Form four Physics necta examination format
NECTA EXAMINATION FORMAT
PHYSICS
(For Both School and Private Candidates)
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This examination format is a revised
version of the 2008 format issued by
the National Examinations Council of
Tanzania (NECTA). The format is
based on the 2010 syllabus. The revised
format emphasises on the
assessment of candidates’ competences in
higher order thinking skills. The
improvements made in the format, however,
do not affect the examination
content, which remains unchanged.
2.0 GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The examination will assess the extent to
which the candidates are able to:
2.1 develop knowledge
on concepts, laws, theories and principles of
Physics;
2.2 apply procedures
of scientific investigation;
2.3 use scientific
principles on conservation and sustainable use of the
environment;
2.4 promote
manipulative skills to manage various technological
appliances; and
2.5 develop the
language of communication in Physics.
3.0 GENERAL COMPETENCES
The examination will assess the
candidates’ ability to:
3.1 apply Physics
knowledge, principles and concepts in daily life;
3.2 apply scientific
methods in solving problems in daily life;
3.3 apply
technological skills in conservation and sustainable use of the
environment;
3.4 manage simple
technological appliances; and
3.5 use
the language of Physics in communication.
4.0 EXAMINATION RUBRIC
The examination will consist of two
papers. Paper 1 (031/1 Physics 1
Theory Paper) and Paper 2 (031/2 Physics 2
Practical Paper).
4.1 031/1 Physics 1
This examination paper will be for three
(3) hours. It will consist of
three sections: A, B and C with a total of
11 questions. Candidates will
be required to answer a total of 10 questions
which will weigh 100
marks.
Section A will
consist of two (2) questions with question 1 being a
multiple choice question with 10 items.
Question 2 will be matching
items with five (5) items. Each
item in both the multiple choice and
matching items questions will weigh one
(1) mark, making a total of
15 marks in this section.
Candidates will be required to answer all the
questions.
Section B will
consist of six (6) short answer questions each carrying
10 marks. Candidates will be
required to answer all the questions. This
section will weigh a total of 60 marks.
Section C will
consist of three (3) short answer questions aimed to
assess the candidates’ skills in managing
the application of Physics
and other simple technological appliances
in everyday life. The
candidates will be required to answer two
(2) questions from this
section. Each question will carry 12.5 marks,
making a total of 25
marks in this section.
4.2 031/2 Physics 2
This paper will be either the Actual
Practical or Alternative to the
Practical. Three equivalent alternatives
of the actual practical papers
(031/2A Physics 2A, 031/2B Physics 2B and
031/2C Physics 2C) will
be set. Only one alternative to practical
(031/2 Physics 2) will be set.
Candidates will be required to sit for
either actual practical or
alternative to practical paper. The Actual
Practical paper will be for 2½ hours. The paper will
consist of two (2) questions and
candidates will be required to answer
all the questions.
Question 1 will be from the Mechanics topics and
question 2 will be either from Heat,
Light, Waves or Electricity
topics. Each question will carry 25 marks,
hence a total of 50 marks.
The Alternative to Practical paper will be
of 2½ hours. The paper will
consist of five (5) questions.
Candidates will be required to answer all
the questions. Each question will carry 10
marks, making a total of 50
marks. This paper will cover various
topics as outlined in sub-section
5.3.
Note
(i) The actual practical paper will have
more than one alternative
paper, which will be sent to schools
depending on the number
of candidates. Alternative A will be sent
to schools with up to
100 candidates,
alternatives A and B to schools with
candidates not exceeding 200 and
alternatives A, B and C to
schools with more than 200 candidates.
(ii) A check-list of apparatuses,
equipment and materials required
for the examination will be sent to the
schools not less than
three months before the date of sitting
for this paper.
However, 24 hours advance instructions will
be dispatched
in advance to be opened 24 hours for
laboratory arrangements
before the time of beginning the
examinations.
(iii) When answering the questions in both
theory and practical
papers, candidates will be allowed to use
non-programmable
calculators.
5.0 EXAMINATION CONTENT
5.1 031/1 Physics 1 (Theory)
5.1.1 Introduction to Physics
5.1.2 Introduction to laboratory practice
5.1.3 Measurement
5.1.4 Force
5.1.5 Archimedes’ Principle and Law of
Floatation
5.1.6 Structure and properties of matter
5.1.7 Pressure
5.1.8 Work, Energy and Power
5.1.9 Light
5.1.10 Static electricity
5.1.11 Current electricity
5.1.12 Magnetism
5.1.13 Forces in equilibrium
5.1.14 Simple machines
5.1.15 Motion in a straight line
5.1.16 Newton’s Laws of Motion
5.1.17 Temperature
5.1.18 Sustainable energy sources
5.1.19 Application of vectors
5.1.20 Friction
5.1.21 Optical instruments
5.1.22 Thermal expansion
5.1.23 Transfer of thermal energy
5.1.24 Measurement of thermal energy
5.1.25 Vapour and humidity
5.1.26 Waves
5.1.27 Electromagnetism
5.1.28 Radioactivity
5.1.29 Thermionic emission
5.1.30 Electronics
5.1.31 Elementary astronomy
5.1.32 Geophysics
5.2 031/2 Physics 2 (Actual Practical)
5.2.1 Mechanics
5.2.2 Heat
5.2.3 Light
5.2.4 Waves
5.2.5 Electricity
5.3 031/2 Physics 2 (Alternative to
Practical)
5.3.1 Mechanics
5.3.2 Heat
5.3.3 Light
5.3.4 Waves
5.3.5 Electricity
5.3.6 Magnetism
5.3.7 Electronics
5.3.8 Radioactivity
