Free Practice Questions for LC Physics and Chemistry
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Key Facts: LC Physics and Chemistry Exam
3 hours
Duration of the Leaving Certificate Physics and Chemistry written paper
State Examinations Commission / subject course outlines
6 questions
Candidates answer six equal-mark questions, typically three Physics and three Chemistry
CareersPortal and SEC paper structure
Higher and Ordinary
Physics and Chemistry is offered at two levels, Higher (H1-H8) and Ordinary (O1-O8)
State Examinations Commission grading scale
Discrete subject
May not be taken with Physics alone or Chemistry alone
Curriculum Online - Physics and Chemistry syllabus
8-point grades
Results use the eight-point scale where each grade is a percentage band
State Examinations Commission grading scale
EUR 116
2026 Leaving Certificate exam fee for a school-based candidate (covers all subjects)
Citizens Information - Examination fees
Section I and II
The paper has a Physics section and a Chemistry section
State Examinations Commission past papers
100
Free original multiple-choice practice questions in this bank
OpenExamPrep
Leaving Certificate Physics and Chemistry is an Irish senior-cycle combined science subject set by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) and sat at Higher Level (H1-H8) or Ordinary Level (O1-O8). It is examined by one 3-hour written paper with Section I Physics and Section II Chemistry; candidates answer six equal-mark questions, normally three from each section, supported by mandatory practical experiments. Candidates may not also take Physics alone or Chemistry alone. There is no single pass mark; grades are percentage bands. This free bank gives 100 original single-best-answer questions mixing both disciplines across mechanics, light, electricity, atomic structure, bonding, stoichiometry, acids-bases, redox and organic chemistry.
Sample LC Physics and Chemistry Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to review concepts for the LC Physics and Chemistry exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1A car travels 120 m in 8.0 s at constant velocity. What is its velocity?
2A body starts from rest and accelerates uniformly at 2.0 m s⁻² for 5.0 s. How far does it travel?
3Which statement is Newton’s first law of motion?
4A force of 12 N acts on a mass of 3.0 kg. What is the acceleration produced (ignore friction)?
5The weight of a 2.0 kg mass on Earth (g = 9.8 m s⁻²) is approximately:
6Two ice skaters push apart. One of mass 60 kg moves left at 2.0 m s⁻¹. The other has mass 40 kg. Ignoring friction, what is her velocity to the right?
7The gravitational field strength g near Earth’s surface is related to the universal constant G by g = GM/R². If Earth’s mass and radius were both doubled, g would:
8Work done by a constant force is defined as:
9A 4.0 kg object falls freely from rest through 5.0 m. Taking g = 10 m s⁻², its kinetic energy just before impact is:
10Absolute zero on the Celsius scale is approximately:
About the LC Physics and Chemistry Exam
Leaving Certificate Physics and Chemistry is a discrete senior-cycle combined science subject in the Irish second-level system, examined by the State Examinations Commission (SEC) at Higher Level or Ordinary Level. It is not the same as taking Physics alone or Chemistry alone, and candidates may not present those separate syllabuses with this subject. Assessment is by a single 3-hour written paper with a Physics section and a Chemistry section; candidates answer six questions of equal marks, typically three from each section. Practical experimental work is an integral part of the course. The syllabus spans mechanics, energy, heat and gases, light and waves, electricity and magnetism, atomic structure and radioactivity, the periodic table and bonding, the mole and chemical equations, thermochemistry, acids and bases, electrochemistry, selected inorganic chemistry, and introductory organic chemistry.
Exam sponsor: State Examinations Commission (SEC), Ireland. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.
Assessment
Official paper: one 3-hour written examination at Higher or Ordinary Level with Section I (Physics) and Section II (Chemistry). Candidates answer six questions of equal marks, normally three from each section. Practical experimental work is integral to the course and records may be inspected. This bank provides 100 original single-best-answer multiple-choice questions for concept revision.
Time Limit
The official Physics and Chemistry written paper is 3 hours long at both Higher Level and Ordinary Level.
Passing Score
No single pass mark. Results use the eight-point scale: Higher Level H1-H8 and Ordinary Level O1-O8, each a percentage band (H1/O1 90-100%, H2/O2 80 to under 90%, down to H8/O8 0 to under 30%).
Exam / Certification Fees
In 2026 the Leaving Certificate examination fee is EUR 116 for a school-based candidate (EUR 301 for a school-going repeat candidate); full medical card holders are exempt. The fee covers all subjects entered, not Physics and Chemistry alone.
Exam sponsor websiteFees, 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.
Mechanics, energy, heat and gases
Displacement, velocity and acceleration; Newton's laws of motion and universal gravitation; conservation of momentum; force, weight and simple electric fields and capacitors; work, kinetic and potential energy and conservation of energy; temperature scales, absolute zero, Boyle's law and the general gas equation; qualitative kinetic theory.
Light, waves, electricity and magnetism
Laws of reflection and refraction, refractive index and total internal reflection; image formation by mirrors and lenses; wave properties (frequency, wavelength, amplitude, velocity), interference and diffraction; the electromagnetic spectrum; electric current, potential difference, Ohm's law and resistance; magnetic fields due to currents; electromagnetic induction, transformers and transmission of electricity.
Atomic structure, periodic table and bonding
Electrons, protons and neutrons; atomic number, mass number and isotopes; radioactivity (alpha, beta, gamma), half-life, nuclear reactions, fission and fusion; energy levels and ionisation energy; the periodic table and valence for the first thirty-six elements; ionic, covalent and metallic bonding; electronegativity; molecular shapes by electron-pair repulsion (linear, planar, tetrahedral).
Stoichiometry, thermochemistry, acids-bases and electrochemistry
Relative atomic and molecular mass, the mole, Avogadro's constant and chemical equations; yields and formula calculations; first law of thermodynamics, Hess's law and heats of combustion, formation, solution and reaction; Bronsted-Lowry acids and bases, conjugate pairs, pH of strong acids and bases, indicators and titrations; oxidation and reduction as electron transfer; voltaic cells, the electrochemical series, Faraday's laws and electrolysis.
Inorganic trends and organic chemistry
Hydrogen, oxygen, water and hydrogen peroxide; trends in binary compounds of selected elements with hydrogen, oxygen and chlorine; hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes and benzene); alcohols and phenols; carboxylic acids and esters; aldehydes and ketones; characteristic reactions including substitution, addition, oxidation, esterification and hydrolysis.
Preparing for the LC Physics and Chemistry Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No single pass mark. Results use the eight-point scale: Higher Level H1-H8 and Ordinary Level O1-O8, each a percentage band (H1/O1 90-100%, H2/O2 80 to under 90%, down to H8/O8 0 to under 30%).
- Assessment: Official paper: one 3-hour written examination at Higher or Ordinary Level with Section I (Physics) and Section II (Chemistry). Candidates answer six questions of equal marks, normally three from each section. Practical experimental work is integral to the course and records may be inspected. This bank provides 100 original single-best-answer multiple-choice questions for concept revision.
- Time limit: The official Physics and Chemistry written paper is 3 hours long at both Higher Level and Ordinary Level.
- Exam / certification fees: In 2026 the Leaving Certificate examination fee is EUR 116 for a school-based candidate (EUR 301 for a school-going repeat candidate); full medical card holders are exempt. The fee covers all subjects entered, not Physics and Chemistry alone. 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
LC Physics and Chemistry: Suggested Study Strategy
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leaving Certificate Physics and Chemistry the same as taking Physics and Chemistry separately?
No. Physics and Chemistry is a discrete combined syllabus. Candidates presenting this subject may not also present Leaving Certificate Physics alone or Leaving Certificate Chemistry alone.
Is the Leaving Certificate Physics and Chemistry exam multiple choice?
No. The official SEC paper is a single 3-hour written paper with Section I (Physics) and Section II (Chemistry) of structured, calculation and extended-response questions. These multiple-choice questions are an extra concept-revision aid, not the real format.
How long is the Leaving Cert Physics and Chemistry exam?
The written paper is 3 hours long at both Higher Level and Ordinary Level. Candidates answer six questions of equal marks, typically three from the Physics section and three from the Chemistry section.
Is there a pass mark for Leaving Cert Physics and Chemistry?
There is no single pass mark. Results use the eight-point grade scale (Higher Level H1-H8, Ordinary Level O1-O8), where each grade is a percentage band, for example H1/O1 is 90-100% and H4/O4 is 60 to under 70%.
What does the Physics and Chemistry course cover?
The combined syllabus covers mechanics, energy, heat and gases, light and waves, electricity and magnetism, atomic structure and radioactivity, the periodic table and bonding, the mole and equations, thermochemistry, acids and bases, electrochemistry, selected inorganic chemistry, and introductory organic chemistry, with mandatory practical experiments.
Are these official SEC practice questions?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on Leaving Certificate Physics and Chemistry topics. The State Examinations Commission publishes official past papers, sample papers and marking schemes separately on examinations.ie.