TL;DR Paper 2 is 80 marks in about 1 h 45 min. Allocate roughly one minute per mark, decode the command word before you write anything, and always show working for calculation questions. The biggest mark leaks come from missing units, skipping the "link" sentence in Explain questions, and poor graph technique. This guide walks through every question type so you can stop losing marks you already know the physics for.
What Paper 2 looks like
O-Level Physics Paper 2 (6091/6092) is a written paper of structured and free-response questions worth 80 marks. You have approximately 1 hour 45 minutes.
Feature
Detail
Total marks
80
Duration
~1 h 45 min
Section A
Compulsory structured questions (~50 marks)
Section B
Choose 2 out of 3 longer free-response questions (~30 marks)
Answer format
Write in the spaces provided
Section A tests breadth across the syllabus. Section B questions are longer and often cross-topic, so they reward students who can connect ideas (e.g. energy + circuits, or forces + pressure).
Before you write a single word, identify the command word. It tells you what the examiner expects and how many sentences you need. Misreading it is the fastest way to drop marks on a question you actually understand.
Command word
What the examiner wants
Typical mark value
Common mistake
State
A brief factual answer, no explanation needed
1
Writing a paragraph when a phrase will do
Define
Give the formal meaning of a term
1
Missing the "per unit" qualifier (e.g. pressure = force per unit area)
Explain
State the physics principle and link it to the observation
2--3
Giving the fact but forgetting the "therefore..." link sentence
Describe
Say what happens, step by step, often with direction or sequence
2--3
Mixing up Describe with Explain -- Describe does not need a "why"
Compare
Give similarities and differences; use comparative language
2--3
Only giving differences, or listing features without comparing
Calculate
Show working, substitute values, give the answer with correct unit
2--4
Jumping straight to the answer without intermediate steps
Sketch
Draw a diagram or graph showing the correct shape/trend; exact values usually not required
1--2
Forgetting to label axes or draw the correct curve shape
Suggest
Apply physics reasoning to an unfamiliar context; credit is for plausible reasoning
1--3
Panicking because the context is new -- the physics is always from the syllabus
Deduce
Use given information or data to arrive at a conclusion logically
1--2
Not quoting the evidence from the question
When a question says "Explain, with the aid of a diagram", you need both the written explanation and the labelled diagram. One without the other costs you marks.
Mark allocation strategy
The number in square brackets at the end of each question part is your single most important clue.
Rule of thumb: each mark requires one distinct scoreable point.
[1] -- one fact, one value, or one label.
[2] -- two distinct points. For Explain questions, this usually means: state the principle (1 mark) + link it to the observation (1 mark).
[3] -- three distinct points. Check whether the question asks for three reasons, or whether it is one chain of reasoning with three links (phenomenon, principle, consequence).
[4] or more -- almost always a calculation or a multi-step explanation. Read carefully for sub-parts.
A useful self-check: count the distinct ideas in your answer. If you wrote two ideas for a [3] question, you are probably leaving a mark on the table.
The "Explain" question framework
Explain questions are the most commonly botched question type. Use this three-part framework:
Phenomenon -- what is happening? (e.g. "The metal bar expands when heated.")
Physics principle -- why does it happen? (e.g. "Particles gain kinetic energy, vibrate more vigorously, and the average separation between particles increases.")
Link to observation -- how does the principle connect to what the question describes? (e.g. "Therefore the bar pushes against the fixed supports and the dial gauge reading increases.")
If you can write three sentences that follow this pattern, you will almost always hit full marks on a 3-mark Explain question.
Worked example
A bimetallic strip bends when heated. Explain why. [3]
Model answer:
The bimetallic strip is made of two metals with different rates of thermal expansion [phenomenon]. When heated, both metals expand, but the metal with the higher expansivity expands more than the other [principle]. Because the two metals are bonded together, the strip curves towards the side of the metal that expands less [link].
Three sentences, three distinct ideas, three marks.
Calculation questions: show your working
Even if you can do the arithmetic in your head, the examiner cannot award method marks unless they can see your working. Follow this sequence:
Write the formula you are using.
Substitute the values with units.
Carry out the arithmetic step by step.
State the answer with the correct unit to the appropriate number of significant figures.
Significant figures and units
Give your final answer to 3 significant figures unless the question specifies otherwise or the data is given to 2 s.f.
If the question provides g=10m s−2, use that value, not 9.81.
Always include the unit. A bare number with no unit is incomplete.
Example
A block of mass 2.5 kg rests on a surface. Calculate the weight of the block. Take g=10m s−2. [2]
W=mg=2.5×10=25N
Two marks: one for correct substitution into W=mg, one for the correct answer with unit.
Graph plotting rules
Graph questions appear almost every year. Whether in Paper 2 or Paper 3, the marking criteria are strict. For a deep dive into practical graph skills, see the O-Level Physics Practical Graph Skills Guide.
What examiners look for
Criterion
What to do
Axes
Label each axis with the quantity and unit, e.g. "Force / N" or "Length / cm"
Scale
Use a sensible, linear scale that fills at least half the grid in each direction. Avoid awkward multiples like 3s or 7s -- stick to 1, 2, 5, or 10 per division
Plotting
Plot each point with a neat cross (x or +). Dots alone can be hard to see
Best-fit line
Draw a single thin straight line (or smooth curve) that balances the points. Do not join dot-to-dot
Anomalous points
Circle them clearly and do not include them in the best-fit line. Mention them if the question asks
Best-fit line vs best-fit curve
If the relationship is linear (e.g. F=kx), draw a straight line with a ruler.
If the relationship is non-linear (e.g. P=V1 at constant temperature), draw a smooth freehand curve that follows the trend.
Never use a ruler for a curved relationship, and never freehand a straight-line relationship.
Data analysis questions
Data analysis is where Section B questions earn their higher mark values. The core skills are gradient calculation, interpolation, and extrapolation.
Gradient calculation
Choose two points on your best-fit line (not raw data points, unless they happen to lie on the line).
Pick points that are far apart to reduce percentage error.
Use the formula:
gradient=ΔxΔy=x2−x1y2−y1
Show the triangle on the graph and quote the coordinates you read off.
State the unit of the gradient (it has one -- work it out from the axis labels).
Interpolation vs extrapolation
Interpolation means reading a value within the range of your data points. It is generally reliable.
Extrapolation means extending the best-fit line beyond the range of data. It is less reliable because the relationship may change outside the tested range.
If the question asks you to find a value by extrapolation, draw the extended line as a dashed line and read off the value. If it asks whether the extrapolated value is reliable, the standard answer is: "No, because the relationship may not remain linear (or follow the same trend) beyond the range of the data collected."
Time management plan
With 80 marks in approximately 105 minutes, you have just over one minute per mark. Here is a practical plan:
Phase
Time
What to do
Read-through
5 min
Skim the entire paper. Star the questions you find easiest
Section A
~55 min
Work through compulsory questions in order. Spend roughly 1 min per mark. If stuck for more than 2 minutes on a part, flag it and move on
Section B choice
3 min
Read all three options. Choose the two where you can answer the most sub-parts confidently
Section B answers
~35 min
Answer your two chosen questions
Review
7 min
Return to flagged questions. Check units and significant figures across every calculation. Re-read any Explain answer to confirm it has the "link" sentence
If you are running out of time
Write the formula and substitute values even if you cannot finish the arithmetic -- you may earn method marks.
For Explain questions, write the key physics term or principle in a bullet point rather than leaving it blank.
Never leave a question blank. Partial credit exists.
Common mistakes that lose easy marks
No unit on a calculated answer. The number alone is not an answer.
Confusing Describe with Explain. Describe = what happens; Explain = why it happens.
Dot-to-dot graph lines. Always draw a best-fit line or curve.
Quoting a formula but not substituting values. Method marks require visible substitution.
Writing more than asked. If the question says "State one reason", writing three reasons wastes time and can introduce a contradictory statement that costs you the mark.
Ignoring the data in the question. Deduce and Suggest questions expect you to refer to the numbers, graph, or scenario provided, not to recall a textbook paragraph.
Rounding too early. Keep intermediate values to at least 4 significant figures and round only at the final step.
Forgetting direction or sign. Velocity, acceleration, and force are vectors. If the question asks for direction, you must state it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paper 2 harder than Paper 1?
Paper 1 is multiple choice and tests breadth. Paper 2 requires you to construct written answers, show calculations, and draw graphs, so it tests depth of understanding and communication. Most students find Paper 2 more demanding because partial knowledge is harder to hide.
How do I choose between Section B questions?
Read the first sentence of each question to identify the topic area. Then scan the sub-parts: pick the two questions where you can confidently answer the most sub-parts. Avoid choosing a question just because part (a) is easy if parts (b)--(d) are in a topic you have not revised.
What if I get a "Suggest" question on a context I have never seen?
That is the point -- Suggest questions deliberately use unfamiliar contexts. The physics is always from the syllabus. Identify which topic the question is testing, recall the relevant principle, and apply it to the new scenario. Credit is for plausible reasoning, not for memorising a model answer.
Do I lose marks for wrong significant figures?
Typically, examiners penalise once per paper for a significant-figures error rather than on every question. However, an answer given to 1 significant figure when the data supports 3 may be considered incomplete. The safest strategy is to match the precision of the given data or give 3 significant figures, whichever is appropriate.
Should I use a pencil or pen for graphs?
Use a sharp pencil for plotting points and drawing best-fit lines so you can erase and correct neatly. Use pen for labels and written answers as usual.
How much should I write for a 2-mark Explain question?
Two to three sentences is usually sufficient. Write one sentence for the physics principle and one sentence linking it to the observation. If you find yourself writing a paragraph, you are probably over-explaining.
