Are these Year 12 HSC Physics practice exams free?

Yes. All 18 practice exams here are free, with no plan, trial or card. You can try a question on this page and practise by topic without an account; a free account keeps your results.

Are these the real HSC papers?

No. ExamUp is independent and is not connected with NESA (the NSW Education Standards Authority). Every question is written new in the style of the real HSC papers. Links to the official past papers are on our Past papers page.

What topics do the questions cover?

Most often: Gravitational fields and orbital motion, Light as a particle: the photoelectric effect and quantum physics, Nuclear physics, radioactive decay and nuclear reactions, Generators, motors and transformers, Special relativity. That is from the questions in these practice exams.

How are the answers marked?

Multiple-choice and short answers are marked the moment you finish, each with an explanation. Longer written answers are marked by the ExamUp team against a marking guide.

Free Year 12 HSC Physics practice exams

18 free practice exams in the style of the real HSC test, each about 41 questions in 180 minutes, plus 5 minutes reading time, in 2 sections, calculator allowed.

954 free practice exams.

Practise Year 12 Physics now

The practice exams

HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 1 (41 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 2 (41 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 3 (41 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 4 (42 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 5 (42 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 6 (41 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 7 (40 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 8 (39 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 9 (39 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 10 (41 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 11 (42 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 12 (43 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 13 (42 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 14 (43 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 15 (43 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 16 (41 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 17 (40 questions, 180 minutes)
HSC Physics (Year 12) · Practice exam 18 (39 questions, 180 minutes)

Try a question

A laboratory heats a metal sample using an alternating magnetic field. Which combination is most suitable for heating the sample by induced eddy currents?

An electrical insulator and a low-frequency magnetic field
An electrical conductor and a high-frequency magnetic field
An electrical insulator and a high-frequency magnetic field
An electrical conductor and a steady magnetic field

Answer

B. An electrical conductor and a high-frequency magnetic field. The sample must be a conductor so induced currents can flow. A high-frequency magnetic field changes rapidly, producing effective induction heating.

What the real test covers

The Higher School Certificate is the Year 12 qualification in New South Wales, awarded by NESA. The written HSC exams are held in October and November.

Each practice exam: about 41 questions in 180 minutes, plus 5 minutes reading time, in 2 sections, calculator allowed.

Kinds of question: 49% multiple choice, 16% short answer, 35% longer written answers.

Topics in these practice exams

Gravitational fields and orbital motion (8%)
Light as a particle: the photoelectric effect and quantum physics (8%)
Nuclear physics, radioactive decay and nuclear reactions (7%)
Generators, motors and transformers (7%)
Special relativity (6%)
Kepler's laws, satellite motion and escape velocity (6%)
Stellar spectra, luminosity and stellar evolution (5%)
Particles, quarks and the Standard Model (5%)

How to prepare with ExamUp

Warm up by topic. Do 10 Physics questions at a time in Quick practice: each answer is checked straight away, with no timer and no sign-up.
Sit one whole paper. Do a full practice exam in one go, timed like the real HSC paper, so the day itself holds no surprises.
Fix what you missed. Your results show where the marks went, topic by topic. Practise just the questions you got wrong, with an explanation for each.
Go again a week later. Do another paper and compare. A free account keeps every result, and a parent can follow along live.

Quick questions

Are these Year 12 HSC Physics practice exams free?: Yes. All 18 practice exams here are free, with no plan, trial or card. You can try a question on this page and practise by topic without an account; a free account keeps your results.
How long is each practice exam?: Each one is about 41 questions in 180 minutes, plus 5 minutes reading time, in 2 sections, calculator allowed.
Are these the real HSC papers?: No. ExamUp is independent and is not connected with NESA (the NSW Education Standards Authority). Every question is written new in the style of the real HSC papers. Links to the official past papers are on our Past papers page.
What topics do the questions cover?: Most often: Gravitational fields and orbital motion, Light as a particle: the photoelectric effect and quantum physics, Nuclear physics, radioactive decay and nuclear reactions, Generators, motors and transformers, Special relativity. That is from the questions in these practice exams.
How are the answers marked?: Multiple-choice and short answers are marked the moment you finish, each with an explanation. Longer written answers are marked by the ExamUp team against a marking guide.

More practice

All HSC practice · Every exam · Official past papers