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Exam Review

Key Facts: BY Abitur Astrophysics Exam

255 minutes / 90 BE

Working time and Bewertungseinheiten for the written Physik Abitur at gA, including gA Astro

ISB Erläuterungen, Illustrierende Prüfungsaufgaben Physik ab 2026

4 offered → 3 completed

Task selection rule in each Aufgabenheft (gA, gA Astro, eA); examinee chooses

ISB Erläuterungen, Illustrierende Prüfungsaufgaben Physik ab 2026

≥ 50%

Minimum share of presented tasks drawn from the cross-state (länderübergreifend) Abitur task pool

ISB Erläuterungen, Illustrierende Prüfungsaufgaben Physik ab 2026

Jgst. 13 alternative

Astrophysik is the Lehrplanalternative of the Fach Physik in Jahrgangsstufe 13 (LehrplanPLUS Gymnasium); gA Astro requires that Biophysik was not taken in Jgst. 12

LehrplanPLUS Gymnasium Physik Jgst. 13 (grundlegend-astro); ISB Erläuterungen

300 of 900 points

Minimum Gesamtqualifikation for the Allgemeine Hochschulreife (up to 600 coursework + up to 300 exam points)

KM Bayern, Abiturprüfung 2026 overview

First G9 Abitur 2026

2026 is the first Abitur cohort of the nine-year Gymnasium; written exams run April–June 2026, with remaining gA subjects on 11 May 2026

KM Bayern, Abiturprüfung 2026 overview

100

Original local English MCQ study items in this bank (not official format)

OpenExamPrep

Bavaria's written Abitur for Astrophysik students is the Physik 'gA Astro' booklet: 4 constructed-response tasks offered, 3 completed, 255 minutes for 90 BE, German-medium—not MCQ. Content follows the LehrplanPLUS Jgst. 13 blocks: sky orientation, solar system and Kepler mechanics, the Sun, stars and stellar evolution, galaxies and cosmology. This free English MCQ bank is a study adaptation only.

Sample BY Abitur Astrophysics Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the BY Abitur Astrophysics exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What does Kepler's first law state about the shape of planetary orbits and the position of the Sun?
A.Planets move on ellipses with the Sun at one focus of the ellipse
B.Planets move on perfect circles with the Sun at the center
C.Planets move on ellipses with the Sun at the center of the ellipse
D.Planets move on small epicycles whose centers circle the Sun
Explanation: Kepler's first law, derived from Tycho Brahe's precise observations of Mars, states that each planet moves on an ellipse with the Sun located at one of its two foci. This replaced the ancient assumption of perfect circular motion. The empty second focus has no physical object at it.
2According to Kepler's second law (the area law), when does a planet move fastest along its orbit?
A.At aphelion, when it is farthest from the Sun
B.At perihelion, when it is closest to the Sun
C.Its speed is constant everywhere on the orbit
D.When it crosses the line of the equinoxes
Explanation: Kepler's second law says the line connecting the planet to the Sun sweeps out equal areas in equal times. To keep the swept area constant, the planet must travel faster when it is near the Sun (perihelion) and slower when it is far away (aphelion). This reflects conservation of angular momentum in Newtonian terms.
3Using Kepler's third law in the form T^2 = a^3 (with T in years and a in astronomical units): a newly discovered minor planet orbits the Sun with a semimajor axis of 4 AU. What is its orbital period?
A.2 years
B.4 years
C.8 years
D.16 years
Explanation: With T^2 = a^3, inserting a = 4 AU gives T^2 = 4^3 = 64, so T = 8 years. The trick is to cube the semimajor axis first and then take the square root, not the other way round. This form of Kepler's third law is normalized so that Earth (a = 1 AU, T = 1 yr) satisfies it exactly.
4Which proportionality correctly expresses Kepler's third law for bodies orbiting the same central mass?
A.The orbital period is proportional to the square of the semimajor axis
B.The square of the orbital period is proportional to the cube of the semimajor axis
C.The orbital period is proportional to the cube of the semimajor axis
D.The cube of the orbital period is proportional to the square of the semimajor axis
Explanation: Kepler's third law states T^2 ∝ a^3: the squares of the orbital periods are proportional to the cubes of the semimajor axes. Newton later showed that the constant of proportionality contains the total mass of the system, which makes the law a tool for weighing stars and planets. The powers are frequently swapped in wrong answers, so check the direction carefully.
5An asteroid orbits the Sun with a period of 27 years. Using T^2 = a^3 (T in years, a in AU), what is the semimajor axis of its orbit?
A.3 AU
B.9 AU
C.18 AU
D.81 AU
Explanation: From T^2 = a^3 we get a = T^(2/3). With T = 27 years, a = 27^(2/3) = (cube root of 27)^2 = 3^2 = 9 AU. Taking the cube root first keeps the numbers small and is the recommended order of operations.
6Two planets orbit the same star. Planet B has an orbital period 8 times longer than planet A. How do their semimajor axes compare?
A.Planet B's semimajor axis is 2 times larger
B.Planet B's semimajor axis is 4 times larger
C.Planet B's semimajor axis is 8 times larger
D.Planet B's semimajor axis is 64 times larger
Explanation: Kepler's third law gives a ∝ T^(2/3). For T_B = 8·T_A, the ratio of semimajor axes is 8^(2/3) = (cube root of 8)^2 = 2^2 = 4. So planet B orbits 4 times farther out. This kind of ratio reasoning, working without any absolute values, is a standard Abitur skill in the Astrophysik course.
7Astronomers determine the mass of Jupiter by observing the orbital period and orbital radius of one of its moons. Which physical insight makes this possible?
A.The moon's brightness depends on Jupiter's mass and can be measured photometrically
B.Newton's form of Kepler's third law links the central mass directly to a^3/T^2 of the orbiting moon
C.Jupiter's mass can be read off from the moon's surface composition via spectroscopy
D.The moon's parallax against Jupiter's cloud tops yields the mass geometrically
Explanation: Newton generalized Kepler's third law to M_total = 4π^2·a^3/(G·T^2). Measuring a moon's orbital radius a and period T therefore yields the mass of the central body. This is the standard method for 'weighing' planets, stars in binary systems, and even galaxy centers.
8Estimate Earth's orbital speed around the Sun, treating the orbit as circular with radius 1.5×10^11 m and period 3.16×10^7 s.
A.About 3 km/s
B.About 30 km/s
C.About 300 km/s
D.About 3,000 km/s
Explanation: For a circular orbit v = 2πr/T = 2π·(1.5×10^11 m)/(3.16×10^7 s) ≈ 3.0×10^4 m/s = 30 km/s. Order-of-magnitude estimates like this are typical of the Astrophysik course, which explicitly trains approximate reasoning with simplified assumptions.
9Two small bodies attract each other gravitationally. If the distance between their centers is doubled while their masses stay the same, what happens to the gravitational force between them?
A.It halves
B.It drops to one quarter
C.It stays the same
D.It doubles
Explanation: Newton's law of gravitation F = G·m1·m2/r^2 is an inverse-square law. Doubling r multiplies the denominator by 4, so the force falls to one quarter of its original value. The same inverse-square geometry also governs light flux, which is why it appears repeatedly in astrophysics.
10Why do astronauts on the International Space Station experience weightlessness?
A.Because Earth's gravity is essentially zero at the station's altitude
B.Because the station's engines permanently cancel Earth's gravitational pull
C.Because the station and the astronauts are in continuous free fall around Earth, falling together
D.Because the station is balanced exactly between the gravitational pulls of Earth and Moon
Explanation: Earth's gravity at the ISS's altitude is still about 90% of its surface value. The astronauts feel weightless because they and the station fall freely around Earth with the same acceleration; there is no support force pressing them against anything. Orbit is best pictured as perpetual falling while moving sideways fast enough to keep missing Earth.

About the BY Abitur Astrophysics Exam

Astrophysik at the Bavarian Gymnasium is the Lehrplanalternative of the Fach Physik in Jahrgangsstufe 13 of the Qualifikationsphase (LehrplanPLUS), and 2026 is the first Abitur cohort of the nine-year Gymnasium (G9). Students who chose this alternative sit the written Abitur in the 'gA Astro' Aufgabenheft at grundlegendem Anforderungsniveau: four constructed-response tasks are offered, three are completed by candidate choice, and 90 Bewertungseinheiten can be earned in 255 minutes, with subject materials provided in a separate booklet. The curriculum moves from Orientierung am Himmel (coordinates, apparent motions, seasons) through the solar system and celestial mechanics (Kepler's laws, gravitation, spaceflight, exoplanets), the Sun (fusion, structure, activity, spectroscopy), stars (magnitudes, parallax, spectral classes, the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, stellar evolution), to Großstrukturen im Weltall (Milky Way, galaxies, Hubble's law, Big Bang cosmology, dark matter and dark energy, gravitational waves). The ISB's illustrierende Prüfungsaufgaben for gA Astro include the tasks 'Induktionsschleifen im Straßenverkehr', 'Exoplaneten' (CoRoT-7 system) and 'Das Galaxientrio Holm 820' (gravitational waves). This free bank offers 100 original English MCQs—including worked Kepler, parallax, luminosity, Doppler and Hubble calculations—for concept practice only; it is not an official translation, not a format simulation, and cannot replace German-language constructed-response or oral (Kolloquium) preparation.

Exam sponsor: Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Unterricht und Kultus (KM Bayern); the Staatsinstitut für Schulqualität und Bildungsforschung (ISB) publishes the LehrplanPLUS guidance and illustrierende Prüfungsaufgaben. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

The written Abitur in the Fach Physik is issued in three Aufgabenheft versions: gA, gA Astro (for students of the Lehrplanalternative Astrophysik in Jahrgangsstufe 13, available only if the Biophysik alternative was not taken in Jahrgangsstufe 12), and eA. In the gA Astro booklet, four tasks are presented and the examinee completes three of them by choice; 90 Bewertungseinheiten can be earned in 255 minutes. Task emphases span the content areas of the physics course plus Astrophysik, and every valid selection covers at least two content areas and all four Kompetenzbereiche (Modelle und Experimente nutzen, Erkenntnisse gewinnen, Kommunizieren, Bewerten). At least 50% of presented tasks come from a cross-state Abitur task pool; practical laboratory parts and MMS tasks do not occur in Bavaria. This OpenExamPrep bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation—not an official translation or format simulation—and cannot replace German-language constructed-response practice.

Time Limit

255 minutes working time for 90 BE at gA (including gA Astro), per the ISB Erläuterungen to the illustrierenden Prüfungsaufgaben (Abitur ab 2026). In 2026 the written gA examinations in subjects other than the named core subjects were scheduled for 11 May 2026 within the April–June written-exam window (KM Bayern Abitur 2026 overview).

Passing Score

Each Prüfungsfach examination is scored in Notenpunkte (0–15). Overall, Qualifikationsphase coursework contributes up to 600 of 900 points and the Abitur examinations up to 300; the Allgemeine Hochschulreife requires a Gesamtqualifikation of at least 300 of 900 points.

Exam / Certification Fees

No per-subject exam fee is published for regular school candidates; the Abitur runs through the public education pathway in Bavaria.

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

20%

Stars and Stellar Evolution

Magnitudes, parallax, spectral classes, Wien and Stefan–Boltzmann laws, the HRD, star formation, lifetimes, and endpoints (white dwarfs, supernovae, neutron stars, black holes)—the largest curriculum emphasis together with the Sun.

16%

Celestial Mechanics and Gravitation

Kepler's three laws, Newtonian gravitation, orbital and escape velocities, satellites and interplanetary transfer, with ratio-based and numerical calculations.

14%

Solar System and Exoplanets

Solar-system structure and formation, comets, tides and tidal locking, and exoplanet detection by transit, radial velocity and direct imaging, including quantitative transit-depth and orbit calculations.

14%

Galaxies and Cosmology

Milky Way, galaxy redshifts, Hubble's law with calculations, Big Bang evidence, dark matter and dark energy, gravitational waves, and look-back time.

12%

The Sun

Proton-proton fusion and mass-energy conversion, solar structure and energy transport, sunspots and the activity cycle, Fraunhofer spectroscopy, helioseismology and neutrinos.

10%

Spherical Astronomy

Coordinate systems, circumpolar stars, seasons, ecliptic, retrograde motion, sidereal versus solar day, and synodic-period calculations.

8%

Observation and Telescopes

Aperture, light grasp and diffraction, atmospheric windows, space telescopes, interferometry and adaptive optics.

6%

Exam Literacy

Booklet versions, working time and Bewertungseinheiten, task selection rules, the cross-state pool share, Kompetenzbereiche, and excluded components.

Preparing for the BY Abitur Astrophysics Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Each Prüfungsfach examination is scored in Notenpunkte (0–15). Overall, Qualifikationsphase coursework contributes up to 600 of 900 points and the Abitur examinations up to 300; the Allgemeine Hochschulreife requires a Gesamtqualifikation of at least 300 of 900 points.
  • Assessment: The written Abitur in the Fach Physik is issued in three Aufgabenheft versions: gA, gA Astro (for students of the Lehrplanalternative Astrophysik in Jahrgangsstufe 13, available only if the Biophysik alternative was not taken in Jahrgangsstufe 12), and eA. In the gA Astro booklet, four tasks are presented and the examinee completes three of them by choice; 90 Bewertungseinheiten can be earned in 255 minutes. Task emphases span the content areas of the physics course plus Astrophysik, and every valid selection covers at least two content areas and all four Kompetenzbereiche (Modelle und Experimente nutzen, Erkenntnisse gewinnen, Kommunizieren, Bewerten). At least 50% of presented tasks come from a cross-state Abitur task pool; practical laboratory parts and MMS tasks do not occur in Bavaria. This OpenExamPrep bank is an English-language MCQ study adaptation—not an official translation or format simulation—and cannot replace German-language constructed-response practice.
  • Time limit: 255 minutes working time for 90 BE at gA (including gA Astro), per the ISB Erläuterungen to the illustrierenden Prüfungsaufgaben (Abitur ab 2026). In 2026 the written gA examinations in subjects other than the named core subjects were scheduled for 11 May 2026 within the April–June written-exam window (KM Bayern Abitur 2026 overview).
  • Exam / certification fees: No per-subject exam fee is published for regular school candidates; the Abitur runs through the public education pathway in Bavaria. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

BY Abitur Astrophysics: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master ratio reasoning: Kepler's third law, inverse-square flux, and L ∝ R^2·T^4 appear as quick proportionality calculations—practice deriving factors like 8^(2/3) = 4 without a calculator.
2Drill the core calculation set: T^2 = a^3 in years/AU, d = 1/p with parsecs and arcseconds, v = c·Δλ/λ, v = H0·d, and Wien's law λ_max·T = 2.9×10^−3 m·K.
3Learn the HRD as a map, not a picture: know where main-sequence stars, red giants and white dwarfs sit and what movement between regions means physically.
4Connect spectra to physics: absorption versus emission line formation, why line patterns diagnose temperature along the O–M sequence, and how Doppler shifts power both radial-velocity exoplanet detection and Hubble's law.
5For cosmology, argue from evidence: link each claim (expansion, Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy) to its key observation (Hubble's law, the 2.7 K background, flat rotation curves, faint distant supernovae).
6Rehearse the official format too: work the ISB illustrierende Prüfungsaufgaben for gA Astro in German under the 255-minute frame, because this MCQ bank trains concepts but not constructed-response technique.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the official Bavarian Astrophysik Abitur a multiple-choice test?

No. The official exam is the German-medium, constructed-response written Abitur in the Fach Physik with the 'gA Astro' Aufgabenheft: four multi-part tasks are offered and three are completed, with materials in a separate booklet. This bank is a free English-language MCQ study adaptation only—not an official translation, not a format simulation, and not a substitute for official writing or oral (Kolloquium) practice.

Is 'Astrophysik' a separate Abitur subject in Bavaria?

Not formally. Astrophysik is the Lehrplanalternative of the Fach Physik in Jahrgangsstufe 13 (LehrplanPLUS). Students who take it receive the dedicated 'gA Astro' booklet in the written Physik Abitur at grundlegendem Anforderungsniveau, alongside the regular gA and eA versions. Choosing gA Astro presupposes that the Biophysik alternative was not taken in Jahrgangsstufe 12.

How long is the written exam and how is it scored?

According to the ISB Erläuterungen to the illustrierenden Prüfungsaufgaben (Abitur ab 2026), the gA working time is 255 minutes for 90 Bewertungseinheiten. Results are converted to Notenpunkte; overall, the Allgemeine Hochschulreife requires at least 300 of 900 points across coursework (up to 600) and the Abitur examinations (up to 300).

Where do the exam tasks come from?

The ISB states that at least 50% of the presented tasks come from a cross-state (länderübergreifend) Abitur task pool for Physik, with the remainder state-specific; all tasks are based on LehrplanPLUS and the Bildungsstandards. Every possible three-task selection covers at least two content areas and all four Kompetenzbereiche.

Which Astrophysik topics carry the most weight in the curriculum?

The five blocks of the Lehrplanalternative are Orientierung am Himmel, Unser Sonnensystem, Die Sonne, Sterne, and Großstrukturen im Weltall. The Sun and Stars blocks carry the largest teaching-hour allocations in the curriculum's predecessor reference (about 17 and 18 of roughly 63 hours), so stellar physics, the HRD and solar fusion deserve the deepest revision.

Who administers the exam and where can I find official materials?

The administrator is the Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Unterricht und Kultus (KM Bayern), which publishes the Abitur 2026 dates and framework. The Staatsinstitut für Schulqualität und Bildungsforschung (ISB) publishes the LehrplanPLUS curriculum pages and the illustrierenden Prüfungsaufgaben, including the gA Astro example tasks 'Induktionsschleifen im Straßenverkehr', 'Exoplaneten' and 'Das Galaxientrio Holm 820'.