Updated January 2025

Table of contents

• Predictions 2025
• Deferred papers and their impact on the main sitting of the Leaving Cert
• General patterns of LC Physics questions
• Track record
  • 2024: what we predicted
  • 2023: what we predicted
  • 2022: what we predicted
  • 2021: what we predicted
  • 2020: what we predicted
  • 2019: what we predicted

You may also like:

Leaving Cert Physics Experiments

Complete Guide: H1 Leaving Cert Physics Notes

Predictions 2025

While it is impossible to be certain of what will be on the paper, here are topics to pay special attention to for 2025:

Section A – Experiments (3 questions from 5)

Experiment 1: Mechanics

• Simple pendulum
• Conservation of momentum
• Boyle’s law

Experiment 2,3,4: Light/Heat/Sound

• Snell’s law
• Specific heat capacity of liquid
• Joule’s law
• Frequency vs 1/Length

Experiment 5: Electricity

• Thermistor/metallic conductor – resistance vs temperature

Section B – Long Questions (5 questions from 9)

Question 6:

• 12 short questions, they mark your best 8

Question 7: Mechanics

• Gravity/Newton’s laws
• Fluids/Pressure/Density

Question 8,9,10,11,12:

• Static electricity, electromagnetic induction
• Mirrors, lenses, wave motion of light
• Nuclear/Modern physics, radioactivity
• Resistance calculations, Wheatstone bridge, graphs of I vs V
• Options – Particle physics or applied electricity

Question 13:

• Short questions on various topics

Question 14: (answer 2 from 4)

• Simple harmonic motion
• Refraction and prisms
• Doppler effect
• Photoelectric effect

Deferred papers and their impact on the main sitting of Leaving Cert Physics

In physics, based on two samples, I think it’s safe to say that the deferred exams don’t have any impact on state exams. Here is the reasoning: the SEC usually never puts the same experiment twice in a row. As in, the 2023 experiments will all be different from the 2024 experiments. Therefore, the 2023 exam has an impact on the 2024 exam.

However, note that in the 2023 deferred paper, two of the experiments there were the exact same as the 2024 paper. Furthermore, the 2023 paper and the 2022 deferred paper have three experiments in common. If the 2024 deferred exams get released, it might be a good idea to focus on those as well as our predictions.

General patterns of LC Physics questions

• • For experimental Qs, there is usually at least one experiment based on mechanics and one on electricity. The other two can be based on light/ heat/ sound.
  • Question 5 is composed of short Qs on different topics.
  • Question 6 is usually based on mechanics, gravity or SHM. For 2019, it is likely to be based on gravity.

• • Question 7 is usually based on heat/ light and waves/ sound.
  • Question 8 is usually based on electromagnetism/ electricity/ nuclear physics. 

• • Question 10 is usually based on particle physics and applied electricity.
  • Question 11 is composed of various short questions based on a text which includes different topics.
  • Question 12 consists of 4 parts.

2024:

Q1: F vs a

Q2: Converging lens

Q3: Fusion of ice

Q4: F vs sqrt(T)

Q5: Resistivity of copper wire

Q6: Short questions on various topics

Q7: Circular motion and projectiles

Q8: Magnetic force, sound intensity

Q9: Semiconductors, Joule’s law

Q10: Radioactivity, nuclear physics

Q11: Capacitors

Q12: Options

Q13: Short questions on various topics

Q14: Conservation of energy, radioactivity, the electron (cathode ray tube), spectrometer

 

2023:

Q1: Free fall

Q2: Concave mirror

Q3: Wavelength of monochromatic light

Q4: Specific latent heat of vaporisation of water

Q5: V vs I: Semiconductor

Q6: Short questions on various topics

Q7: Mechanics: Projectiles

Q8: Sound

Q9: Nuclear physics, heat, radioactivity

Q10: Static electricity, modern physics

Q11: Electromagnetic induction

Q12: Options

Q13: Short questions on various topics

Q14: SHM, Doppler effect, Resistance, Photoelectric effect

 

2022:

Q1: Laws of equilibrium

Q2: Boyle’s law

Q3: Snell’s law

Q4: Speed of sound in air

Q5: Joule’s law

Q6: Short questions on various topics

Q7: Mechanics: SHM

Q8: Semiconductors

Q9: Static electricity, Capacitors

Q10: Radioactivity, Nuclear physics

Q11: Heat, Sound, Radioactivity

Q12: Options

Q13: Short questions on various topics

Q14: Projectiles, Doppler effect, Photoelectric effect, Electromagnetic induction

 

2021:

Q1: Period and length of a simple pendulum

Q2: Concave mirror

Q3: Sound: Frequency and tension

Q4: Resistance and temperature

Q5: Joule’s law

Q6: Short questions on various topics

Q7: Mechanics: Newton’s laws, Conservation of energy

Q8: Wave nature of light

Q9: Heat

Q10: Magnetic fields, Electromagnetic induction

Q11: Nuclear physics, Radioactivity, The electron

Q12: Static electricity, Capacitors, Modern physics

Q13: Options

Q14: SHM, Doppler effect, Photoelectric effect, Lenses/Refraction

 

2020:

Q1: Conservation of momentum

Q2: Snell’s law

Q3: Sound: Frequency and length

Q4: Resistivity of nichrome

Q5: Short questions on various topics

Q6: Mechanics: Projectiles

Q7: Static electricity, Capacitors

Q8: Radioactivity

Q9: Sound, Electromagnetic induction

Q10: Options

Q11: Short questions on various topics

Q12: Gravity, Heat, Doppler Effect, Current

	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2014
Experiment Qs:	Measurement of g by free fall	Conservation of momentum	Period and length of a simple pendulum	Levers	Boyle’s law	Conservation of momentum
	Determine the focal length of a concave mirror	Verification of Snell’s law	Frequency/ tension of a string	Frequency/ length of a string	Specific latent heat of vaporisation of water	Refractive index
	Specific latent heat of fusion of ice	Wavelength of monochromatic light	Specific latent heat of fusion of ice	Wavelength of monochromatic light	Wavelength of monochromatic light	Speed of sound in air
	Variation of current with voltage for a semiconductor diode	Joule’s law	Relationship between I and V for filament bulb	Resitivity of nichrome	Variation of resistance with temp of a metallic conductor	Joule’s law
Long Qs:	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions	Definitions
	Mechanics – gravity	Mechanics	SHM	SHM and gravity	Gravity and electromagnetic	Mechanics
	Static Electricity	Sound	Doppler effect, light and waves	Heat and energy	X-rays, photoelectric effect	Light and waves
	Nuclear Physics	Nuclear physics and heat	Electromagnetic and electricity	Semiconductors	Electric charge	Nuclear physics
	Electromagnetism	Electromagnetic and light and waves	Nuclear physics, light and waves	Nuclear physics	Mechanical waves	Electric charge
	Waves/Light/Sound	Particle physics and applied electricity	X-rays, photoelectric effect	Electromagnetic and electricity	Particle physics and electricity	Doppler effect and electricity
	Current Electricity/ Mechanics/Light/ Nuclear Physics	Electromagnetic and waves and geometrical optics	Electromagnetic and optical fibres	Light: geometrical and modern	Electromagnetic and electricity	Particle physics and applied electricity
Q12:	Mechanics – energy, velocity, acceleration	SHM	Mechanics	Mechanics and nuclear	Mechanics	SHM
	Electricity – semiconductors, capacitors	Radioactivity	Nuclear physics	Electric field	Geometrical optics	Geometrical optics
	Light – refraction, total internal reflection	Electricity	Geometrical optics	Doppler effect and circular motion	Temperature and electricity	Heat
	Particle Physics or Applied Electricity	Nuclear physics	Particle physics or transistor	Pair annihilation or motors	Radioactivity	Electromagnetic

 

Track record of predictions in Leaving Cert Physics Higher Level

2024: what we predicted

Section A – Experiments (3 questions from 5)

Experiment 1: Mechanics

• To show that a ∝ F
• Conservation of momentum
• Laws of equilibrium

Experiment 2,3,4: Light/Heat/Sound

• Measurement of the focal length of a converging lens
• Measurement of the specific heat capacity of water
• Investigation of the variation of fundamental frequency of a stretched string with length

Experiment 5: Electricity

• Investigation of the variation of resistance of a thermistor with temperature
• Resistivity of nichrome

Section B – Long Questions (5 questions from 9)

Question 6:

• 12 short questions, they mark your best 8

Question 7: Mechanics

• Circular motion/gravity
• Fluids/Pressure/Density

Question 8,9,10,11,12:

• Capacitors
• Wave nature of light/Mirrors & Lenses
• Nuclear/Modern physics
• Resistance calculations – Wheatstone bridge
• Options – Particle physics or Applied electricity

Question 13:

• Short questions that can come from anywhere

Question 14: (answer 2 from 4)

• Projectiles/Conservation of energy
• Refraction and prisms
• Radioactivity
• Semiconductors/Photoelectric Effect

2023: what we predicted

Section A – Experiments (3 questions from 5)

Experiment 1: Mechanics

• To show that a ∝ F
• Measurement of g by freefall

Experiments 2 and 3: Light/Heat/Sound

• Investigation of the variation of the fundamental frequency of a stretched string with length
• Measurement of the focal length of a converging lens
• Measurement of the specific latent heat of vaporisation of water
• Calibration curve of a thermometer using the laboratory mercury thermometer as a standard

Experiment 4: Electricity

• Investigation of the variation of resistance of a thermistor with temperature
• Investigation of the variation of current with voltage for a metallic conductor/filament bulb/copper sulphate solution/semiconductor diode

Experiment 5: Unknown

• Measurement of the wavelength of monochromatic light
• Measurement of the specific latent heat of fusion of ice

Section B – Long Questions (5 questions from 9)

Question 6

• Short questions on various aspects of the course – answer 8 from 12

Question 7

• Newton’s laws of motion
• Gravity
• Momentum and velocity
• uvast calculations

Question 8

• Static electricity
• Waves/sound

Question 9

• Radioactivity
• Heat and temperature

Question 10

• Semiconductors
• Nuclear physics

Question 11

• Modern physics
• X-rays, photoelectric effect

Question 12

• Electricity
• Electromagnetism

Question 13

• Wave nature of light/interference
• Doppler effect

Question 14 (multiple parts)

• • Options – Particle Physics or Applied Electricity
  • Density and pressure
  • Simple harmonic motion
  • Heat and temperature

2022: what we predicted

Section A – Experiments (3 questions from 5)

Experiment 1: Mechanics

• To show that a ∝ F
• Investigation of the laws of equilibrium for a set of co-planar forces

Experiments 2 and 3: Light/Heat/Sound

• Measurement of specific latent heat of vaporisation of water
• Investigation of the variation of the fundamental frequency of a stretched string with length
• Measurement of the focal length of a converging lens
• Measurement of specific heat capacity

Experiment 4: Electricity

• Investigation of the variation of resistance of a thermistor with temperature
• Investigation of the variation of current with voltage for a metallic conductor/filament bulb/copper sulphate solution/semiconductor diode

Experiment 5: Unknown

• Measurement of the wavelength of monochromatic light
• Verification of Boyle’s law
• Measurement of the resistivity of the material of a wire

Section B – Long Questions (5 questions from 9)

Question 6

• Short questions on various aspects of the course – answer 8 from 12

Question 7

• Newton’s laws of motion
• Gravity
• Circular motion
• uvast calculations

Question 8

• Static electricity

Question 9

• Modern physics – electron, neutron etc.
• Heat and temperature

Question 10

• Electromagnetism

Question 11

• Waves/sound
• Light

Question 12

• Electricity

Question 13

• Options – Particle Physics or Applied Electricity

Question 14 (multiple parts)

• X-rays, photoelectric effect
• Density and pressure
• Simple harmonic motion
• Radioactivity
• Wave nature of light/interference/Doppler effect

2021: what we predicted

Section A (answer 3 questions from 5)

Experiment 1: Mechanics

• Investigation of the laws of equilibrium for a set of co-planar forces (levers)
• Verification of Boyle’s Law

Experiments 2 and 3: Light/Sound/Heat

• Measurement of the specific latent heat of vaporisation of water
• Measurement of the focal length of a converging lens
• Investigation of the variation of fundamental frequency of a stretched string with length
• Measurement of specific heat capacity

Experiment 4: Electricity

• Investigation of the variation of the resistance of a thermistor with temperature
• Investigation of the variation of current with voltage for a filament bulb/copper sulphate solution

Experiment 5: Unknown

• Measurement of the refractive index of a liquid
• Verification of Joule’s law
• Experiment to show that acceleration is proportional to force applied

Section B (answer 5 questions from 9)

Question 6:

• Short questions on various aspects of the course
• Answer 8 parts from 12

Question 7:

• Mechanics – circular motion, Newton’s laws of motion, SHM

Question 8:

• Static electricity
• Waves/sound

Question 9:

• Modern physics – electron, neutron, X-rays, radioactivity etc.

Question 10:

• Electromagnetism

Question 11:

• Light/waves/sound

Question 12:

• Heat/temperature/energy

Question 13:

• Static/current electricity

Question 14 (multiple parts):

• Density and pressure
• Moments/levers/equilibrium
• Wave nature of light/reflection/refraction/interference
• Electricity
• Options – Particle Physics or Applied Electricity

2020: what we predicted

Experiment 1: Mechanics

• Show that acceleration is proportional to the applied force 
• Investigation of the laws of equilibrium for a set of co-planar forces (levers)

Experiments 2 and 3: Light/Sound/Heat

• Measurement of the speed of sound in air
• Investigation of the variation of fundamental frequency of a string with length/tension
• Specific latent heat of vaporisation of water
• Measurement of refractive index of liquid/solid

Experiment 4: Electricity

• Resistivity of nichrome
• Investigation of variation of resistance with temperature of a metallic conductor/thermistor 
• Investigation of variation of current with voltage for a metallic conductor/copper sulphate solution

Question 6

• SHM

Question 7

• Doppler effect/light/waves
• Heat/energy

Question 8

• Electromagnetic induction
• Current electricity

Question 12: 

• Mechanics
• Geometrical optics
• Electricity – static electricity

• Particle physics/applied electricity – There seems to be a trend in recent years of putting the ‘option’ question (particle physics or applied electricity) as part of question 12 so that it no longer makes up a full question (was likely too predictable). 

2019: what we predicted

For your reference, this is what we predicted in 2019:

Experiments:

• Acceleration due to gravity
• Levers
• Measurement of the focal length of a mirror/ lens
• Measurement of the specific heat capacity of a liquid
• Measurement of the speed of sound in air
• Resistivity of nichrome
• Variation of resistance of thermistor with temp

Q6: gravity

Q7:  light and waves and the Doppler effect.

• Mechanics
• Nuclear physics
• Heat
• Geometrical optics
• Electromagnetism