Senior Physics Challenge (Y12) SPC Online
It consists of two 30-minute sets of multiple choice questions which are largely about physics ideas, but also encouraging some wider reading and interest in the subject. It is an opportunity for students to take part in a national physics competition and to develop their confidence in the subject. It is definitely a quiz which is accessible to sound students but is not an ''Olympiad Challenge''. Length - 2 x 30 minutes (can be sat on different days if required) with each section containing 20 questions. Sat within your school supervised by the teacher. It may not be sat by students at home or run remotely.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Intermediate Level
6 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
16–17
Registration method
School Only
Fee
£20 for a school entry of up to 999 students
Online / in-person
Online
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
18 Jan 2027
Registration closes
22 Jan 2027
Competition starts
18 Jan 2027
Competition ends
22 Jan 2027
Editorial perspective
Our Take
The Senior Physics Challenge Online is a useful early checkpoint for students in the first year of A level or an equivalent course. It asks them to apply developing knowledge in unfamiliar settings through two short multiple-choice sections. That makes it more than a routine topic test, but it is not the same as the BPhO's separate Senior Physics Challenge paper and it is not a qualifying round for the UK Physics Olympiad team. Those distinctions matter when students decide how much preparation is sensible and what result to expect. For many Year 12 students, the best use of the challenge is to identify habits before they become entrenched. Can they translate words and diagrams into a model? Do they check units and orders of magnitude? Can they abandon an unproductive calculation and return later? The online format provides a relatively low-administration way for schools to expose a cohort to these questions. A focused preparation period can help, but the event should complement the first year of post-16 physics rather than pull students into premature, unfocused acceleration.
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