Sample exam questions - Forces and matter
Understanding how to approach exam questions helps to boost exam performance. Questions will include multiple choice, structured, using mathematical skills, and extended writing.
Multiple choice questions
Multiple choice questions are perhaps the easiest to complete - you simply put a cross in a box. However, the questions often have two answers that could, at first glance, be correct. Don't make the mistake of reading the first answer and thinking this is correct without checking all the others.
If it says 'Tick one box', you must tick one box. If you leave it blank or tick two or more boxes you will get zero marks. These multiple choice questions will not start with command words like 'describe' or 'explain'. They will be written in the form of a question like 'What…?' or 'Why…?'.
There will be more multiple choice questions on the Foundation paper.
Sample question 1 - Foundation and Higher
- Question
Which diagram shows the direction of the forces from the water on the inside of a tank? [1 mark]
Edexcel question courtesy of Pearson Education Ltd.
B [1]
The pressure from a liquid acts equally outwards on all the walls of the container.
Sample question 2 - Foundation and Higher
- Question
A correct unit for pressure is… [1 mark]
A N B Nm C Nm2 D N/m2 Tick one box.
This question has been written by a Bitesize consultant as a suggestion to the type of questions that may appear in an exam paper.
A N B Nm C Nm2 D N/m2 ✔ Pressure = force ÷ area, so the units are N/m2.