Physics

Science|New Zealand Curriculum

About Physics

Physics seeks to understand nature at its most fundamental level. This involves attempting to discover and apply the general laws that govern force and motion, matter and energy, and space and time.

This page contains resources and tools to help support: 

  • internal and external assessment (exams)
  • teachers delivering this subject
  • learners taking this subject.

Changes to Level 1 Physics

Physics is no longer available at Level 1. Physics, Earth and Space Science, a new subject on the New Zealand Curriculum, is now available.

Go to the Physics, Earth and Space Science (Level 1 only) subject page

Physics standards

Level 2 standards

Physics achievement standards

Find Level 2 standards

Level 3 standards

Physics achievement standards

Find Level 3 standards

NZ Scholarship standard

Find NZ Scholarship standards

Exemplars, reports, past exams and assessment schedules

Level 2

Past exams, exemplars, assessment schedule and reports

Level 2

Level 3

Past exams, exemplars, assessment schedule and reports

Level 3

New Zealand Scholarship

Past exams, exemplars and assessment schedule

NZ Scholarship

Cut scores

Past scores for exams for all levels

Get cut scores

Past digital assessments

Access digital exams from 2020

Find past assessments

Assessment specifications

Level 2

Get the latest assessment specifications

Level 2

Level 3

Get the latest assessment specifications

Level 3

New Zealand Scholarship

Get the latest assessment specifications

NZ Scholarship

Assessor support materials for internal assessment

Internal exemplars

See exemplars for internally assessed Physics standards

Go to exemplars

National moderator's report

Annual reports on issues and trends in assessment

View moderator's report

Clarifications

Updates on assessment and moderations

Find Physics clarifications

Request clarification form

Teachers can request clarification of a standard with this form

Open request clarification form

Remote assessment matrix

Guidance for teachers if learning and assessment needs to be completed remotely

Download matrix [PDF, 171KB]

Alternative evidence gathering templates

Templates for student results when direct assessment is not possible

Get templates

Physics resources on Pūtake

Online learning modules available for this subject

Go to resources

Tools

Level 1 assessment matrix

Use this Physics, Earth and Space Science matrix on NCEA.education with new standards in 2024

Go to the matrix

Level 2 and 3 assessment matrix

Use this Physics, Earth and Space Science matrix for Level 2 and 3 standards

Download matrix [DOCX, 38.5KB]

Career guidance

Career information and tools to help your students on careers.govt.nz

Go to careers.govt.nz

Log in to MyNZQA school portal