O-Level Physics Home Lab Apparatus Checklist
Study guideUpdated 17 Jul 2026
Reviewed by
Chee Wei Jie·Academic Advisor (Physics)
TL;DR
SEAB’s 2026 O-Level Physics syllabus lists 18 typical Paper 3 practical techniques in its Paper 3 section.
You can rehearse most of them at home with safe, low-cost substitutes - but keep to school-grade apparatus for final calibration.
Log sources, costs, and limitations so ACE commentary remains realistic.
Pair this checklist with the full practical roadmap in our O-Level Physics Experiments hub.
1 | Priority apparatus by experiment family
| Practical | School apparatus | Home/affordable substitute | Notes & limitations |
| Length/diameter | Metre rule, vernier calipers, micrometers | Metal rulers with 0.5 mm markings, digital calipers (around $20) | Calibrate against a reliable reference (coin, calibration strip). |
| Time | Digital stopwatch | Smartphone stopwatch / PhyPhox timer | Reaction time still affects accuracy - practise multi-period timing. |
| Density | Electronic balance, measuring cylinder |
Want supervised lab practice?
Explore practical lessons, with timings, fees, and locations on the programme page.
View O-Level Physics Practicals (Labs & Experiments)