QCAA Physics Performance

Overall average 73.7%19,805 questions answered2026 data

Score by Unit & Topic

Full syllabus

Gravity and electromagnetism

73.6%
Gravity and motion
70.6%
Electromagnetism
75.4%

Revolutions in modern physics

73.9%
Special relativity
74.7%
Quantum Theory
66.6%
The Standard Model
79.7%

Score by Past Paper

2026 data

2025 P1
83.3%
2025 P2
37.5%
2024 P1
70.1%
2024 P2
52.9%
2023 P1
67.5%
2023 P2
46.1%
2022 P1
67.6%
2022 P2
56.3%
2021 P1
63.7%
2021 P2
59.5%
2020 P1
71.6%
2020 P2
46.8%

Score by Question Type

2026 data

Assignment
83.5%
Multiple Choice
63.5%
Short Answer
50.8%

Cognitive Verb Performance

2026 data

Analyse
83.3%
Assess
0%
Calculate
47.2%
Compare
50%
Construct
80.3%
Contrast
75%
Deduce
30%
Define
60%
Describe
58.4%
Determine
56.2%
Develop
83.5%
Discuss
80%
Draw
62.2%
Estimate
22.4%
Evaluate
83.4%
Explain
56.3%
Express
23.8%
Identify
83.4%
Interpret
83.5%
Investigate
80.2%
Justify
51.3%
Label
83.3%
Modify
84.9%
Outline
0%
Process
84.9%
Research
84.9%
Select
80.2%
Show
59.7%
Sketch
56.7%
State
70.6%

Study Guides

QCE Physics IA1 Data Test: How to Get Top Marks in 2026How the QCE Physics IA1 data test is marked, the question specifications table behind every paper, and what changed under the 2025 syllabus.QCE Physics IA2 Student Experiment: How to Get Top Marks in 2026What each QCE Physics IA2 criterion wants, using QCAA's own definitions of considered, justified and thorough, plus marked examples from four cohorts.QCE Physics IA3 Research Investigation: How to Get Top Marks in 2026What each QCE Physics IA3 criterion wants, using QCAA's own wording on claims, credible sources and evaluating evidence against the claim.QCE Physics Hardest Topics: Where Students Lose the Most MarksAverage scores in QCE Physics by past paper, topic, question type and command verb, plus the high-weight low-score revision list.
All Physics guides

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hardest QCAA Physics topics?
Based on student performance on AusGrader in 2026, the hardest QCAA Physics topics are Quantum Theory (66.6%), Gravity and motion (70.6%), Special relativity (74.7%). Focus your revision on these areas for the biggest score improvement.
What are the easiest QCAA Physics topics?
Based on student performance on AusGrader in 2026, the highest-scoring QCAA Physics topics are The Standard Model (79.7%), Electromagnetism (75.4%), Special relativity (74.7%).
What are the most common command words in QCAA Physics exams?
The most frequently tested command words in QCAA Physics are Identify, Analyse, Evaluate, Develop, Interpret. Practising responses to these verbs is a high-impact study strategy.

Ready to practise QCAA Physics?

Get instant AI feedback on past exam questions, aligned to the syllabus

Start Practising Free