O-Level Physics Paper 3 Marking Micro Habits Playbook
Download printable cheat-sheet (CC-BY 4.0)30 Nov 2025, 00:00 Z
Reviewed by
Chee Wei Jie
Academic Advisor (Physics)
TL;DR
SEAB’s Paper 3 “General marking points” spell out what examiners reward: full-precision readings, unit-labelled tables, best-fit lines that use most of the grid, and gradients taken with large triangles (see the SEAB 2026 Physics syllabus PDF on seab.gov.sg).
Turn those bullets into automatic habits-check resolution before every reading, pre-draw table headers with quantity/unit, and rehearse gradient extraction with triangles spanning at least half of the line length.
Log each practice run with a micro-audit so Planning/MMO/PDO/ACE evidence is baked into your workflow before the real Paper 3.
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 | What the mark scheme is really asking for
| SEAB marking point | Translated habit |
| Use instruments to full precision; interpolate between scale divisions; record units with every measurement (SEAB 2026 Physics syllabus, “General marking points” PDF on seab.gov.sg). | Quote metre-rule readings to 0.1 cm, vernier to 0.01 cm, micrometer to 0.001 cm, stopwatch to 0.1 s; jot the instrument resolution at the top of your data table before you start. |
| Table headings must carry quantity + unit (solidus format) and readings should be repeated when possible (same source). | Draft headers like Length, l / cm in pencil before entering data; schedule two quick repeat readings for each column. |
| Calculated quantities use the least number of significant figures from raw data; ratios as decimals to 2–3 s.f. (same source). | After every calculation, compare decimals with the weakest raw reading, then circle any answer with “too many” digits. |
| Graph axes must occupy most of the grid; points plotted with small crosses; straight-line gradients from large triangles (same source). |
