CSEC PHYSICS · EXAM PREPARATION · LESSON X1

Paper 1: Multiple-Choice Strategy

How Paper 01 is built (60 items, 75 minutes), how its marks are split between knowledge and use of knowledge, techniques for working and checking answers, and a timed 60-item mock exam.

Papers 1, 2 and 3Paper 01≈ 30 min
Before you start

By the end of this lesson you can…

Step 1 · Watch

Explainer video

5 narrated scenes. Press play, listen and read along — the points appear as they are explained. Use ‹ Prev / Next › or the scene bar to jump to any scene.

LESSON X1 · EXPLAINER

Paper 1: Multiple-Choice Strategy

Sixty questions in seventy-five minutes leaves about a minute each. The students who score highest are not faster, they are more systematic.

Narration uses your device’s built-in voice. No sound? Switch to “Captions only” — the captions advance on their own.

Step 2 · Read

Key notes

Copy these into your notebook in your own words — that is how they stick.

Structure

60 items; 60 marks; 1 h 15 min; 30% of the grade.

Profiles

Knowledge and Comprehension 50; Use of Knowledge 10.

Content

Mechanics, thermal physics, waves and optics, electricity and magnetism, the atom.

Method

Read → work → check units → eliminate → shade.

Units

Convert to SI before calculating.

Timing

≈ 75 s per item; skip and return.

Guessing

Answer every item.

Calculator

Silent, non-programmable only.

EXAM TIPS & COMMON MISTAKES

  • Check the unit of every answer option: they often differ only in the power of ten.
  • For graphs and diagrams in the stem, read the axes labels and scale first.
  • In “which is NOT” items, circle the NOT before reading the options.
  • Make sure your calculator is in degree mode for angles and in standard form for large powers.
Step 3 · Practise

Paper 1 practice — multiple choice

8 items modelled on real CSEC Paper 1 questions. Choose one answer for each, then check. Aim for 80% or better. Work each item on paper first.

CSEC syllabus · Format of the examination

1. How many items are there in CSEC Physics Paper 01?

Answer: C. 60 multiple-choice items.
CSEC syllabus · Format of the examination

2. How long is Paper 01?

Answer: C. Paper 01 lasts 1 hour 15 minutes.
CSEC syllabus · Table 1

3. Paper 01 contributes what percentage of the final grade?

Answer: C. 60 of the 200 raw marks.
CSEC syllabus · Notes on the examination

4. Which calculator is allowed in CSEC Physics papers?

Answer: D. The syllabus allows silent non-programmable calculators.
Exam technique

5. A student calculates 2.0 g ÷ 5.0 cm³ and needs density in kg/m³. The best first step is to

Answer: A. Work in SI units to avoid power-of-ten mistakes.
Exam technique

6. In a Paper 1 item you cannot work out the answer. The best action is to

Answer: B. There is no penalty for wrong answers; eliminate and answer.
Exam technique

7. A stem asks “Which of the following is NOT a vector?”. The best method is to

Answer: C. Remove the true statements.
Exam technique

8. At the end of Paper 1 you should

Answer: D. Checking shading protects marks.
Your progress

Lesson readiness

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Sources

Syllabus sources and past papers

Everything in this lesson is based on these parts of the CXC syllabus and papers.