ICSE Class 8 Quarterly Tests Physics PDF Study Guide
This page holds the ICSE Class 8 quarterly tests physics downloads: 2 real Standard VIII physics quarterly examination papers, from the 2018 and 2019 sessions. Both are the actual papers set for the quarterly exam, not sample papers or guesswork. Downloads here are free, direct PDF links with no signup required.
Download ICSE Class 8 Physics Quarterly Tests PDF
These are the 2 quarterly tests PDFs hosted on icseboard.org for ICSE Class 8 Physics, organised by subject. Each section below explains what those papers cover before the download table.
This set covers the Standard VIII Physics quarterly examination papers from the 2018 and 2019 sessions, each an 80-mark paper set for 2 hours. Section A of both papers focuses on naming physical quantities for units like light year, solar mass and a.m.u., alongside plane mirror reflection and speed-conversion questions. Use these PDFs to see the real question style and mark split before attempting your own quarterly test.
| Paper | Download |
|---|---|
| Quarterly Physics (2018) | Download PDF |
| Quarterly Physics (2019) | Download PDF |
How the Physics Quarterly Paper Is Set Up
Both the 2018 and 2019 papers are 80-mark papers with a time limit of 2 hours. Each paper opens with Section A, worth 40 marks, where every question is compulsory.
Inside Section A, questions are broken into short parts, and almost every part carries [2] marks. This means a single question like Q1 or Q2 can hold four or five separate 2-mark parts, each testing a different fact or a short calculation.
Our excerpts cover this compulsory Section A in full. The remaining 40 marks continue beyond what our excerpts show, so treat Section A as your first target when you sit a timed practice run.
Topics That Repeat in the 2018 and 2019 Papers
Comparing both years shows the same handful of topics coming back, just with different numbers or wording. Knowing this helps you decide where to spend revision time.
| Topic | Seen in 2018 | Seen in 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Naming physical quantities for units (light year, solar mass, a.m.u.) | Q1(a) | Q1(a) |
| Converting or ordering speed/distance units | Q1(e), Q2(c) | Q1(b), Q1(d) |
| Laws of reflection and plane mirror behaviour | Q1(d), Q2(a) | Q1(e), Q2(b) |
| Distinguishing image or reflection types (real/virtual, regular/irregular) | Q1(c) | Q2(a) |
The pattern is clear: units and measurement and reflection of light anchor Section A in both years. Expect a repeat of this mix in your own quarterly test.
Two Practice Questions in the Same Style
These are original questions, written in the same style as the recurring topics above, so you can rehearse the method before your test.
- Unit conversion: Convert 72 km/hr into m/s.
Step 1: Multiply by 1000 to get metres per hour: 72 × 1000 = 72,000 m/hr.
Step 2: Divide by 3600 to get metres per second: 72,000 ÷ 3600 = 20 m/s.
Answer: 72 km/hr = 20 m/s. - Plane mirror reflection: A ray of light strikes a plane mirror at 35° to the mirror’s surface. Find the angle of reflection.
Step 1: The angle of incidence is measured from the normal, not the surface, so angle of incidence = 90° − 35° = 55°.
Step 2: Apply the law of reflection: angle of reflection = angle of incidence.
Answer: the angle of reflection is 55°.
What a 2-Mark Answer Must Actually Show
Since most sub-parts in these papers carry [2] marks, examiners expect two distinct scoring points, not one long sentence.
- For a calculation: one mark for the correct formula or conversion step, one mark for the correct final answer with its unit.
- For a “state and apply” question, like the laws of reflection: one mark for stating the law correctly, one mark for applying it to the given situation.
- For a “difference between” question: one mark per valid, clearly stated point of difference.
These are common mistakes students make while studying from past papers:
- Writing the final numeric answer without the unit, which drops a mark even if the working is correct.
- Skipping the diagram when a question says “show with the help of a diagram” — this is a separate scoring point, not optional.
- Mixing up angle of incidence measured from the normal with the angle measured from the mirror surface.
- Confusing real and virtual image definitions when asked to differentiate between the two.
Using These Papers Alongside Your Physics Textbook
Here is how to use this material for exam preparation before your own quarterly test.
- Attempt one full paper under the 2-hour time limit before checking any working.
- Revise the Universe chapter’s coverage of units like light year and solar mass — both papers ask you to name these physical quantities directly.
- Go back over your reflection-of-light notes, since laws of reflection and mirror behaviour appear in both years’ Section A.
- Use the Matter chapter’s kinetic theory ideas as general revision, since Section A can also test basic measurement and states-of-matter concepts.
Editions and chapter numbering can differ by school and publisher, so match this order against your own booklist rather than assuming it is identical. For the full subject list for your class, visit the ICSE Class 8 page, and for the textbook PDFs that pair with these topics, see the ICSE Class 8 books page. For the official syllabus itself, check cisce.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these the same as the ICSE board exam papers?
No. Quarterly tests are set by individual schools as internal exams. The marks pattern and question style shown here come from the actual 2018 and 2019 papers we have on file, but your own school’s paper can differ.
Do I need to memorise units like light year and solar mass?
Yes. Both papers directly ask you to name the physical quantity for units such as light year, solar mass and a.m.u., so know what each one measures.
Which topics should I prioritise if I have limited time?
Units and measurement, and reflection of light, appear in Section A of both the 2018 and 2019 papers, so revise those first.
Do these PDFs include answers or solutions?
No. These are the original question papers only. They do not include solved answers or an answer key.
My school uses a different textbook edition — can I still use these?
Yes. The topics follow the CISCE-aligned Class 8 physics syllabus, though exact wording and chapter order vary by publisher. Check your own booklist for the exact chapter sequence.
More ICSE study material on this site
Reference: CISCE-aligned ICSE Class 8 textbook material.