Chapter 24: Planning the Two Years and Beyond
A two-year plan
| Period | Mathematics | Physics | Chemistry / ICT | Skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 12, Term 1 | Algebra, functions, trigonometry | Measurement, mechanics | Atomic structure and bonding (Chemistry) or fundamentals and data representation (ICT) | Notes, error log, weekly self-testing |
| Grade 12, Term 2 | Coordinate geometry, differentiation | Oscillations, waves, thermal physics | Mole and energetics (Chemistry) or digital logic and OS (ICT) | Practical records, past-paper questions by topic |
| Grade 12, Term 3 | Integration, applied mechanics (statics) | Electrostatics, current electricity | Equilibria (Chemistry) or networks (ICT) | First full timed paper in each subject |
| Grade 13, Term 1 | Vectors, complex numbers, dynamics | Magnetism, induction, AC | Kinetics, electrochemistry, inorganic (Chemistry) or databases, SAD (ICT) | Practical examinations preparation |
| Grade 13, Term 2 | Statistics and probability; series, advanced calculus | Electronics, modern physics | Organic chemistry (Chemistry) or programming, web (ICT) | Complete the syllabus; mixed-topic papers |
| Grade 13, Term 3 | Revision by weakness | Revision by weakness | Revision; ICT project | Timed full papers; repair error log; rest well |
This is a sample. Follow the order and pace your school and teachers set, and adapt it using the NIE syllabus.
The weekly rhythm
Daily (2–3 hours of home study): one subject deeply and one briefly for retrieval practice.
Weekly: a mixed problem set; review of the error log; one timed section.
Monthly: a full paper in one subject under exam conditions, with careful marking.
Every six weeks: a full revision of earlier topics with spaced retrieval (Dunlosky et al., 2013).
Resources
The NIE syllabus and teacher guides for each subject, available from the National Institute of Education.
Past papers and marking schemes from the Department of Examinations.
Textbooks: for Combined Mathematics, Stewart (2016) and Croft and Davison (2019) for depth; for Physics, Halliday et al. (2018) or Young and Freedman (2020); for Chemistry, Chang and Goldsby (2016) and Clayden et al. (2012); for ICT, Brookshear and Brylow (2019) and the Python tutorial (Python Software Foundation, n.d.).
Teachers and study groups. Explaining a problem to a classmate is a very effective way to learn.
Free online courses and videos can supplement but not replace working problems yourself.
The last month and the examination weeks
Stop learning large new topics; consolidate.
Practise under realistic conditions: time, calculator, pens, quiet.
Prepare formula sheets and key-fact lists by hand (the act of writing helps memory).
Plan sleep, meals, travel, and equipment for each exam day.
After each paper, do not dwell on it; rest and prepare for the next.
After the A/L
Results are released by the Department of Examinations, and applications for university are made through the UGC process according to its published schedule. Check the UGC’s current handbook for eligibility, courses, and deadlines. If your Z-score does not reach your first choice, you have options: other degree programmes, technology and IT degrees, private institutions and professional qualifications, vocational training, bridging programmes such as the Open University’s Advanced Certificate in Science (Open University of Sri Lanka, 2022), foreign study, and repeating the examination. Many successful engineers, scientists, and technologists took routes that were not their first plan. Skills, character, and persistence matter as much as the first result.
Wellbeing and perspective
The two years are hard but not endless. Keep friends, exercise, rest, and moments of pleasure. Seek help early if anxiety or low mood affects sleep, appetite, or concentration. Your worth is not defined by marks, and the habits you build here (curiosity, discipline, honesty, and the ability to learn) will serve you long after the examination.
Common mistakes
A perfect plan that is never followed; choose a realistic, flexible one.
Studying late into the night; sleep is part of learning.
Comparing your progress with others rather than with your own earlier work.
Practice questions
Draw up a weekly timetable for your own subjects including spaced review and one timed section.
List three alternative pathways you would consider if your first choice were not achievable, and what you would need for each.
Appendix A: Formula Quick Reference
Combined Mathematics
| Topic | Result |
|---|---|
| Quadratic | ; ; |
| AP / GP | ; ; |
| Binomial | |
| Trigonometry | ; ; |
| Sine / cosine rule | ; |
| Line / circle | ; |
| Vectors | ; |
| De Moivre | |
| Differentiation | ; |
| Integration | ; |
| Kinematics | ; ; |
| Probability | ; binomial |
Physics
| Topic | Result |
|---|---|
| Newton / momentum | ; ; |
| Energy | ; ; |
| Circular motion | |
| Rotation | ; ; |
| Gravitation | ; ; |
| SHM | ; |
| Waves | ; ; |
| Optics | ; |
| Gas / thermal | ; ; ; |
| Electricity | ; ; ; ; |
| Magnetism | ; ; |
| Quantum / nuclear | ; ; ; ; |
Chemistry
| Topic | Result |
|---|---|
| Moles | ; ; |
| Gases | ; |
| Thermodynamics | ; |
| Equilibrium | ; |
| Acids / buffers | ; ; |
| Kinetics | (first order); |
| Electrochemistry | ; ; |
Appendix B: Physical Constants
The values below are the recommended values (Tiesinga et al., 2021); constants marked “exact” are fixed by the 2019 redefinition of the SI (BIPM, 2019).
| Quantity | Symbol | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Speed of light in vacuum | (exact) | |
| Planck constant | (exact) | |
| Elementary charge | (exact) | |
| Boltzmann constant | (exact) | |
| Avogadro constant | (exact) | |
| Gas constant | ||
| Faraday constant | ||
| Gravitational constant | ||
| Standard gravity | (standard value) | |
| Permittivity of free space | ||
| Permeability of free space | ||
| Electron mass | ||
| Proton mass | ||
| Atomic mass unit | ||
| Stefan–Boltzmann constant |
In the A/L, use the values and the precision given in the examination paper.
Appendix C: Periodic Table Study Guide
| Group | Name | Key facts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alkali metals | ; soft; react with water to form hydroxides and H₂; reactivity increases down the group; flame colours |
| 2 | Alkaline earth metals | ; less reactive; carbonate stability and hydroxide solubility increase down the group |
| 3–12 | Transition metals | Partly filled subshell; variable oxidation states; coloured ions; catalysts; complexes |
| 13 | Boron group | Al is amphoteric; |
| 14 | Carbon group | C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb; metallic character increases down |
| 15 | Pnictogens | N₂ inert; NH₃, HNO₃; P allotropes |
| 16 | Chalcogens | O₂, S; H₂SO₄ and the Contact process |
| 17 | Halogens | Diatomic; oxidizing power decreases down; HX acidity increases down |
| 18 | Noble gases | Full shells; largely inert; Xe compounds known |
Periodic trends summary: across a period, atomic radius decreases and electronegativity and ionization energy generally increase; down a group, atomic radius increases and ionization energy and electronegativity decrease.
Appendix D: Glossary
Accuracy. How close a measurement is to the true value.
Algorithm. A finite, unambiguous sequence of steps to solve a problem.
Buffer. A solution that resists changes in pH.
Calculus. The branch of mathematics that studies rates of change (differentiation) and accumulation (integration).
Catalyst. A substance that speeds up a reaction without being consumed.
Complex ion. A central metal ion bonded to ligands.
Database. An organized collection of data managed by a DBMS.
Entropy. A measure of the dispersal of energy (disorder) in a system.
Equilibrium. A state in which forward and reverse rates are equal and concentrations are constant.
Hybridization. The mixing of atomic orbitals to form new orbitals for bonding.
Impedance. The total opposition to alternating current in a circuit.
IP address. A numerical label identifying a device on a network.
Mole. The amount of substance containing entities.
Normalization. Organizing a database to reduce redundancy and anomalies.
Precision. How close repeated measurements are to each other.
Resonance. A large response when a system is driven at its natural frequency.
Simple harmonic motion. Oscillation in which acceleration is proportional and opposite to displacement.
SI. The International System of Units.
Two’s complement. A method of representing signed integers in binary.
Vector. A quantity with both magnitude and direction.
Z-score. A standardized score showing how many standard deviations a mark is from the mean; used in Sri Lankan university admission.
References
How to read this list. Entries follow APA 7th edition. Section A lists textbooks and reference works for the four subjects. Section B lists research and standards on units, constants, and learning. Section C lists web and official sources about the A/L system, university admission, and education reform, checked in October 2026. Section D lists official bodies that readers should consult for current syllabuses, examination formats, and admission rules, which change from year to year. Textbooks are cited for the established science they contain, so page numbers are not given.