Sitting Year 12 WACE Physics in 2026? Keep your past papers, but check the syllabus before working through them.
SCSA introduced a new Year 12 Physics syllabus for 2026. A 2025 paper can still give you useful practice, but it cannot show you the full coverage of the new course.
Previous years vs 2026
| Area | Through 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 3 | Gravity and electromagnetism | Gravity and relativity |
| Unit 4 | Revolutions in modern physics | Electromagnetism and modern physics |
| Past papers | Written for the previous syllabus | Use older questions by topic; start with the 2026 sample exam |
| Formula booklet | Previous editions | Practise with the 2026 edition |
Your next step: rearrange old topic notes, then check them against the 2026 dot points.
Make sure your practice includes banked turns, vertical circular motion and apparent weight, plus combining uncertainties and interpreting graphs. The 2026 syllabus explicitly includes these skills.
These are useful checkpoints, not a complete change list. Use the 2026 syllabus as your checklist.
Which papers should you use?
- Start with SCSA's 2026 sample exam and marking key. Use them to get familiar with questions written for the new syllabus.
- Use 2025 and earlier papers by topic. Match each question to a current dot point. Ask your teacher about anything that doesn't match.
- Use the 2026 Formulae and Data booklet. Practise finding what you need in the booklet you'll use this year.
All three resources are on SCSA's Physics page. Choose the materials labelled for 2026; the page also lists 2027 updates.
A simple revision routine
Pick one current syllabus dot point. Try a few matching questions, mark them, then redo one you missed without looking at the solution. Keep a separate list of topics your older papers haven't covered.
Don't use an old paper's total score as a prediction of your 2026 result. Use it to find specific skills to improve.