Matric Physical Sciences Study Guide 2026 | Physics & Chemistry

Quick Answer: Use this guide to organise Physical Sciences revision across Physics Paper 1 and Chemistry Paper 2. Prioritise the topics in your official syllabus, practise timed past-paper questions, and use the memorandum to diagnose mistakes.

How to use this study guide

1. Use your teacher’s current topic list and the official DBE examination guidance as the source of truth.
2. Mark each topic as confident, partly understood or needs practice.
3. Revise one topic, then solve questions without looking at the worked example.
4. Mark your answers against the memorandum and write down why each lost mark happened.
5. Return to mistakes after a day or two to check whether you can now solve the question independently.

The topic lists and plan below are revision aids, not a promise that a particular topic will appear or carry a fixed number of marks. Always check the current syllabus and official exam instructions.

Exam structure: Paper 1 and Paper 2

Paper	Main area	Revision approach
Paper 1	Physics	Practise setting up equations, diagrams, units and multi-step calculations.
Paper 2	Chemistry	Practise calculations, reaction explanations, equations and scientific terminology.

Confirm the current paper duration, mark allocation and examination instructions in the official 2026 DBE timetable and subject guidance rather than relying on unofficial summaries.

Paper 1 — Physics revision checklist

Mechanics

• Newton’s laws and free-body diagrams
• Net force, friction, tension and normal force
• Gravitational force and gravitational field strength
• Projectile motion and separating horizontal and vertical components
• Work, energy, power, momentum and impulse

Practice method: draw the diagram, choose a positive direction, write the relevant equation, substitute values with units, and check whether the final answer is physically reasonable.

Waves, sound and light

• Frequency, wavelength, amplitude and wave speed
• Doppler effect and electromagnetic waves
• Reflection, refraction and diffraction where required by your syllabus

Electricity and magnetism

• Coulomb’s law and electric fields
• Ohm’s law, series and parallel circuits, internal resistance and emf
• Electromagnetic induction, generators and motors

For circuit questions, label known quantities first and check whether the question asks for current, potential difference, resistance, power or energy. Do not assume that a formula can be used without checking its conditions.

Optical and photoelectric phenomena

• Photon energy and the photoelectric effect
• Work function and threshold frequency
• Emission and absorption spectra, and electron microscopes where prescribed

Paper 2 — Chemistry revision checklist

Matter and materials

• Atomic structure and periodic trends
• Ionic, covalent and metallic bonding
• Intermolecular forces and their effect on physical properties
• Organic chemistry: functional groups, naming, isomers and reactions

Chemical change

• The mole concept, stoichiometry, limiting reagents and percentage yield
• Energy changes and reaction profiles
• Reaction rates and factors affecting rate
• Chemical equilibrium and Le Chatelier’s principle
• Acids, bases, pH and titration calculations
• Galvanic and electrolytic cells, half-reactions and cell potential

Chemical systems

• Industrial processes listed in the current syllabus, including the relevant reactants, conditions and products
• Balanced equations and explanations that use precise chemical terminology

Formula reminders and data-sheet practice

Topic	Reminder	Check before using
Electric circuits	V = IR	Use consistent units and identify the correct component or circuit section.
Wave motion	v = fλ	Keep frequency and wavelength units consistent.
Kinetic energy	Ek = ½mv²	Use mass in kilograms and speed in metres per second.
Gravitational potential energy near Earth	Ep = mgh	Use the height change and the appropriate gravitational field strength.
Photon energy	E = hf	Use the correct Planck constant and frequency units.
Mole calculations	n = m/M	Check that mass and molar mass use compatible units.

Practise locating the required equation and constants in the official data sheet. Check the conditions attached to a formula instead of memorising it as a universal rule. For gas-volume calculations, use the conditions and molar gas volume specified in the question or official data sheet.

A practical six-week revision plan

Week	Physics focus	Chemistry focus	Evidence of progress
1	Forces and gravitation	Atomic structure and bonding	Correctly explain the method for core questions.
2	Work, energy, power and momentum	Organic chemistry	Complete a short mixed question set.
3	Electrostatics and circuits	Stoichiometry and reaction rates	Show equations, substitutions and units.
4	Waves and electromagnetic induction	Equilibrium, acids and bases	Explain concepts without relying on notes.
5	Timed Paper 1 practice	Electrochemistry and chemical systems	Mark the paper and group errors by topic.
6	Target weak areas	Timed Paper 2 practice and corrections	Redo missed questions without the memo.

If you have less than six weeks, use the same cycle with shorter blocks: identify the weakest high-priority topics, practise representative questions, and spend time correcting errors rather than only rereading notes.

How to answer exam questions more effectively

Multiple-choice questions

• Read the whole question and all answer options.
• Estimate the likely size and unit of the answer before selecting an option.
• Eliminate options that contradict the concept or units.
• Follow the official examination instructions about unanswered questions and time management.

Calculations

• Write down the known values and what the question asks you to find.
• Select the equation and show substitutions clearly.
• Convert to SI units when required.
• Include the final unit and check the sign, magnitude and significant figures.

Theory and explanations

• Answer the specific question rather than copying a broad definition.
• Use the scientific terms required by the topic.
• For equilibrium questions, identify the change, state the direction of shift and explain why.
• Use the memorandum to learn how many distinct points an explanation needs.

Use past papers as a diagnostic tool

Attempt a past paper or a timed section before checking the memorandum. For each lost mark, label the reason: concept gap, incorrect equation, calculation error, unit, misunderstood wording or incomplete explanation. Revise the cause, then attempt a similar question.

Open the Physical Sciences past-paper resource and use official DBE papers and memoranda where available. Check the year and paper before practising so you know which syllabus and exam format you are using.

Get help when you are stuck

If you cannot explain why an answer works, ask for a step-by-step explanation, then try a similar question on your own. StudyBuddy’s AI tutor can help you review Physics and Chemistry concepts and work through practice problems; always compare important exam guidance with your teacher and official materials.

Try the StudyBuddy AI tutor

Frequently overlooked revision habits

• Keep a formula-and-units page, but practise choosing the formula rather than only copying it.
• Redo incorrect questions a few days later without looking at the solution.
• Alternate Physics and Chemistry so both papers receive attention.
• Practise under timed conditions and leave time to check answers.
• Use official syllabus and examination documents to confirm coverage and instructions.