VCAA Physics Performance

Overall average 62.7%31,222 questions answered2026 data

Score by Unit & Topic

Full study design

How do fields explain motion and electricity?

60.3%
How do physicists explain motion in two dimensions?
60.6%
How do things move without contact?
60.8%
How are fields used in electricity generation?
58.9%

How have creative ideas and investigation revolutionised thinking in physics?

66.6%
How has understanding about the physical world changed?
66.4%
How is scientific inquiry used to investigate fields, motion or light?
67.7%

Score by Past Paper

2026 data

2025
60.2%
2025
63.7%
2024
59.2%
2024
72.5%
2023
64.2%
2023
67.7%
2022
70%
2022
73.6%
2021
61.6%
2021
60.9%
2020
63%

Score by Question Type

2026 data

Multiple Choice
64.4%
Short Answer
58.9%

Cognitive Verb Performance

2026 data

Analyse
62.1%
Calculate
56.5%
Compare
51.3%
Construct
52.4%
Deduce
51.9%
Describe
63%
Determine
62.7%
Discuss
56.8%
Draw
61.9%
Estimate
44.2%
Evaluate
70.7%
Explain
58.4%
Express
42.9%
Identify
72.2%
Justify
60.6%
Label
74.3%
Outline
63.9%
Predict
75%
Provide
60%
Select
46.7%
Show
69.2%
Sketch
59.5%
State
71.4%
Write
100%

Study Guides

VCE Physics Hardest Topics: Where Students Lose the Most MarksAverage scores in VCE Physics by past paper, topic, question type and command verb, plus the high-weight low-score revision list.VCE Physics Most Tested Topics: What the VCAA Exams CoverMarks by topic and dot point across 11 VCAA Physics external papers, 2020 to 2025, plus the question type and cognitive verb mix.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the hardest VCAA Physics topics?
Based on student performance on AusGrader in 2026, the hardest VCAA Physics topics are How are fields used in electricity generation? (58.9%), How do physicists explain motion in two dimensions? (60.6%), How do things move without contact? (60.8%). Focus your revision on these areas for the biggest score improvement.
What are the easiest VCAA Physics topics?
Based on student performance on AusGrader in 2026, the highest-scoring VCAA Physics topics are How is scientific inquiry used to investigate fields, motion or light? (67.7%), How has understanding about the physical world changed? (66.4%), How do things move without contact? (60.8%).
What are the most common command words in VCAA Physics exams?
The most frequently tested command words in VCAA Physics are Calculate, Explain, Determine, Describe, Justify. Practising responses to these verbs is a high-impact study strategy.

Ready to practise VCAA Physics?

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

Start Practising Free