TIMES : SPM2009 Last Minute Tips - Physics

Physics

SPM Physics is made up of Paper 1 (50 objective questions) – 1 hour 15 minutes, Paper 2 (subjective questions) and Paper 3 (written practical paper). Follow this guide to answer the papers.

Content
1. Strategy to Answering Paper 1
2. Strategy to Answering Paper 2
Section A
Section B
Section C
3. Strategy to Answering Paper 3
1. Strategy to Answering Paper 1
Paper 1 consists of 50 objective questions. Answer all the 50 questions in this paper.
The time for this Paper 1 is 1 hour 15 minutes. The average time to answer one question is one and a half minutes.
Each objective question may have three, four or five options as follows:
A, B or C
A, B, C, or D
A, B, C, D or E

Majority of them are four options. Five options are usually reserved for questions which involve calculations.
To tackle difficult questions, eliminate incorrect options one by one until you are left with the best possible option.
Know the purpose of every step in the experiments you carried out in the laboratory. Many of the questions are related to the experiments, so make sure you study the:
manipulated variable
responding variable, and
the fixed variable in the particular experiment.
Study every topic well enough. The objective questions in Paper 1 involve all the topics in the Physics syllabus.
Make sure you know the meaning of the symbols used in the formulae of SPM Physics.
Read each question diligently to understand the requirement of the question. If information such as diagrams, graphs, or data is provided, make sure you interpret them to come up with your conclusions.
Do not take more than one and a half minutes to answer each question. If you happen upon a difficult question, leave it first. Come back later to that question after you have answered all the others.
2. Strategy to Answering Paper 2
Section A
Section A consists of eight structure questions. Answer all the eight questions in this section.
The marks allocated for this section is 60 marks. Each question can carry from 4 to 12 marks.
Try to spend only 90 minutes in this section so you can have sufficient time to answer Section B and C.
Study the diagrams, tables, graphs or data provided carefully before attempting to answer the question. They are usually related to a certain situation or phenomenon.
Highlight key words provided so that you will not go out of point in your answers.
Note the marks allocated to each section of a question. A section allocated 1 mark will only require a short answer. A section allocated 3 marks will require you to state 3 properties or characteristics associated with the section.
When answering questions involving calculations, write down the complete steps and the formula used in the spaces provided. This will allow the examiner to study your approach. 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.

Section B
Section B consists of two questions. Answer only one question from this section.
The marks allocated for this section is 20 marks.
You are advised to spend 30 minutes on this section.
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.
You are normally asked to state the characteristics shown in the diagram and also to state the Physics principle involved.
Study the marks allocated to each section or sub-section in the question. The marks allocated in each section can be as high as 10 marks. In such cases, make sure that you have at least 10 points or properties related to the section. Each point is normally allocated 1 mark.
Give your answers clearly and logically. Equations, diagrams, tables, graphs or other suitable methods may be used to explain your answer.

Section C
Section C consists of two questions. Answer only one question from this section.
The marks allocated for this section is 20 marks. You are advised to spend 30 minutes on this section.
Questions in this section normally require the interpretation of the data provided.
The questions from Section C are normally preceded by a table that is related to a specific Physics concept.
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.
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. In such cases, make sure that you have at least 10 points or properties related to the section as each point is normally allocated 1 mark.
The questions in this section normally require you to state a certain principle or to explain certain properties or characteristics based on the information given.
Note that questions in Section B and C only involve the explanation of theories and do not contain questions that require you to do describe an experiment.
3. Strategy to Answering Paper 3
Section A
Section A consists of two structured questions. Answer both of the questions.
The total marks for this section is 28 marks. You are advised to spend 60 minutes on this section.
The questions in this section are based on experiments that you should have already done in the laboratory.
The questions in this section normally require you to collect and tabulate the data in a table and to plot a graph.
You are normally required to state the manipulated variable, the responding variable and the fixed variable based on the aim and procedure of the experiment.
The questions from this section may also involve the interpretation of graphs. You need to carefully determine the quantity represented by the slope of the graph. You will also need to know how to determine the slope of the graph.
The questions from this section may involve the calculation of certain quantities. Make sure that you write down all the steps involved in the spaces provided.

Section B
Section B consists of two questions. Answer one question only.
The total marks for this section is 12 marks. You are advised to spend 30 minutes on this section.
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.
Study the situation carefully. You are normally asked to state one suitable inference that can be made from the situation.
Make sure you provide a fully labeled diagram of the apparatus used. Write out your experiment in passive form and use short sentences.
When making a conclusion, make sure that your conclusion is in line with your hypothesis.