TOLC-I Physics: Topics and What to Study

Physics in the TOLC-I is not a stand-alone section but lives inside the Sciences block: 10 questions in 20 minutes total, shared with chemistry. The level is high school -- no derivatives or integrals -- and CISIA lists four macro-areas: mechanics, optics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism. Sciences weighs 10 points out of 50 (20% of the ranking score) and the required pace is roughly 2 minutes per question. That's tight: the difference is made by students who don't get caught off guard by the format.

Mathematics and logic rightly take the spotlight in TOLC-I preparation, but it's in Sciences that the easiest points get lost -- because too many people underestimate it. For students coming from a scientific high school, physics topics are by definition "stuff I've already done": too bad CISIA chooses to ask exactly the basic concepts, the ones that after five years of high school feel obvious and that, under pressure, slip away.

This guide is a map of what TOLC-I physics actually contains according to the 2026 CISIA syllabus, with the expected level, the slippery spots and a method to get through the 20 minutes of Sciences without stress. If you want the full picture of the test first, read our TOLC-I preparation guide and then the TOLC-I mathematics topics map -- the sibling of this article.

In this guide:

• The Sciences section: how it really works
• Mechanics: the biggest block
• Optics: the part people forget
• Thermodynamics: concepts, not advanced calculations
• Electromagnetism: electrostatics and magnetostatics
• The level required: high school, not university
• The 20 minutes of Sciences: how to manage them
• How to prepare for TOLC-I physics
• FAQ

The Sciences section: how it really works

Sciences in the TOLC-I means 10 questions in 20 minutes, shared between physics and chemistry: it's important to grasp this immediately because many students arrive at the test convinced they will find "the physics section" and instead get hit with general chemistry, organic chemistry and stoichiometry too. Scoring follows the TOLC-I rule: +1 for a correct answer, 0 for blank, -0.25 for wrong.

The crucial point for preparation is this: CISIA does not publish an official ratio between physics and chemistry questions. Estimates based on teaching experience circulate, but they are not ratios declared by the consortium. The practical consequence is simple: both must be prepared -- ignoring chemistry because "there will be less of it" is a bet you cannot make with certainty.

On the overall weight, however, the numbers are public: Sciences counts for 10 points out of 50 in the ranking score, i.e. 20% of the total. That's not negligible. On top of that, since the section lasts 20 minutes for 10 questions, the average pace is 2 minutes per question -- exactly like logic, and slightly less time per question than mathematics.

For how it fits in the complete test (50 questions in the ranking + 30 non-ranking English questions, 125 minutes total), it's worth first understanding the TOLC-I structure and the test rules (see adaptive simulations).

Mechanics: the biggest block

Mechanics is the heart of TOLC-I physics: in the CISIA syllabus it is the first macro-area listed and also the broadest in topic count. The level is high school -- no relativistic motion, no non-inertial dynamics -- but it covers the entire "classical" sweep studied in years 3 and 4 of high school.

Mechanics topics in the 2026 CISIA syllabus include:

• Scalar and vector quantities, concept of measurement, systems of units
• Kinematics: displacement, velocity, acceleration (vectors, not just numbers)
• Dynamics of the point mass: mass, momentum, force, weight
• Work and power as fundamental quantities
• Newton's three laws: inertia, F = m·a, action and reaction
• Fluid mechanics (elementary): pressure, Archimedes' principle, Stevin's law

What makes the difference in TOLC-I mechanics questions is not calculation difficulty but setup speed. A typical question asks you to compute the acceleration of a body on an inclined plane given the angle and friction coefficient, or the speed at the top of a parabolic trajectory: these are problems that, taken calmly, are perfectly solvable -- but 2 minutes including reading time is short if you have to think from scratch about how to resolve the forces.

The operational tip is the same that holds for mechanics in general: always draw a free-body diagram, even on scratch paper. Thirty seconds invested in the drawing saves two minutes of mistakes. If the topic is still murky, start from our guide to high school kinematics and dynamics: the approach is exactly what TOLC-I needs.

Optics: the part people forget

Optics is the macro-area that students forget to prepare. It's understandable -- in year 5 of high school, geometric optics is usually covered in a handful of lessons, eclipsed by electromagnetism and modern physics -- but the CISIA syllabus lists it explicitly, so ignoring it means giving away points.

Optics topics in the 2026 CISIA syllabus include:

• Principles of geometric optics: rectilinear propagation of light
• Reflection and refraction: angles, Snell-Descartes laws
• Refractive index of media
• Prisms: dispersion and deviation
• Concave and convex mirrors and lenses: thin-lens equation, magnification
• Lens systems and optical instruments (basics)

The most frequent optics question is about refraction: given a ray passing from one medium to another, find the refraction angle (or the index). The key formula is n₁·sin(θ₁) = n₂·sin(θ₂); remembering that angles are measured from the normal to the surface, not from the surface itself, is mistake number one.

For mirrors and lenses, the useful relations are the thin-lens equation (1/p + 1/q = 1/f) and the sign of the focal length: positive for converging, negative for diverging. It's a "mechanical" block of questions -- those who have practised them solve them in a minute, those who have never seen them lose precious time.

The right amount of time to invest in optics during preparation is limited -- an afternoon of review and a dozen exercises -- but it's an afternoon that pays off well in net points.

Thermodynamics: concepts, not advanced calculations

TOLC-I thermodynamics stays at the conceptual level: the CISIA syllabus explicitly speaks of "elementary notions on the principles of thermodynamics". No complex cycles, no formally treated entropy: the bar stops at the first law and its immediate consequences.

Thermodynamics topics in the 2026 CISIA syllabus include:

• Temperature and heat: distinguishing them conceptually
• Specific heat and heat capacity
• Thermal expansion of bodies (linear and volumetric)
• Ideal gas equation of state: p·V = n·R·T
• Principles of thermodynamics (elementary): first law (energy conservation), notion of the second law

The typical question comes in two types. The first: application of the heat formula (Q = m·c·ΔT) or the ideal gas equation -- direct calculations where the only trap is the units of measurement, particularly temperature in Kelvin when using p·V = n·R·T. The second: conceptual questions of the type "if the temperature of a gas at constant volume rises, what happens to the pressure?", solvable in ten seconds if you have Gay-Lussac's law clear in mind.

The most widespread mistake is confusing temperature and heat. They are different quantities: temperature is a property of the system (in kelvin), heat is energy in transit (in joules). "The heat of a body" is a sloppy phrase -- a body has internal energy, not heat. That said, in high school physics the abuse passes, but knowing the distinction shields you from mistakes under pressure.

Electromagnetism: electrostatics and magnetostatics

Electromagnetism in the TOLC-I is not the complete one studied in year 5 of high school -- no Maxwell equations, no electromagnetic induction in detail. The CISIA syllabus explicitly stops at electrostatics and magnetostatics, with brief mention of electromagnetic radiation.

Electromagnetism topics in the 2026 CISIA syllabus include:

• Electrostatics: Coulomb's law, electrostatic field, capacitors
• Magnetostatics: electric current, Ohm's law, magnetostatic field
• Electromagnetic radiation and its propagation (elementary notions)

The most frequent questions involve Coulomb's law (computing forces between point charges, F = k·q₁·q₂/r², attention to sign and the inverse-square dependence on distance) and Ohm's law (V = R·I, applications to elementary circuits with resistors in series and in parallel). Capacitors enter through capacitance C = Q/V and through series/parallel combinations, which follow opposite rules to those of resistors -- a frequent source of confusion.

For the magnetostatic field, the scope is usually limited to the field generated by a straight wire or the motion of a charge in a magnetic field (Lorentz force, F = q·v·B for perpendicular motion). Electromagnetic radiation is treated only descriptively: spectrum, speed of light, the relation c = λ·f.

The level required: high school, not university

An important reassurance: the 2026 CISIA syllabus repeatedly uses expressions like "elementary notions", "it is assumed", "some notion". TOLC-I physics is at high school level, not university. No derivatives and integrals are required, no analytical mechanics, no relativistic or quantum dynamics.

That means two things. First: if you have studied physics in a solid scientific high school, you have already seen everything. Second: precisely because everything is "elementary", questions target basic concepts and don't forgive gaps in definitions. A question asking you to distinguish velocity from acceleration, or to spot the difference between mass and weight, is trivial for those who have truly understood -- and a trap for those who memorised without understanding.

For students coming from a non-scientific high school (classical, linguistic) with a thinner physics programme, preparation requires more systematic work on content -- but it remains within reach, because nothing asked goes beyond the content of a solid high school physics textbook.

The 20 minutes of Sciences: how to manage them

Twenty minutes for ten questions is short: the average is 2 minutes per question, reading included. The strategy that works is similar to the mathematics one, but adapted to the fact that questions are often quick-answer.

Minutes 0-10: first pass. Tackle all questions in order. If you can answer in under 90 seconds, answer. If you realise you need more time, flag it and move on. In this first pass you should have answered 6-7 of the 10 questions.

Minutes 10-17: second pass. Go back to the flagged questions. Start with those where you had an idea but needed an extra calculation. The refraction question that requires applying Snell's law twice, or the circuit problem with two parallel resistors, often closes here.

Minutes 17-20: quick picks. For genuinely tough questions, try to eliminate at least one obviously wrong option (dimensionally incorrect, opposite sign, implausible order of magnitude) and answer. The penalty is -0.25 but a random pick among three remaining options has positive expected value. If you can't eliminate any option, leave blank.

The typical strategic mistake is spending 4 minutes on a single complicated mechanics question and then running out of time for two easy chemistry questions that would have been worth +2 net points. Discipline on time, always.

How to prepare for TOLC-I physics

Preparing for TOLC-I physics requires less time than one might think if you have a solid high school base -- but it requires a preparation structured around the CISIA macro-areas, not generic review. Here is the method that works.

Map the syllabus before studying. Print the 2026 CISIA syllabus and mark in one colour topics where you feel confident, in another the rusty ones, in a third the ones that seem uncovered. This map decides where to invest the hours.

Focus the time on mechanics. It is the broadest macro-area, the one high school returns to most often, and the one that pays best per hour invested. If kinematics and dynamics flow, half of your physics preparation is done.

Don't skip optics. Even though there are few questions, they are among the most "mechanical" and quick to solve once practised. Skipping optics means accepting zero points on 1-2 nearly certain questions.

For thermodynamics and electromagnetism, aim at key concepts. Ideal gas equation, first law, Coulomb's law, Ohm's law. No exotic formulas: the questions stick to fundamentals.

Timed simulations, always. The real leap is from doing "physics exercises" to doing "20 minutes of Sciences against the clock". Adaptive simulations serve exactly this purpose: training the brain to recognise format and pace. The free CISIA practice exercises are useful as a first exposure.

In our TOLC-I preparation path, physics is treated as an integral part of the Sciences section: we work in parallel with chemistry and with the timing of the test, because that is the real context in which the skills will be used. And since many physics difficulties stem from gaps in mathematics -- vectors, trigonometry, basic algebra -- preparation often involves both mathematics and physics as an integrated package.

FAQ

Is physics in the TOLC-I a separate section? No. The 10 questions of the Sciences section are shared between physics and chemistry, in 20 minutes total. CISIA does not publish an official ratio between the two subjects -- both must be prepared. Sciences weighs 10 points out of 50 in the ranking score, i.e. 20% of the total.

What are the TOLC-I physics topics? The 2026 CISIA syllabus lists four macro-areas: mechanics (kinematics, dynamics, work and energy, fluids), optics (reflection, refraction, lenses and mirrors), thermodynamics (heat, ideal gas, principles) and electromagnetism (Coulomb, Ohm, capacitors, magnetostatics). The level is high school.

Are derivatives and integrals required? No. The syllabus explicitly speaks of "elementary notions": no derivatives, integrals or differential equations. The required mathematics is that of high school -- algebra, trigonometry, vectors, analytical geometry.

How much time should I dedicate to physics in preparation? It depends on your starting base. For a student from a scientific high school with physics fresh in mind, 15-20 focused hours on the four CISIA macro-areas are usually enough. For students from non-scientific high schools, 30-40 structured hours are needed. The important thing is to simulate the Sciences section under time pressure, not just to study theory.

Does modern physics (relativity, quantum) come up? No. The CISIA syllabus stops at classical electromagnetism (electrostatics and magnetostatics) and a few notes on electromagnetic radiation. Modern physics, relativity and quantum mechanics are not in the TOLC-I programme.

Can fluid mechanics questions appear? Yes, at an elementary level. The syllabus includes "elements of fluid mechanics": pressure, Archimedes' principle, Stevin's law. It does not extend to viscous fluid dynamics or a formalised Bernoulli equation.

Is it worth studying physics and mathematics together for the TOLC-I? Often yes. Physics requires basic mathematical skills (vectors, trigonometry, algebra) and the same fast, automatic execution useful in mathematics. An integrated preparation plan saves time for the same result.

Continue your preparation:

• TOLC-I Mathematics Topics
• Complete TOLC-I Preparation Guide
• TOLC-I: Structure, Scoring and Sections
• Adaptive Simulations: Why They Work
• High School Mechanics: Kinematics and Dynamics
• Physics Tutoring in Milan
• TOLC-I Preparation