100+ Free CAPE Physics Unit 1 Practice Questions
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Key Facts: CAPE Physics Unit 1 Exam
45 items
Paper 01 has 45 compulsory multiple-choice items, 15 per Module
CXC CAPE Physics syllabus
3 Modules
Mechanics, Oscillations and Waves, and Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Matter
CXC CAPE Physics syllabus
1 hour 30 minutes
Time allowed for CAPE Physics Unit 1 Paper 01
CXC CAPE Physics syllabus
40%
Share of the Unit 1 grade contributed by Paper 01
CXC CAPE Physics syllabus
About 150 hours
Recommended study time for Unit 1, about 50 hours per Module
CXC CAPE Physics syllabus
Grades I to VII
CXC reports an overall grade; I to V are passing grades
Caribbean Examinations Council
About USD 29.00
CAPE subject entry fee from the May/June 2026 sitting, before local charges
CXC scale of examination fees
100
Free original practice questions in this bank
OpenExamPrep
CAPE Physics Unit 1 covers Mechanics, Oscillations and Waves, and Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Matter for the Caribbean Examinations Council. Paper 01 is 45 compulsory multiple-choice items (15 per Module) in 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 40% of the Unit; Paper 02 (three structured/essay questions) is also 40% and the School-Based Assessment is 20%. There is no fixed percentage pass mark: CXC reports an overall grade from I to VII, and Grades I to V are regarded as passing. CXC allocates about 150 hours of study to the Unit and charges roughly USD 29.00 subject entry plus USD 20.25 candidate entry from the May/June 2026 sitting, before local territory charges. This 100-question bank provides original Paper 01-style multiple-choice practice with full explanations.
Sample CAPE Physics Unit 1 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your CAPE Physics Unit 1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Which of the following is an SI base quantity?
2The unit of force, the newton, expressed in SI base units, is:
3Which pair contains only vector quantities?
4A car accelerates uniformly from rest to 20 m s^-1 in 8.0 s. What is its acceleration?
5A ball is dropped from rest and falls freely for 3.0 s. Taking g = 9.81 m s^-2 and ignoring air resistance, how far does it fall?
6A projectile is launched at 30 m s^-1 at 60 degrees above the horizontal. What is the horizontal component of its initial velocity? (cos 60 = 0.50)
7For a projectile launched over level ground (ignoring air resistance), at the highest point of its path:
8Newton's first law of motion states that a body will:
9A net force of 12 N acts on a 4.0 kg mass. What is the resulting acceleration?
10Newton's second law in its most general form states that the resultant force on a body equals:
About the CAPE Physics Unit 1 Exam
CAPE Physics Unit 1 is the first of two Units in the Caribbean Examinations Council's Advanced Proficiency physics programme, covering Mechanics (Module 1), Oscillations and Waves (Module 2), and Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Matter (Module 3). It is assessed by Paper 01, which has 45 compulsory multiple-choice items split evenly across the three Modules; Paper 02, which has three compulsory structured and extended-response questions; and a School-Based Assessment of laboratory skills (Paper 032 for private candidates). Each Module is allocated about 50 hours of study, roughly 150 hours for the Unit, usually over one academic year. Candidates use SI units throughout and may use silent, non-programmable calculators. This 100-question bank gives original multiple-choice practice modelled on the Paper 01 style and the published syllabus content.
Assessment
Paper 01: 45 multiple-choice items (15 from each of the three Modules), 40%. Paper 02: three compulsory structured/essay questions, one per Module, 40%. School-Based Assessment of practical skills (or Paper 032 for private candidates), 20%.
Time Limit
Paper 01 is 1 hour 30 minutes; Paper 02 is 2 hours 30 minutes. Paper 032 (private candidates) is 2 hours.
Passing Score
No single percentage pass mark. CXC issues an overall grade from I (highest) to VII based on the weighted total of Paper 01, Paper 02 and the SBA. Grades I to V are treated as passing (acceptable) grades.
Exam Fee
CXC charges approximately USD 29.00 CAPE subject entry plus USD 20.25 CAPE candidate entry from the May/June 2026 sitting; the final amount varies by territory because Local Registrars add local administrative charges. (Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC))
CAPE Physics Unit 1 Exam Content Outline
Module 1: Mechanics
Physical quantities, SI base and derived units, dimensional analysis, and uncertainties; scalars and vectors; kinematics including equations of motion and projectiles; Newton's three laws, linear momentum and impulse; equilibrium of forces, moments and couples; work, energy, power and conservation of energy; and circular motion and Newton's law of gravitation.
Module 2: Oscillations and Waves
Simple harmonic motion, its equations and energy interchange; free, damped and forced oscillations and resonance; progressive and stationary waves; the relationship v = f lambda; transverse and longitudinal waves; the electromagnetic spectrum; the principle of superposition, interference, diffraction, the diffraction grating and polarisation; and ray optics covering reflection, refraction, total internal reflection and lenses.
Module 3: Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Matter
Temperature scales and thermometers; the ideal gas equation and kinetic theory of gases; internal energy, heat capacity, specific heat capacity and specific latent heat; the first law of thermodynamics; conduction, convection and radiation; and the mechanical properties of matter including density, pressure, Hooke's law, stress, strain, the Young modulus and the behaviour of solids and fluids.
How to Pass the CAPE Physics Unit 1 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No single percentage pass mark. CXC issues an overall grade from I (highest) to VII based on the weighted total of Paper 01, Paper 02 and the SBA. Grades I to V are treated as passing (acceptable) grades.
- Assessment: Paper 01: 45 multiple-choice items (15 from each of the three Modules), 40%. Paper 02: three compulsory structured/essay questions, one per Module, 40%. School-Based Assessment of practical skills (or Paper 032 for private candidates), 20%.
- Time limit: Paper 01 is 1 hour 30 minutes; Paper 02 is 2 hours 30 minutes. Paper 032 (private candidates) is 2 hours.
- Exam fee: CXC charges approximately USD 29.00 CAPE subject entry plus USD 20.25 CAPE candidate entry from the May/June 2026 sitting; the final amount varies by territory because Local Registrars add local administrative charges.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
CAPE Physics Unit 1 Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on CAPE Physics Unit 1 Paper 01?
Paper 01 has 45 compulsory multiple-choice items, 15 drawn from each of the three Modules. It lasts 1 hour 30 minutes and is worth 40% of the Unit 1 assessment.
What are the three Modules of CAPE Physics Unit 1?
Module 1 is Mechanics, Module 2 is Oscillations and Waves, and Module 3 is Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Matter. Each Module is allocated about 50 hours of study.
How is CAPE Physics Unit 1 assessed overall?
Paper 01 (45 multiple-choice items) is 40%, Paper 02 (three compulsory structured/essay questions, one per Module) is 40%, and the School-Based Assessment of practical skills is 20%. Private candidates sit Paper 032 instead of the SBA.
Is there a pass mark for CAPE Physics Unit 1?
There is no single percentage pass mark. CXC reports an overall grade from I (highest) to VII based on the weighted total of all components, and Grades I to V are treated as passing (acceptable) grades.
Can I use a calculator in the CAPE Physics exam?
Yes. Candidates may use silent, non-programmable calculators and must provide their own. SI units are used on all examination papers, so you should be comfortable converting and manipulating SI quantities.
Are these official CXC practice questions?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the CAPE Physics Unit 1 syllabus and Paper 01 multiple-choice style. CXC publishes its own syllabus, specimen papers and past papers separately.