Nat 5 Physics Resources for 2025
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Study smarter, not longer. Get high-mark tips, revision plans, and assignment help to keep you on track.
Start HERE!Created by Sally Weatherly, physics teacher and exam strategy expert. Trusted by thousands of students and parents.
What's Most Helpful Right Now?
Useful Downloads for Nat 5 Physics
For the exam, you only need three things to organise your revision and start getting exam-ready:
- Complete list of learning objectives (covering the whole syllabus) in a simple, bitesized list
- Bank of Nat 5 Physics Past Papers
- Nat 5 Physics Formula Sheet - gives you the list of formulae you'll get in the exam
These are all below!
How to Write the Perfect Nat 5 Physics Assignment
This guide shows you exactly how to score 20/20 in your Nat 5 Physics Assignment.
It's written to match the SQA marking scheme and will help you understand what to do, what not to do, and how to impress the marker.
Need help with Nat 5 Physics Assignment?Â
Scroll through or download the complete step-by-step guide below
Key Nat 5 Physics Assignment Information
What Is the Nat 5 Physics Assignment?
- Worth 20% of your final grade
- You must carry out an experiment
- You must write a report in exam conditions
- The marker is not your teacher — it's someone from the SQA
You get 20 marks:
- Aim & Title (2)
- Underlying physics (3)
- Data collection & handling (6)
- Graph (4)
- Analysis (1)
- Conclusion (1)
- Evaluation (2)
- Structure (1)
The key is NOT to overcomplicate it. There are areas in the assignment where more information will LOSE you marks. For example, if you write out a full method, instead of a brief summary, you'll lose one of the data collection marks.
Download the Step-by-Step Guide HEREWhat’s in the Nat 5 Physics Exam?
There are two sections in the final exam and you're given 2.5 hours to complete both sections. Each section tests very specific types of questions. If you know what’s coming, it’s way easier to prepare properly and stop wasting time.
Exam Format (Know This!)
- Section 1: 25 marks, multiple choice
- Section 2: 110 marks, extended questions (show working)
Total: 135 marks
What Kind of Questions Come Up Most?
The SQA has skill codes behind the scenes - but let’s keep it simple. There are four main question types that appear in almost every section of the Nat 5 Physics exam.
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The 4 Most Common Question Types in Nat 5 Physics
| Type | % of Marks | What You’ll See |
|---|---|---|
| Calculate | 55% | “Calculate…”, “Use the equation…” |
| Explain/Justify | 25% | “Explain why…”, “Justify your answer…” |
| Graphs | 4% | “Draw or describe this graph” |
| Draw | 3% | “Draw a labelled diagram…” |
You can see that these 4 question types make up over 85% of the exam. You need to know how to get full marks in "calculate", "Explain", "Graph" and "Draw" questions!
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Other Question Types (Still Worth a Few Marks)
| Skill | What It Means | % of Marks |
|---|---|---|
| State/Define | Write down a fact or definition | 8% |
| Predict | Use evidence to back up your answer | 5% |
| Suggest | Suggest ways to improve an experiment | 2% |
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How to Answer Open-Ended Questions
These always start with:
“Using your knowledge of physics…”
You’ll usually find two open-ended questions in Paper 2 — and they are always worth 3 marks each.
🔍 Example:
“Using your knowledge of physics, comment on how astronomers obtain information about astronomical objects.”
To get full marks:
- Mention non-visible radiation (like radio or infrared waves)
- Explain how different waves give different information
- Link it to a physics idea (e.g. reflection or absorption)
The 3-Step Trick to Getting All 3 Marks
- Say a relevant physics fact
- Explain how it applies
- Link it clearly to the question
It’s easier than it looks — once you learn the pattern, it’s free marks every time.
What Not to Do
- Don’t copy the question
- Don’t use vague words like “stuff” or “things”
- Don’t write loads if there’s no actual physics in it
How to Study for Nat 5 Physics
You don’t need to “work harder.” You need to work on the right things.
To get good marks in Physics, you need to solve problems - not memorise facts. Flashcards won’t save you here. If you're short on time (or motivation), your goal is simple: focus on past paper questions and the topics that come up most often.
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Quick Wins
- First Know the formula sheet inside-out
- Learn how to answer “Calculate” and “Explain” questions properly
- Prioritise the high-weighted topics (I’ll show you these below)
- Use past paper questions — not random stuff from your jotter
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Choose a Study Plan That Works for You
Nat 5 Physics Revision: I've got 1 Week To Study
Nat 5 Physics Revision: I've got 2 Weeks To Study
Nat 5 Physics Revision: I've got 1 Month To Study
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Can I use ChatGPT to Help?
Yes - if you use it right.
Try:
- “Give me Nat 5 Physics questions on radiation”
- “Mark this open-ended question using the SQA mark scheme”
- “Explain how weight depends on mass in one paragraph”
What Topics Come Up the Most in Nat 5 Physics?
Some topics are worth double, even triple, the marks of others.
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If you’re short on time, this is where to focus. We’ve analysed every past paper since 2018 and pulled out the average mark share for each topic.
Top Priority Topics (Mark-Heavy)
- Nuclear radiation – 14.5%
- Wave parameters and behaviours – 9.0%
- Vectors and scalars – 7.9%
- Space exploration – 8.4%
- Gas laws and kinetic theory – 7.1%
- Circuits, electronics (and Ohm's Law) – 7.7%
If you're aiming for an A (or trying to catch up fast!) these are your core.
Low-Weight Topics (Still Worth Knowing)
- Projectile motion – 2.5%
- Charge carriers – 2.2%
- Motion graphs – 2.2%
- Latent heat – 1.9%
- Acceleration – 1.6%
- Electromagnetic spectrum – 1.6%
- Radiation (general) – 0.4%
You still need to cover these - but don’t start your revision here.
Full Topic Weighting Table
| Topic | % of Marks |
|---|---|
| Nuclear radiation | 14.5% |
| Wave parameters and behaviours | 9.0% |
| Space exploration | 8.4% |
| Vectors and scalars | 7.9% |
| Circuits and electronics | 7.7% |
| Gas laws and the kinetic model | 7.1% |
| Electrical power | 4.9% |
| Energy | 4.1% |
| Newton's laws | 3.9% |
| Specific heat capacity | 3.9% |
| Cosmology | 3.6% |
| Refraction of light | 3.1% |
| Electricity | 2.7% |
| Projectile motion | 2.5% |
| Electrical charge carriers | 2.2% |
| Motion graphs | 2.2% |
| Specific latent heat | 1.9% |
| Acceleration | 1.6% |
| Electromagnetic spectrum | 1.6% |
| Ohm’s law | 3.3% |
| Non-specific | 1.3% |
| Dynamics | 1.2% |
| Radiation (general) | 0.4% |
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- Running out of time or revising the wrong topics
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