Leaving Cert Physics 2026

The 2026 Leaving Cert Physics exam paper and official marking scheme, free below as direct PDF links from the State Examinations Commission archive.

Higher Level

Exam PaperMarking Scheme
What's in the 2026 Higher Level paper?
  • Q1 boyle's law, gas laws, pressure-volume relationship · 40 marks
  • Q2 simple pendulum, acceleration due to gravity, simple harmonic motion · 40 marks
  • Q3 diffraction grating, wavelength of light, monochromatic light · 40 marks
  • Q4 specific latent heat, vaporisation, calorimetry · 40 marks
  • Q5 resistance and temperature, resistivity, resistance · 40 marks
  • Q6 mechanics, heat, electricity, nuclear physics · 56 marks
  • Q7 momentum, newton's second law, conservation of momentum, sound intensity · 56 marks
  • Q8 concave mirror, lenses, total internal reflection, polarisation · 56 marks
  • Q9 resonance, stretched string, stationary waves, harmonics · 56 marks
  • Q10 capacitance, capacitors, potential difference · 56 marks
  • Q11 cathode ray tube, electrons, colour, magnetic field · 56 marks
  • Q12 radioactivity, radioactive decay, half-life · 56 marks
  • Q13 semiconductors, solar energy, heat pump, u-value · 56 marks
  • Q14 vectors, doppler effect, electrostatics, particle physics · 56 marks

Ordinary Level

Exam PaperMarking Scheme
What's in the 2026 Ordinary Level paper?
  • Q1 mechanics, acceleration due to gravity, experiment · 40 marks
  • Q2 light, concave mirror, focal length, experiment · 40 marks
  • Q3 sound, stretched string, frequency, experiment · 40 marks
  • Q4 heat, latent heat, fusion of ice, experiment · 40 marks
  • Q5 electricity, resistance and temperature, experiment · 40 marks
  • Q6 short questions, mixed topics · 56 marks
  • Q7 mechanics, newton's laws, force, weight · 56 marks
  • Q8 heat, u-value, temperature, specific heat capacity · 56 marks
  • Q9 light, refraction, total internal reflection, fibre optics · 56 marks
  • Q10 electricity, circuits, parallel circuits, ohm's law · 56 marks
  • Q11 waves, doppler effect, diffraction, polarisation · 56 marks
  • Q12 atomic structure, electrons, cathode ray tube, kinetic energy · 56 marks
  • Q13 sound, waves, comprehension · 56 marks
  • Q14 moments, harmonics, capacitors, electromagnetic induction · 56 marks

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MechanicsHeat & TemperatureWaves & SoundLight & OpticsElectricity & MagnetismThe Electron, Photoelectric Effect & X-raysAtomic, Nuclear & Particle PhysicsExperimental Physics & Measurement
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Questions come from the official State Examinations Commission papers. Every link opens the original PDF on examinations.ie.