Home NECTA TANZANIA PHYSICS EXAMINATION FORMAT FORM FOUR

PHYSICS EXAMINATION FORMAT FORM FOUR

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PHYSICS EXAMINATION FORMAT FORM FOUR

031 PHYSICS

(For Both School and Private Candidates)

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This examination format is a revised version of the 2008 format issued by the National Examinations Council of Tanzania (NECTA).

The format is based on the 2010 syllabus. The revised format emphasizes on the assessment of candidates’ competences in higher order thinking skills.

The improvements made in the format, however, do not affect the examination content, which remains unchanged.

2.0 GENERAL OBJECTIVES

The examination will assess the extent to which the candidates are able to:

2.1 develop knowledge on concepts, laws, theories and principles of Physics;

2.2 apply procedures of scientific investigation;

2.3 use scientific principles on conservation and sustainable use of the environment;

2.4 promote manipulative skills to manage various technological appliances; and

2.5 develop the language of communication in Physics.

3.0 GENERAL COMPETENCES

The examination will assess the candidates’ ability to:

3.1 apply Physics knowledge, principles and concepts in daily life;

3.2 apply scientific methods in solving problems in daily life;

3.3 apply technological skills in conservation and sustainable use of the environment;

3.4 manage simple technological appliances; and

3.5 use the language of Physics in communication.

4.0 EXAMINATION RUBRIC

The examination will consist of two papers. Paper 1 (031/1 Physics 1 Theory Paper) and Paper 2 (031/2 Physics 2 Practical Paper).

4.1 031/1 Physics 1

This examination paper will be for three (3) hours. It will consist of three sections: A, B and C with a total of 11 questions. Candidates will be required to answer a total of 10 questions which will weigh 100 marks.

<> Section A will consist of two (2) questions with question 1 being a multiple choice question with 10 items. Question 2 will be matching items with five (5) items. Each item in both the multiple choice and matching items questions will weigh one (1) mark, making a total of 15 marks in this section. Candidates will be required to answer all the questions.

<> Section B will consist of six (6) short answer questions each carrying 10 marks. Candidates will be required to answer all the questions.

This section will weigh a total of 60 marks.

<> Section C will consist of three (3) short answer questions aimed to assess the candidates’ skills in managing the application of Physics and other simple technological appliances in everyday life.

The candidates will be required to answer two (2) questions from this section. Each question will carry 12.5 marks, making a total of 25 marks in this section.

4.2 031/2 Physics 2

This paper will be either the Actual Practical or Alternative to the Practical. Three equivalent alternatives of the actual practical papers (031/2A Physics 2A, 031/2B Physics 2B and 031/2C Physics 2C) will be set. Only one alternative to practical (031/2 Physics 2) will be set.

Candidates will be required to sit for either actual practical or alternative to practical paper. The Actual Practical paper will be for 2½ hours. The paper will consist of two (2) questions and candidates will be required to answer all the questions.

Question 1 will be from the Mechanics topics and question 2 will be either from Heat, Light, Waves or Electricity topics. Each question will carry 25 marks, hence a total of 50 marks.

The Alternative to Practical paper will be of 2½ hours. The paper will consist of five (5) questions.

Candidates will be required to answer all the questions. Each question will carry 10 marks, making a total of 50 marks. This paper will cover various topics as outlined in sub-section

Note

(i) The actual practical paper will have more than one alternative paper, which will be sent to schools depending on the number of candidates.

Alternative A will be sent to schools with up to 100 candidates, alternatives A and B to schools with candidates not exceeding 200 and alternatives A, B and C to schools with more than 200 candidates.

(ii) A check-list of apparatuses, equipment and materials required for the examination will be sent to the schools not less than three months before the date of sitting for this paper.

However, 24 hours advance instructions will be dispatched in advance to be opened 24 hours for laboratory arrangements before the time of beginning the examinations.

(iii) When answering the questions in both theory and practical papers, candidates will be allowed to use non-programmable calculators.