O-Level Physics Graphing & Linearisation Clinic
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)30 Nov 2025, 00:00 Z
Reviewed by
Chee Wei Jie
Academic Advisor (Physics)
TL;DR
Paper 3 expects clean tables, full-page graphs, and linearised relationships that feed ACE analysis (Section 4, SEAB 2026 syllabus).
Make every plot a straight line by choosing the right axes (reciprocals, logs, gradients/intercepts tied to physical constants).
Always include raw points, best-fit line, large gradient triangle, and uncertainty commentary.
Keep Your Physics Practical Stack On Track
Use our O-Level Physics Experiments hub to find companion drills for every Paper 3 skill before you attempt these walkthroughs.
1 | Graphing checklist before you touch the ruler
- Use at least half of the grid in both x and y directions.\
- Mark raw points with small crosses; no thick dots.\
- Label axes with quantity + unit (e.g.
1/u / cm⁻¹).\ - Choose a sensible scale (multiples of 1, 2, 5 × powers of ten).\
- Draw a thin best-fit line; no connecting-the-dots.\
- Sketch a large triangle covering ≥2/3 of the line for gradient.
2 | Common Paper 3 relationships and how to linearise them
| Experiment | Original relationship | Linear form | Gradient meaning | Intercept meaning |
| Lens equation |
