TL;DR SEAB’s 2026 Physics syllabus (6091) spells out the Paper 3 logistics: each section gives you 55 minutes with an apparatus set, and schools must stock the full list of mechanics, thermal, optics, and electrical equipment (SEAB syllabus). Treat the apparatus list as your rehearsal checklist-drill setup speed, calibration habits, and spare-set contingencies before the real practical window. Pair every station run with a micro-log covering safety, instrument resolution, and cleanup so you walk into Paper 3 already fluent in lab routines.
1 | What Paper 3 logistics look like in 2026
Two 55-minute rotations: Section A (20 marks) and Section B (20 marks) each give you 55 minutes at a station; centres must warn candidates about seating plans and keep spare apparatus ready for failures (SEAB 2026 Physics syllabus).\
Spare sets are mandatory: Lab technicians should pre-check duplicate kits so any broken ruler, lamp, or balance can be swapped without eating into the timed slot (same source).\
Data-logger readiness: The syllabus expects familiarity with data-loggers and sensor alternatives-schools should brief candidates on house rules for borrowing or sharing probes across rotations (same source).\
Safety ownership: Responsibility for laboratory safety rests with centres; follow MOE’s secondary lab guidelines for hot surfaces, electrical work, and magnet handling (MOE laboratory safety guide).
2 | Apparatus list decoded into rehearsal buckets
Syllabus grouping
Core kit
Paper 3 skill focus
Measurement staples
Rules (0.1 cm), metre sticks, digital calipers (0.01 mm), micrometers (0.001 mm), stopwatches (0.1 s), balances (0.01 g)
IV sweeps, internal resistance comments, magnetic field mapping, induction sweeps
All items above are explicitly listed under “Apparatus List” in the syllabus, with spare sets recommended for high-wear components such as balances, power supplies, and magnets (SEAB 2026 Physics syllabus).
3 | Weekly rehearsal blueprint
3.1 | Before the lab slot
Station brief: Circulate a one-page spec sheet (apparatus, hazards, resolution, target skill strand).\
Candidate prep: Students sketch apparatus diagrams and review the relevant precision rules from the Error & Uncertainty Masterclass.
3.2 | During the 55-minute drill
First 5 minutes: Set up kit, check zero error, note safety controls (goggles, cleared bench, hot-water handling).\
Next 35 minutes: Collect raw data, log significant figures, and annotate anomalies.\
Final 15 minutes: Draft PDO/ACE responses-include units in table headers, plot at least one gradient triangle, and note dominant uncertainty.
3.3 | After the session
Apparatus reset: Return kit to marked trays; note faults for technician follow-up (spare-set readiness).\
Reflection log: Each student records instrument resolution, biggest delay, and one improvement for the same station.\
Safety sign-off: Teacher reviews spill areas, power-off status, and magnet storage per MOE guidelines.
4 | Apparatus-to-skill rehearsal drills
Kit bundle
Drill
What to time/measure
Reflection prompt
Calipers + micrometer + irregular solid
Density run with displacement
Time required to obtain three consistent diameters + mass
How do zero-error corrections shift density?
Clamp stand + sand tray + masses
Centre-of-gravity map
Time to mark intersection point after three suspensions
Which MMO habit (string alignment, pointer) mattered most?
Rheostat + lamp circuit
IV sweep
Time to gather six voltage steps without overheating
How did you manage waiting periods to stay within 55 minutes?
Ripple tank + protractor
Snell’s-law verification
Time to align pins and read angles
Which fixture or lighting tweak reduced parallax?
Thermometer + calorimeter + heater
Heat-capacity measurement
Stabilisation time before temperature plateau
Where could insulation or stirring protocol improve ACE commentary?
Repeat each drill under “single kit” and “shared kit” conditions so learners practise negotiating apparatus swaps during the rotation.
5 | Logistics checklist for teachers & technicians
Four weeks out: Audit apparatus list against the SEAB inventory; order replacements for cracked glassware, frayed leads, or demagnetised bars.\
Two weeks out: Run full-station mock with spare sets in play; time technician reset between rotations.\
One week out: Share seat plan instructions with candidates and remind them about calculator approval rules (SEAB 2026 Physics syllabus).\
After each mock: Capture issues in a moderation-style log (apparatus faults, timing overruns, safety lapses) and assign follow-ups.
6 | Candidate self-audit template
Paper 3 Station Log
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Date / Station:
Apparatus focus:
Setup time (min):
Measurement precision used:
Largest delay during run:
Dominant uncertainty + reason:
Safety controls noted:
Station improvement for next attempt:
Fill this after every rehearsal to reinforce Planning/MMO/PDO/ACE reflections with concrete apparatus notes.
