Free Practice Questions for Estonian Basic-School Physics Exam

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Exam Review

Key Facts: Estonian Basic-School Physics Exam Exam

75 points / 120 minutes / 4 domains

Single written paper spanning optics, mechanics, electricity and heat, with mechanics and electricity weighted heaviest

Harno-aligned exam specification summary (Füüsika põhikooli valikeksam)

~50% analysis/synthesis-level tasks

Roughly half the paper tests analysis and synthesis; the remainder tests recall, understanding and routine application

Harno-aligned exam specification summary (Füüsika põhikooli valikeksam)

Grades 5/4/3 = 90-100% / 75-89% / 50-74%

Percentage-to-grade conversion on Estonia's standard basic-school assessment scale, with an allowance to 35% for a grade 3 in documented cases of learning difficulty

Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium, tasemetööde ning põhikooli ja gümnaasiumi lõpueksamite hindamise tingimused ja kord

1 of 9 valikeksam options

Füüsika is an elective, chosen instead of Vene keel ja kirjandus, Bioloogia, Keemia, Geograafia, Ajalugu, Ühiskonnaõpetus, Inglise keel (B1) or Vene keel võõrkeelena (B1)

Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno), Põhikooli valikeksam

6 May 2026

2025/2026 exam date for the Füüsika valikeksam, within the 6-8 May 2026 valikeksam window

Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium, EKSAMITE KALENDER 2026 / Harno

Free 100-question MCQ study bank for Estonia's põhikooli füüsika valikeksam (Grade 9 elective), covering the Grade 8-9 (III kooliaste) physics curriculum: mechanics, electricity, heat/thermal physics, optics, magnetism, and nuclear/atomic physics. Official exam: single 120-minute written paper, 75 points across four domains (optics, mechanics, electricity, heat), with mechanics and electricity weighted heaviest and roughly half the paper at analysis/synthesis level, scheduled 6 May 2026. Scores convert to Estonia's 5-point grading scale (5 = 90-100%, 4 = 75-89%, 3/pass = 50-74%, with a documented allowance to 35% for recognized learning difficulties). Ordinary non-programmable calculator and a curriculum-standard formula sheet allowed; no textbooks. Füüsika is one of nine valikeksam electives (not compulsory like Matemaatika), chosen alongside the required Estonian-language and mathematics exams. No fee, since basic education is free. Not an official-format simulation - the real exam requires full written, partial-credit solutions.

Sample Estonian Basic-School Physics Exam Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the Estonian Basic-School Physics Exam exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A block of material has a mass of 540 g and a volume of 200 cm³. What is its density?

A.2.7 g/cm³

B.0.37 g/cm³

C.27 g/cm³

D.1.35 g/cm³

Explanation: Density is mass divided by volume: ρ = m/V = 540 g ÷ 200 cm³ = 2.7 g/cm³. This tells us how much mass is packed into each cubic centimeter of the block.

2A car travels at a constant speed of 72 km/h. What is this speed expressed in meters per second?

A.20 m/s

B.7.2 m/s

C.259.2 m/s

D.36 m/s

Explanation: To convert km/h to m/s, divide by 3.6 (since 1000 m/3600 s = 1/3.6). So 72 km/h ÷ 3.6 = 20 m/s.

3What is the weight of a 5 kg object at Earth's surface? (Use g = 10 N/kg.)

A.50 N

B.0.5 N

C.15 N

D.500 N

Explanation: Weight is the force of gravity acting on an object: F = mg = 5 kg × 10 N/kg = 50 N.

4A vibrating object completes 4 full oscillations every second. What is the period of its oscillation?

A.0.25 s

B.4 s

C.0.4 s

D.2.5 s

Explanation: Period is the reciprocal of frequency: T = 1/f = 1/4 Hz = 0.25 s.

5A cyclist covers 100 m in 20 s at a constant speed. What is the cyclist's speed?

A.5 m/s

B.20 m/s

C.2000 m/s

D.0.2 m/s

Explanation: Speed equals distance divided by time: v = s/t = 100 m ÷ 20 s = 5 m/s.

6According to the principle of interaction (Newton's third law), when object A exerts a force on object B, what force does object B exert on object A?

A.An equal-magnitude force in the opposite direction

B.A force of the same magnitude in the same direction

C.A smaller force, since object B is being pushed rather than pushing

D.No reaction force at all, since only A is doing the pushing

Explanation: Every interaction between two bodies is mutual: object B always exerts a force on A that is equal in magnitude and opposite in direction to the force A exerts on B, regardless of the masses or motion of the two objects.

7Why does an object fully submerged in water experience an upward buoyant force?

A.Because the water pressure on the bottom of the object is greater than the pressure on the top

B.Because water molecules stick to the object's surface and pull it upward

C.Because the object always weighs less inside water than in air

D.Because water pushes equally in all directions, so all the forces cancel out

Explanation: Water pressure increases with depth, so the pressure pushing up on the bottom surface of a submerged object is greater than the pressure pushing down on its top surface. This pressure difference produces a net upward force - the buoyant force - equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.

8A person holds a heavy bag completely still in the air for one minute without moving it up or down. According to the physics definition of mechanical work, how much work does the person do on the bag?

A.Zero, because the bag has no displacement

B.A large amount, because holding a heavy bag requires great effort

C.A small but nonzero amount, proportional to how long the bag is held

D.It cannot be determined without knowing the person's mass

Explanation: Mechanical work is defined as W = F·s, where s is the displacement in the direction of the force. Since the bag does not move (s = 0), no mechanical work is done on it, no matter how tiring the effort feels or how long it is held.

9A train travels 180 km in 2.5 hours at a constant speed. What is the train's average speed?

A.72 km/h

B.45 km/h

C.450 km/h

D.7.2 km/h

Explanation: Average speed equals total distance divided by total time: v = 180 km ÷ 2.5 h = 72 km/h.

10A force of 300 N is applied over a surface area of 0.5 m². What pressure does this force produce?

A.600 Pa

B.150 Pa

C.300.5 Pa

D.0.0017 Pa

Explanation: Pressure is force divided by area: p = F/S = 300 N ÷ 0.5 m² = 600 Pa.

About the Estonian Basic-School Physics Exam Exam

The Estonian Basic-School Final Examination in Physics (põhikooli füüsika valikeksam) is a national Grade 9 elective exam that Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno) administers each spring as one of nine valikeksam options - alongside Vene keel ja kirjandus, Bioloogia, Keemia, Geograafia, Ajalugu, Ühiskonnaõpetus, Inglise keel (B1) and Vene keel võõrkeelena (B1) - that a basic-school graduate may choose as their third required exam, alongside the compulsory Estonian-language exam and Matemaatika exam. The exam is a single 120-minute written paper worth 75 points, scheduled for Wednesday, 6 May 2026, spanning four subject domains: valgusõpetus (optics), mehaanika (mechanics), elektriõpetus (electricity) and soojusõpetus (heat/thermal physics), with mechanics and electricity carrying the greatest weight and roughly half the paper set at an analysis-and-synthesis cognitive level. Füüsika is taught across Grades 8-9 (III kooliaste): Grade 8 covers optics and the first half of mechanics (density, motion, oscillation, forces, pressure, buoyancy, work/energy/power, simple machines, sound), while Grade 9 covers electricity, magnetism, heat/thermal physics (including specific heat and phase-change calculations) and an introduction to nuclear energy (atomic structure, radioactivity, fission). Scores convert to Estonia's standard 5-point grading scale (90-100% = grade 5, 75-89% = grade 4, 50-74% = grade 3, the general minimum to count as completed), with a documented allowance down to 35% for candidates with recognized learning difficulties. Candidates may use an ordinary non-programmable calculator and a curriculum-standard formula sheet; outside textbooks and handbooks are banned. This free bank of 100 original multiple-choice questions is an English-language MCQ study adaptation built around genuine worked calculations - motion and speed, force and Newton's laws, work/energy/power, density and pressure, electrical circuits (Ohm's law, series/parallel resistance, electrical power and energy cost), and heat (specific heat capacity, latent heat, calorific value) - alongside conceptual questions on optics, magnetism and nuclear physics. It is not a simulation of the official exam, which requires full, partial-credit written solutions across all four domains.

Exam sponsor: Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno) - the Estonian Education and Youth Board, under the Haridus- ja Teadusministeerium (Ministry of Education and Research). The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

Official national basic-school valikeksam (elective final examination) administered once a year each spring by Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno) under the Põhikooli- ja gümnaasiumiseadus and its implementing final-examination regulation. Every Grade 9 graduate must pass an Estonian-language exam, the compulsory Matemaatika exam, and one valikeksam chosen from nine subjects; Füüsika is one of those nine options, alongside Vene keel ja kirjandus, Bioloogia, Keemia, Geograafia, Ajalugu, Ühiskonnaõpetus, Inglise keel (B1) and Vene keel võõrkeelena (B1). Füüsika is taught across Grades 8-9 (III kooliaste) under the national curriculum's loodusained subject area (Põhikooli riiklik õppekava, lisa 4). Grade 8 covers valgusõpetus (light sources, shadows, reflection, refraction, lenses and image formation) and the first half of mehaanika (density and mass, uniform/non-uniform motion and speed, oscillation, Newton's interaction principle, gravity/elastic/friction forces, pressure, buoyancy, mechanical work/power/energy and energy conservation, simple machines, and sound). Grade 9 covers elektriõpetus (electrostatic charge, current, series/parallel circuits, Ohm's law, resistance and resistivity, electrical work and power, electrical safety), magnetnähtused (magnets, Earth's magnetic field, electromagnets, motors and generators), soojusõpetus (temperature and structure of matter, conduction/convection/radiation, specific heat calculations, phase changes and latent heat, fuel calorific value), and tuumaenergia (atomic and nuclear structure, isotopes, radioactivity, fission, reactors). Permitted aids typically mirror the other põhikool lõpueksamid: an ordinary non-programmable, non-graphing calculator and a curriculum-standard füüsika valemileht (formula sheet); outside textbooks and handbooks are not permitted. This bank is a unified MCQ study adaptation covering the underlying concepts and computations across the whole Grade 8-9 physics curriculum - it does not reproduce the official exam's full written-solution, partial-credit response format.

Time Limit

120 minutes (2 hours) for the single written paper. For the 2025/2026 school year, the Füüsika valikeksam is scheduled for Wednesday, 6 May 2026, within the overall valikeksam window of 6-8 May 2026 - after the Eesti keel/Eesti keel teise keelena exam (21 April 2026) and the compulsory Matemaatika exam (29 April 2026).

Passing Score

Scored out of 75 points, then converted to Estonia's standard basic-school grading scale: 90-100% of points = grade 5 (väga hea/excellent), 75-89% = grade 4 (hea/good), and 50-74% = grade 3 (rahuldav/satisfactory) - generally the minimum for the exam to be recorded as completed toward the basic-school graduation requirement. The national tasemetööde ja lõpueksamite hindamise tingimused ja kord regulation allows the subject exam commission to award a grade 3 down to 35% of points for a candidate with recognized learning difficulties. Harno does not publish subject-by-subject candidate counts or average scores for individual valikeksam options the way it does for the compulsory Matemaatika exam; year-by-year physics-specific statistics can be queried through Harno's EIS exam-statistics system (eis.harno.ee/examstatistics).

Exam / Certification Fees

No fee. Estonian basic education is free, and Füüsika is one of nine valikeksam (elective) options that Harno administers each spring at no cost to every regularly enrolled Grade 9 student who chooses it.

Exam sponsor website

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

Official sources

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.

Study emphasis ~28%

Mechanics

Density and mass, uniform and non-uniform motion, average speed, oscillation, Newton's interaction principle, gravity/elastic/friction forces, pressure, buoyancy, mechanical work/power/energy and energy conservation, simple machines, and sound.

Study emphasis ~24%

Electricity

Electrostatic charge, electric current and circuits, series and parallel connections, Ohm's law, resistance and resistivity, electrical work and power, and electrical safety.

Study emphasis ~20%

Heat and Thermal Physics

Temperature and the structure of matter, conduction/convection/radiation, specific heat capacity calculations, phase changes and latent heat, and fuel calorific value.

Study emphasis ~14%

Optics (Light)

Light sources and propagation, shadows and eclipses, reflection, refraction, converging/diverging lenses, and image construction.

Study emphasis ~7%

Magnetism

Permanent magnets, Earth's magnetic field, electromagnets, and the working principles of electric motors and generators.

Study emphasis ~7%

Nuclear and Atomic Physics

Atomic and nuclear structure, isotopes, radioactivity, nuclear fission, reactors, and radiation safety.

Preparing for the Estonian Basic-School Physics Exam Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Scored out of 75 points, then converted to Estonia's standard basic-school grading scale: 90-100% of points = grade 5 (väga hea/excellent), 75-89% = grade 4 (hea/good), and 50-74% = grade 3 (rahuldav/satisfactory) - generally the minimum for the exam to be recorded as completed toward the basic-school graduation requirement. The national tasemetööde ja lõpueksamite hindamise tingimused ja kord regulation allows the subject exam commission to award a grade 3 down to 35% of points for a candidate with recognized learning difficulties. Harno does not publish subject-by-subject candidate counts or average scores for individual valikeksam options the way it does for the compulsory Matemaatika exam; year-by-year physics-specific statistics can be queried through Harno's EIS exam-statistics system (eis.harno.ee/examstatistics).
Assessment: Official national basic-school valikeksam (elective final examination) administered once a year each spring by Haridus- ja Noorteamet (Harno) under the Põhikooli- ja gümnaasiumiseadus and its implementing final-examination regulation. Every Grade 9 graduate must pass an Estonian-language exam, the compulsory Matemaatika exam, and one valikeksam chosen from nine subjects; Füüsika is one of those nine options, alongside Vene keel ja kirjandus, Bioloogia, Keemia, Geograafia, Ajalugu, Ühiskonnaõpetus, Inglise keel (B1) and Vene keel võõrkeelena (B1). Füüsika is taught across Grades 8-9 (III kooliaste) under the national curriculum's loodusained subject area (Põhikooli riiklik õppekava, lisa 4). Grade 8 covers valgusõpetus (light sources, shadows, reflection, refraction, lenses and image formation) and the first half of mehaanika (density and mass, uniform/non-uniform motion and speed, oscillation, Newton's interaction principle, gravity/elastic/friction forces, pressure, buoyancy, mechanical work/power/energy and energy conservation, simple machines, and sound). Grade 9 covers elektriõpetus (electrostatic charge, current, series/parallel circuits, Ohm's law, resistance and resistivity, electrical work and power, electrical safety), magnetnähtused (magnets, Earth's magnetic field, electromagnets, motors and generators), soojusõpetus (temperature and structure of matter, conduction/convection/radiation, specific heat calculations, phase changes and latent heat, fuel calorific value), and tuumaenergia (atomic and nuclear structure, isotopes, radioactivity, fission, reactors). Permitted aids typically mirror the other põhikool lõpueksamid: an ordinary non-programmable, non-graphing calculator and a curriculum-standard füüsika valemileht (formula sheet); outside textbooks and handbooks are not permitted. This bank is a unified MCQ study adaptation covering the underlying concepts and computations across the whole Grade 8-9 physics curriculum - it does not reproduce the official exam's full written-solution, partial-credit response format.
Time limit: 120 minutes (2 hours) for the single written paper. For the 2025/2026 school year, the Füüsika valikeksam is scheduled for Wednesday, 6 May 2026, within the overall valikeksam window of 6-8 May 2026 - after the Eesti keel/Eesti keel teise keelena exam (21 April 2026) and the compulsory Matemaatika exam (29 April 2026).
Exam / certification fees: No fee. Estonian basic education is free, and Füüsika is one of nine valikeksam (elective) options that Harno administers each spring at no cost to every regularly enrolled Grade 9 student who chooses it. Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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Estonian Basic-School Physics Exam: Suggested Study Strategy

1Practise full worked solutions with intermediate steps shown, not just final answers, since the real exam awards partial credit at each step and roughly half the paper is set at an analysis-and-synthesis level.

2Master the core formulas for density, motion (speed and average speed), force, pressure, and mechanical work/power/energy, since mechanics is the single most heavily weighted domain on the exam.

3Drill Ohm's law and series/parallel circuit calculations until automatic, since electricity is the second most heavily weighted domain and problems often combine current, voltage, resistance and power in one multi-step question.

4Practise specific-heat (Q = cmΔt) and phase-change (Q = λm, Q = Lm) calculations with realistic substance values, since heat/thermal physics problems reliably combine several steps in one exam question.

5Review ray-diagram construction for reflection, refraction and converging/diverging lenses until you can confidently distinguish real from virtual images.

6Don't neglect magnetism and nuclear/atomic physics just because they carry smaller weight - these are still tested every year and often appear as concept-based, non-calculation questions that are quick points if well understood.

7Time yourself against the real exam's 120-minute, four-domain structure so you build a realistic sense of pacing across mechanics, electricity, heat and optics.

8Practise with only an ordinary non-programmable calculator and a formula sheet, exactly as permitted on exam day, since graphing calculators, phones and outside textbooks are not allowed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the official exam multiple-choice?

No. The written paper mixes calculation, graphical and short-answer tasks that require full worked solutions, graded for partial credit at each step according to Harno's published grading rubric - not selective-response MCQ items. This bank is an MCQ study adaptation for learning and checking the underlying concepts and computations - it is not a simulation of the official full-solution written format.

Is physics an elective or a required exam?

It is one of nine valikeksam (elective) options, not compulsory. Every Grade 9 student must pass an Estonian-language exam, the compulsory Matemaatika exam, and a separate valikeksam chosen from subjects like biology, chemistry, geography, history, civics, English/Russian as a foreign language, or physics. Choosing Füüsika means substituting it for those other eight elective choices - there is no requirement to take physics specifically.

How is the exam structured and scored?

It is a single 120-minute written paper worth 75 points across four domains: valgusõpetus (optics), mehaanika (mechanics), elektriõpetus (electricity) and soojusõpetus (heat/thermal physics), with mechanics and electricity carrying the greatest weight. Roughly half the paper is set at an analysis-and-synthesis cognitive level, with the rest testing recall, understanding and routine application.

What score do I need to pass?

Points convert to Estonia's standard 5-point grading scale: 90-100% = grade 5, 75-89% = grade 4, and 50-74% = grade 3 - generally the minimum for the exam to be recorded as completed toward the basic-school graduation requirement. National regulation allows the exam commission to award a grade 3 down to 35% of points for a candidate with recognized learning difficulties.

What calculators or reference materials are allowed?

An ordinary, non-programmable calculator that cannot graph functions, connect to the internet, or store/exchange data, plus a curriculum-standard füüsika valemileht (formula sheet) reproducing the formulas in the form they appear in the national curriculum. Outside textbooks and handbooks are not permitted.

Which grades does the exam cover?

Füüsika is taught across Grades 8 and 9 (III kooliaste). Grade 8 covers optics and the first half of mechanics (density, motion, oscillation, forces, pressure, buoyancy, work/energy/power, simple machines, sound). Grade 9 covers electricity, magnetism, heat/thermal physics (including specific heat and phase-change calculations), and an introduction to nuclear energy (atomic structure, radioactivity, fission). This bank studies the full two-year scope.

When is the 2026 exam?

Wednesday, 6 May 2026, running 120 minutes, within the overall valikeksam window of 6-8 May 2026 - after the Eesti keel/Eesti keel teise keelena exam (21 April 2026) and the compulsory Matemaatika exam (29 April 2026).

Is there an exam fee?

No. Basic education in Estonia is free, and this elective final exam is administered by Harno at no cost to regularly enrolled Grade 9 students who choose it.