A/L Science Stream

A/L Physics (NIE syllabus)

G.C.E. A/L Physics in Sri Lanka follows the National Institute of Education (NIE) syllabus for Grades 12 and 13. It has 11 units. Grade 12 covers Units 1–4 — measurement, mechanics, oscillations and waves, and thermal physics — and Grade 13 covers Units 5–11: the gravitational field, the electric field, magnetic fields, current electricity, electronics, the mechanical properties of matter, and matter and radiation. Mechanics is the largest unit, at 110 teaching periods, then oscillations and waves at 100. The units add up to 600 periods. This is the Sri Lankan G.C.E. (A/L) syllabus, not Cambridge or Edexcel A-Level Physics.

Find your unit, not your term

Your school may teach the units in a different order. Find the unit you are on — the grade and term below are the NIE’s own.

Grade · term (NIE)	Unit	NIE name	Periods	Pages on this site	Start with	Source
Grade 12 · Term 1	1	Measurement	30	6	Scientific Method & Scope of Physics · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii; [S3]
Grade 12 · Terms 1–2	2	Mechanics	110	8	Linear Motion & Projectile Motion · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii; [S3]
Grade 12 · Terms 2–3	3	Oscillations and Waves	100	6	Simple Harmonic Motion · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii; [S3]
Grade 12 · Term 3	4	Thermal Physics	60	8	Temperature & Thermometers · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii; [S3]
Grade 13 · Term 1	5	Gravitational Field	20	5	Newton’s Law of Gravitation · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii; [S3]
Grade 13 · Term 1	6	Electric field (electrostatics)	60	5	Electric Charge & Coulomb’s Law · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii; [S3]
Grade 13 · Term 1	7	Magnetic fields	40	7	Magnetic Fields & Magnetic Force · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii; [S3]
Grade 13 · Term 2	8	Current Electricity	70	7	Electric Current & Charge Flow · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii; [S3]
Grade 13 · Term 2	9	Electronics	40	8	Semiconductors & p–n Junctions · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii; [S3]
Grade 13 · Terms 2–3	10	Mechanical Properties of Matter	40	6	Stress, Strain & Elasticity · Practice	[S1] pp. vii–viii; [S3]
Grade 13 · Term 3	11	Matter and Radiation	30	0	no page yet	[S1] pp. vii–viii

Unit names and periods from [S1] p. vii; grade and term from [S1] p. viii (Grade 12 is competency levels 1.1–4.9, Grade 13 is 5.1–11.6). The page counts are this site’s own [S3]: alternating current, reactance, transformers, and generators and motors are counted under Unit 7, where this site publishes them. Unit 11, Matter and Radiation, has no page yet.

Term-by-Term Breakdown

Try one question — no account needed

Model question — written by Idasara, modelled on the G.C.E. (A/L) Physics examination pattern. NIE Unit 2, Mechanics.

A car negotiates an unbanked flat circular road curve of radius 50 m. The coefficient of static friction between the tires and the dry road is 0.50. Taking g = 10 m s⁻², what is the maximum speed at which the car can round the bend without skidding outward?

A) 15.8 m s⁻¹ (approx 16 m s⁻¹)
B) 5.0 m s⁻¹
C) 25.0 m s⁻¹
D) 10.0 m s⁻¹

Check my answer

Correct answer: A) 15.8 m s⁻¹ (approx 16 m s⁻¹)

On an unbanked circular path, the centripetal force is provided solely by static friction: f_s = m v² / r. Maximum friction without slipping is f_max = μ_s mg. Equating gives m v_max² / r = μ_s mg => v_max = √(μ_s g r) = √(0.50 × 10 × 50) = √250 ≈ 15.81 m s⁻¹.

Show worked solution

Step 1: Formula for unbanked curve: v_max = √(μ_s · g · r). Step 2: Substitute values: v_max = √(0.50 × 10 × 50) = √250 ≈ 15.8 m s⁻¹. Answer: 15.8 m s⁻¹ (approx 16 m s⁻¹).

Get your own answer marked

How the exam works

G.C.E. A/L Physics is set by the Department of Examinations in two papers (the structure for the examination from 2019 onwards). Paper I takes 2 hours: 50 multiple-choice questions with 5 options, all to be answered, at 1 mark each — 50 marks. Paper II takes 3 hours, plus 10 minutes' reading time: Part A, 4 compulsory structured essay questions at 10 marks each (40); Part B, answer 4 of 6 essay questions at 15 marks each (60) — 100 marks. The final mark is Paper I (50) plus half of Paper II (50), out of 100. (Department of Examinations structure booklet, p. 9.)

Department of Examinations — Structure of Question Papers, G.C.E. (A/L) 2019 and afterwards, Volume 1 (English, PDF)

Where should I start?

One short block per reader, one link each. These are suggestions, not rules; the unit table above is the map.

Starting Grade 12 — The NIE’s first term is measurement (30 periods) and the start of mechanics, which is 110 periods in all and the largest unit in the syllabus. → Measurement notes
In Grade 13 — The NIE’s own order for the year is the fields first (gravitational, electric, magnetic), then current electricity and electronics. → Newton’s Law of Gravitation notes
Sitting the examination again — Practise unit by unit, then get your answers marked. → All A/L Physics practice
Studying in Sinhala → සිංහල
Studying in Tamil → தமிழ்
A parent — What your child gets, and what it costs. → Pricing · For parents

Free study resources by topic

Questions students ask

How many units are there in A/L Physics, and which is the biggest?

Eleven. Mechanics is the largest, at 110 periods, then oscillations and waves at 100, and current electricity at 70. ([S1] p. vii)

Which units are in Grade 12 and which in Grade 13?

Grade 12 covers Units 1–4 (measurement, mechanics, oscillations and waves, thermal physics); Grade 13 covers Units 5–11. ([S1] p. viii)

Where does electronics come?

Grade 13, second term, as Unit 9, with 40 periods. ([S1] pp. vii–viii)

Do I have to follow the NIE's unit order?

No. Your school may teach the units in a different order, which is why this page lists the unit rather than only the term. The grade and term shown are the NIE’s own placement. ([S1] p. viii)

Is this the same as Cambridge A-Level Physics?

No. This is the Sri Lankan G.C.E. (A/L) syllabus published by the NIE, with its own units, its own period weights and its own examination. ([S1] title page)