100+ Free HKDSE Physics Practice Questions
Pass your Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Physics exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
A stone is dropped from rest and falls freely for 3.0 s. Taking g = 9.81 m/s^2 and ignoring air resistance, what is its speed just before landing?
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Key Facts: HKDSE Physics Exam
HKDSE Physics is graded in levels 5** to 1 across Paper 1 (compulsory, 60%, 2h30m), Paper 2 (two electives, 20%, 1h) and 20% School-Based Assessment; Paper 1 Section A is roughly 33 multiple-choice questions worth 21%.
Sample HKDSE Physics Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your HKDSE Physics exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1In the HKDSE Physics examination, the temperature reading on a Celsius thermometer is 27 degrees C. What is this temperature on the absolute (Kelvin) scale?
2An electric kettle supplies 84000 J of heat to 0.50 kg of water, raising its temperature. If the specific heat capacity of water is 4200 J/(kg K), what is the temperature rise (ignoring losses)?
3Which heat transfer process can occur through a vacuum, such as energy reaching the Earth from the Sun?
4When 0.020 kg of ice at 0 degrees C melts completely into water at 0 degrees C, how much heat is absorbed? (Specific latent heat of fusion of ice = 3.34 x 10^5 J/kg)
5A fixed mass of ideal gas at constant temperature has its volume halved. According to Boyle's law, what happens to its pressure?
6According to the kinetic theory of gases, what does the absolute temperature of an ideal gas directly measure?
7A fixed mass of ideal gas occupies 2.0 x 10^-3 m^3 at a pressure of 1.0 x 10^5 Pa. Using pV = nRT, if it is heated at constant volume until the pressure becomes 1.5 x 10^5 Pa, by what factor does the absolute temperature change?
8Internal energy of a substance is best described as which of the following?
9Why does sweating help cool the human body on a hot day?
10Two objects are placed in thermal contact. Heat flows from the hotter to the cooler object until they reach the same temperature. This final state is called:
About the HKDSE Physics Exam
HKDSE Physics is the senior-secondary physics subject of Hong Kong's Diploma of Secondary Education, set and graded by the HKEAA. The public assessment has two written papers plus School-Based Assessment (SBA): Paper 1 covers the compulsory part (Heat and Gases, Force and Motion, Wave Motion, Electricity and Magnetism, and Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy) and carries 60%, while Paper 2 covers two of four electives (Astronomy and Space Science, Atomic World, Energy and Use of Energy, Medical Physics) and carries 20%. Paper 1 Section A is multiple-choice (about 33 questions, 21% of the subject mark) and Section B is short, structured and essay questions (39%). SBA on practical work contributes the remaining 20%. Results are reported as levels from 5** down to 1, with U for unclassified. The 2026 HKDSE Physics written examination is held on 22 April 2026.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Paper 1: 2 hours 30 minutes; Paper 2: 1 hour
Passing Score
Reported in standards-referenced levels 5**, 5*, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, U (no fixed pass mark; level 2 is the common minimum standard)
Exam Fee
HK$519 per subject for school candidates (2026); private candidates pay HK$519 (with Permanent HKIC, plus a HK$595 initial fee) or HK$1,119 (without HKIC) (Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA))
HKDSE Physics Exam Content Outline
Heat and Gases
Temperature, internal energy, heat transfer, change of state and latent heat, gas laws and kinetic theory.
Force and Motion
Kinematics, Newton's laws, projectile motion, work-energy-power, momentum, circular motion and gravitation.
Wave Motion
Wave properties, light, reflection and refraction, lenses, the electromagnetic spectrum and sound.
Electricity and Magnetism
Electrostatics, circuits and Ohm's law, domestic electricity, electromagnetism and electromagnetic induction.
Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy
Atomic model, radioactive decay and half-life, nuclear fission and mass-energy equivalence (E = mc^2).
Elective Topics
Two of Astronomy and Space Science, Atomic World, Energy and Use of Energy, and Medical Physics.
How to Pass the HKDSE Physics Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Reported in standards-referenced levels 5**, 5*, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, U (no fixed pass mark; level 2 is the common minimum standard)
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Paper 1: 2 hours 30 minutes; Paper 2: 1 hour
- Exam fee: HK$519 per subject for school candidates (2026); private candidates pay HK$519 (with Permanent HKIC, plus a HK$595 initial fee) or HK$1,119 (without HKIC)
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
HKDSE Physics Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How is HKDSE Physics structured?
The public examination has Paper 1 on the compulsory part (60%, 2 hours 30 minutes, with a multiple-choice Section A and a written Section B) and Paper 2 on two chosen electives (20%, 1 hour). School-Based Assessment of practical work makes up the remaining 20%.
What grading system does HKDSE Physics use?
HKDSE uses standards-referenced reporting with levels 5** (highest), 5*, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and U (unclassified). There is no fixed pass mark; level 2 is broadly treated as a basic minimum standard by many institutions.
When is the 2026 HKDSE Physics exam?
The 2026 HKDSE Physics written examination is scheduled for 22 April 2026, as announced by the HKEAA.
How much does it cost to sit HKDSE Physics in 2026?
For 2026, school candidates pay HK$519 per subject. Private candidates with a Permanent HKIC pay HK$519 plus a HK$595 initial fee, while private candidates without a Permanent HKIC pay HK$1,119 per subject.
Which electives can I choose in Paper 2?
Candidates choose two of four electives: Astronomy and Space Science, Atomic World, Energy and Use of Energy, and Medical Physics. Each chosen elective contributes 10% of the subject mark.
What formulas should I memorise for HKDSE Physics?
Key relations include v = u + at, v^2 = u^2 + 2as, F = ma, p = mv, F = GMm/r^2, Q = mc(delta T), v = f x lambda, V = IR, P = VI and E = mc^2. A list of constants and formulas is provided at the back of the exam paper.