The numbers, from the official format
- SPM Physics has three papers: 4531/1, 4531/2 and 4531/3
- Paper 1 lasts 1 hour 15 minutes
- Paper 2 lasts 2 hours 30 minutes
- Paper 3 answering time is 40 minutes
- Difficulty ratio (low:medium:high) is 5:3:2
- A scientific calculator is allowed
The three papers
Paper 1 is objective, Paper 2 is subjective (Sections A, B and C), and Paper 3 is a practical test of science-process skills. The difficulty of items across the assessment follows a fixed low : medium : high ratio, and a scientific calculator is allowed.
How to use the format
Once you know the shape of each paper, you can practise the right way: timed objective sets for Paper 1, full structured working for Paper 2, and graph-and-analysis drills for Paper 3. A one-to-one teacher can target whichever paper is costing you the most.
Exam tip
- Practise each paper in its real format, not just topic by topic.
- Bring a scientific calculator and know its functions cold.
How a 1-to-1 lesson helps
A one-to-one teacher can watch you tackle this exact question type and correct the technique on the spot, the fastest way to stop losing the same marks. Message us with your form and where you struggle.
The three papers that make up SPM Physics 4531
SPM Physics is graded from three separate papers. Paper 1 (4531/1) is an objective paper of 40 items worth 40 marks, sat in 1 hour 15 minutes; you answer every question. Paper 2 (4531/2) is a written paper worth 100 marks over 2 hours 30 minutes, split into Section A (8 structured questions, 60 marks, all compulsory), Section B (2 questions, answer one, 20 marks) and Section C (1 question, 20 marks). Paper 3 (4531/3) is a practical test of one question worth 15 marks, with 5 minutes to plan and 40 minutes to work.
Together the three papers add up to 155 raw marks that feed into your overall SPM grade. Knowing the shape of each paper before you walk in means no surprises: you already know how many questions face you, how long you have, and where the marks sit.
How marks and difficulty are distributed
Marks are not spread evenly by difficulty. Across the whole subject the questions follow a 5:3:2 ratio of low, medium and high difficulty, so half of all marks are on the more accessible questions.
Securing those first is the single biggest lever on your grade.
- Paper 1 objective items are dichotomous: each is scored 1 for correct or 0 for wrong, so there is no partial credit and no penalty for a wrong guess.
- Paper 2 structured and extended questions are marked point by point, so working and units earn marks even when the final figure slips.
- Paper 3 rewards how you plan, measure, tabulate and interpret an experiment.
A scientific calculator is allowed in the written papers. There is no formula sheet in SPM Physics 4531, so every formula must be recalled from memory.
Build that recall into your revision from the start.
Key dates and what the papers look like
For the SPM 2026 sitting, Paper 1 and Paper 2 are both on 3 December 2026: Paper 1 runs 8:15 to 9:30 am and Paper 2 runs 10:30 am to 1:00 pm on the same day. The Paper 3 practical test is earlier, on 16 November 2026.
Check the official timetable for your own centre in case of any update.
Every paper is bilingual: each question is printed in Bahasa Melayu and English, and you may answer in either language. Numbers, symbols and units are identical in both versions, so you can read whichever wording is clearer and answer in the language you write physics best in.
Treat the format facts here as the fixed frame around which you plan your revision and your timing.
Source: Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia: Format Pentaksiran mulai 2021, Fizik (4531) (LP, KPM)