in each section may
be as high as 10 marks. You should have at
least 10 points or properties.

7. The questions in this section normally

require you to state a certain principle or
to explain certain properties or
characteristics.

8. Note that questions in Section B and C only

involve the explanation of theories and do
not contain questions
SPM PAPER 2 that require you to
STRATEGY TO ANSWER
PAPER 3
- Subjective questions
( 1 hours 30 minutes)

SPM PAPER 3
Section A.
1. Consists of 2 structured questions.
Answer both.

2. The total marks is 28 marks.

Spend 60 minutes on this section.

3. The questions in this section are based on

experiments that you should have already done in
the laboratory.

4. The questions in this section normally require you to

collect and tabulate the data in a table and to plot a
graph.

SPM PAPER 3
5. Required to state the MV, RV and FV based on
the aim and the procedure of the experiment.

6. The questions from this section also involve the

interpretation of graphs.
Determine the quantity represented by the
slope of the graph provided.
You will also need to know how to determine the
slope of the graph.

7. The questions may also involve the calculation

of certain quantities.
Make sure that you write down all the steps
involved.
SPM PAPER 1
Section B

1. Section B consists of two questions.

Answer one only.

2. The total marks for this section is 12 marks.

Advised to spend 30 minutes on this section.

3. The questions in this section are normally

preceded by a diagram depicting a situation
in our daily lives together with a brief write-
up on the situation shown.

SPM PAPER 2
4. State one suitable inference that can made from the situation.

5. State one suitable hypothesis that can made from the

situation.

6. Based on situation and the apparatus given, design an

experiment.
Remember you are not doing an experiment.

7. State aim of experiment, variables, material & apparatus used.

8. Provide a fully labeled diagram of the apparatus used.

9. Write out your procedure in passive form and use short

sentences.

10. Tabulate & analyse data.

SPM PAPER 2
TIPS FOR Paper 3

SPM PAPER 3
1. Aim of the Experiment
2. Variables (3 marks)
Manipulated variable and responding Variable
Students can copy directly from the question (from the
sentence of aim of the
experiment)

Constant variable
must be in measured quantity.

Example:
The diameter of spring (the measured quantity regarding to
the spring should
be stated clearly)

Note:
Avoid to give more than 1 answer for this question. Any wrong
answer will cancel SPM
thePAPER
correct.
3
3. Tabulation of Data (5 @ 6 marks)
The answer should contains:
. Exact columns
. Exact rows
. Write all the quantities that has units
. Decimal points for each column must be consistent
. Accurate measurement

4. Draw A Graph
A graph should have:
. correct axis with units
. uniform scales
. points that were correctly plot
. the best straight line

SPM PAPER 3
5. Relationship between responding and
manipulated variable
. Directly proportional - if a graph shows a straight line begin
from (0,0)
. Increases linearly - if a graph shows a straight line but
intercept at Y-axis other than 0.
. Decreases linearly - if a graph shows a straight with a
negative value of gradient of the graph

SPM PAPER 3
PRECAUTIONARY STEPS FOR INVESTIGATIVE
EXPERIMENTS:

SPM PAPER 3
SPM TIPS:
Student can give more then one answer for this question. No
penalty for the answer which is unsuitable.

Example of unacceptable answer: Avoid parallax error - No mark

given for precautionary steps without explanation.

SPM PAPER 3