The Higher Physics question paper

From session 2026-27 Higher Physics has one question paper: Section 1 has 20 marks of multiple choice and Section 2 has 110 marks of restricted-response and extended-response questions.

Question paper	2 hours 30 minutes, 130 marks
Section 1	20 marks of multiple choice
Section 2	110 marks of written answers
Exam day 2027	Tuesday 4 May, 09:00 to 11:30

Section 1

Multiple-choice questions across the whole course, 20 marks. Work each one out before you look at the options: the wrong options are the answers common slips give.

Section 2

Calculations, statements, descriptions and explanations, and questions on experiments and uncertainties, 110 marks. Show the relationship you use, substitute, and give the answer with its unit.

Try 2 questions

Question 1Section 1 style

A marble rolls off the edge of a horizontal table

1.25\ \text{m}

high at

3.0\ \text{m s}^{-1}

. Air resistance is negligible. How far from the foot of the table does it land?

Question 2Section 1 style

Light of wavelength

589\ \text{nm}

from a sodium lamp falls on a grating with

300

lines per millimetre. What is the angle between the central maximum and the second-order maximum?

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Questions people ask

What changed for 2026-27?

The two papers became one paper of two sections: Section 1 went from 25 to 20 marks, Section 2 from 130 to 110 marks, and the time from 3 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes.

Can I use a calculator?

Yes, and a data sheet and a relationships sheet are provided.