What the board asks

We went through the ISC board papers, question by question, and matched each question to a topic. Here is what was asked, how often, and what was never asked.

Physics: 427 topics in the 2027 syllabus, across 9 units. The board has asked 269 of them at least once. 158 were never asked in the papers we checked.

Pick a unit

P9 Electronic Devices

This unit carries about 7 marks in the paper. We split it into 26 topics: each is one thing an examiner can ask, and you can practise it on paper in 5 to 25 minutes. The board has asked 21 of them. 5 were never asked. The top 5 topics make 43% of all the times this unit was asked. Last asked: Specimen 2027.

The syllabus says: Energy bands: qualitative ideas only. Crystal structure not included. Rectifier circuits: qualitative only; bridge rectifier of 4 diodes not included. Transistors and logic gates are not listed in the theory syllabus of this document.

21asked by the board at least once

5in the syllabus, never asked

46times a topic of this unit was asked

4.4hours for one attempt at every topic

What the papers ask most

  • Doping, n-type and p-type, donors, acceptors, carriers6 times, last 2026
  • Distinguish conductors, semiconductors, insulators by energy bands (table)5 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Give reason: semiconductor resistance falls as temperature rises3 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Forward and reverse biasing: circuits and effects3 times, last Specimen 2027
  • p-n junction: depletion region, potential barrier, diode symbol3 times, last 2026
  • Half wave rectifier: circuit, working, input and output waveforms3 times, last 2026
  • Zener diode as a voltage regulator: circuit and working3 times, last 2025
  • Give reasons: extrinsic semiconductors and their usefulness2 times, last Specimen 2027
  • Give reasons: behaviour of a junction diode under bias2 times, last Specimen 2027
  • V-I characteristics of a junction diode, with circuit2 times, last 2026

In the syllabus, never asked (5)

They can still come, because they are in the syllabus. Give each one clean attempt. Your plan has two practice questions for each.

  • Intrinsic semiconductor: electrons, holes, electron-hole pairsStatement
  • Energy band diagrams: intrinsic, n-type, p-type semiconductorsDiagram
  • Numericals: current in simple diode circuitsNumericals
  • Compare half wave and full wave rectifiers; predict outputsComparison
  • Photodiode: symbol, reverse bias circuit, working, useDevice

All the topics in Physics: Electronic Devices →

The 10 topics Physics papers ask most

Counted on the board papers from 2018 to the 2027 specimen paper, which every unit has been checked against.

  1. 1.Numericals: peak, rms, mean, frequency from an ac equationP4 Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents · asked 7 times since 2018
  2. 2.Uses and special properties of each region (table)P5 Electromagnetic Waves · asked 7 times since 2018
  3. 3.State Bohr's postulates for the hydrogen atomP8 Atoms and Nuclei · asked 7 times since 2018
  4. 4.Magnetic force on a moving charge and Lorentz forceP3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism · asked 6 times since 2018
  5. 5.Numericals: average power and power factorP4 Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents · asked 6 times since 2018
  6. 6.Doping, n-type and p-type, donors, acceptors, carriersP9 Electronic Devices · asked 6 times since 2018
  7. 7.Numericals: two-loop network with two batteries (Kirchhoff)P2 Current Electricity · asked 5 times since 2018
  8. 8.Derive B at the centre of a circular loopP3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism · asked 5 times since 2018
  9. 9.Numericals: B at the centre of a circular coilP3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism · asked 5 times since 2018
  10. 10.Ampere's law: derive B near a long straight wireP3 Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism · asked 5 times since 2018

See when each unit comes in your plan