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We are currently experiencing a temporary delay in renewing the security certificate for the contest website. The technical team is actively working on this, and we expect an update soon. The contest website remains accessible, although some browsers may display a security warning in the meantime.
If you prefer, you are welcome to wait to register your students—registration can be completed up to one week before the contest date with no issue.
Thank you for your patience, and we appreciate your understanding while this update is being finalized. (April 29, 2026)
About the contest
The annual online physics contest is open to ALL students currently studying Grade 11 and 12 physics. The contest is one hour long and is free of charge, supported by the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering and written by Physics teachers. The contest will be divided into two divisions, grade 11 and grade 12 level students. All physics teachers are encouraged to host this opportunity and have their students enroll.
As mentioned above, the students have 60 minutes to complete the contest which has 30 multiple-choice questions, with one or two of the questions based on the previous years’ Nobel Prize in physics or current events in physics. The questions range from easy to difficult, conceptual to mathematical and abstract to concrete. It is a reasonable challenge for ALL Grade 11 SPH3U and ALL Grade 12 SPH4U students. Instructions on how to enroll can be found on the contest website.
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Looking for some practice before the contest? You can try out these questions from previous contests:
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat about schools outside Ontario? Starting this year we are pleased to be able to extend our invitation to participate to ALL schools, not just Ontario. What materials are the contest participants permitted? The students can use non-programmable calculators and scrap paper as required for their rough work. The students should not take the used scrap paper away with them when they leave the contest room. What is the length of time students have to write the OAPT Grade 11 Physics Contest? The students have 60 minutes to complete it. The contest has 30 multiple choice questions, usually with one or two of those questions based on the previous year's Nobel prize in physics, or current events in physics. What time of day must the OAPT Grade 11 Physics Contest be written? The contest can be written at any time that is convenient on the contest date. If a computer lab is not available until lunch time, for example, that is fine. | Last Year's Prizes included:
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Thanks to The U of T Faculty of Applied Science and EngineeringThe OAPT Grade 11 Physics Contest is sponsored by the University of Toronto – Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering | Thanks to our volunteers and experts who review the contest and contribute questions
Contest Contributors Sara Cormier, McMaster University, Hamilton Jason Pereira, Thistletown Collegiate Institute, Toronto Daniel Muttiah, George Vanier Secondary School, Toronto Tasha Richardson, Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute, Toronto Nassi Rafiee, Northview Heights Secondary School, TorontoContest Reviewers Saara Naudts, Mayfield Secondary School, Caledon Tasha Richardson, Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute, Toronto Milica Rakić, Essex District High School, Greater Essex County Contest Editor Nassi Rafiee, Northview Heights Secondary School, Toronto Contest Manager Danny Zhang, Queen's University, Kingston |
