NCEA 92047: a physical system using energy concepts (Level 1 Physics, Earth and Space Science)

What NCEA 92047 assesses

NZQA says you are assessed on a physical system, a defined space with an object or interacting objects, and on a change to that system described with energy concepts. The standard (version 3) gives examples of systems: a vacuum flask, an insulated home, a simple electrical circuit, falling objects and lifting objects. The energy concepts are energy transfer, conservation of energy and the forms of energy (mechanical, thermal and electrical), and the associated formulae are:

• ΔE = Pt and W = Fd
• Eₖ = ½mv² and Eₚ = mgΔh
• E (thermal) = mcΔT and E (thermal) = mL
• P = VI and V = IR

The three grades go up in steps. Achieved describes the system, a change to it, and the energy concepts involved, using evidence. Merit explains the change using the energy concepts and evidence. Excellence examines the implications of the change to the system. Evidence can be written accounts, representations or calculations.

The NCEA 92047 exam in 2026 and 2027

NCEA 92047 is one of two Level 1 Physics, Earth and Space Science externals, with 92046 (the Sun and the Earth-Moon system). The 2026 exam is on Thursday 12 November, in the afternoon session. NZQA's specifications for both years say the exam is on printed paper and 92047 is a 5-credit external.

• Three questions: they focus on mechanical energy, thermal energy and electrical energy.
• Show it several ways: responses need to be descriptive and supported by representations, annotated diagrams, graphs and calculations.
• Formulae are on the paper: the exam paper contains all the mathematical formulae you need. You may use an approved calculator.
• What 2025 asked: gravitational, kinetic and thermal energy in a falling pot, electrical power and convection currents, and analysing and improving an experiment to find specific heat capacity.

How NCEA 92047 is marked

Each of three questions is scored N0 to E8, and the scores are added to a total out of 24. The three questions follow mechanical, thermal and electrical energy, and NZQA's report says the 2025 paper was one hour long.

NCEA 92047 cut scores

Excellence moved from 18 in 2024 to 19 in 2025, while Achieved and Merit stayed at 7 and 13. Only two years are listed because NZQA's 2023 schedule was a pilot for an earlier version. Scores are where each grade begins, out of 24. NZQA's 2023 schedules were pilot schedules for an earlier version of the standard, so only 2024 and 2025 are listed.

Cut scores 2025

2025 schedule: Achieved from 7, Merit from 13, Excellence from 19. Compared with 2024, Excellence went up by 1.

Cut scores 2024

2024 schedule: Achieved from 7, Merit from 13, Excellence from 18.

Worked examples at each grade

Achieved: lifting a crate

A 20 kg crate is lifted 1.5 m. Take g = 9.8 N kg⁻¹ (use the value on your paper). The crate gains gravitational potential energy, which is the work done by the lifting force:

If the lift takes 3.0 s, the power is E ÷ t = 294 ÷ 3.0 = 98 W. At Achieved you pick the right formula, substitute and give the unit.

Merit: heating water and the efficiency

A 1500 W immersion heater runs for 4.0 minutes in 1.2 kg of water and warms it by 55 °C. Use c = 4200 J kg⁻¹ °C⁻¹.

Merit explains the change: the other 82 800 J was transferred as thermal energy to the container and the surrounding air, so energy is conserved but not all of it ended up in the water. The Specific Heat Calculator gives the 277 200 J. NZQA's report notes confusion over the units of heat capacity and over temperature difference versus absolute temperature, so write ΔT in °C.

Excellence: the implications of a change

The student wraps the beaker in foam and repeats the test. Suppose the heat lost falls from 82 800 J to 40 000 J. Then the energy left for the water is 360 000 − 40 000 = 320 000 J, and the temperature rise becomes:

Excellence examines the implications. The foam reduces conduction, convection and radiation losses, so the same electrical energy warms the water more, and the efficiency rises to 320 000 ÷ 360 000 = 89%. In a real home, the same idea means insulation cuts the energy, and the cost, needed to keep a hot water cylinder warm. The ideas stay the same: energy is transferred, none is lost.

Now work out the energy an appliance uses and what it costs in our Electricity course, then press Mark to check your answer in the course:

Exam answers

The answers and a worked mark scheme come with today's paper once it is marked. We do not publish official or past paper answers. Every question on the daily paper is our own.

Use the daily paper as a practice exam

The Level 1 PESS track above is a short timed mock of 8 questions, not a full exam and not written by NZQA (NCEA Level 1 PESS). It supports 92047 well: it covers energy and specific heat capacity, mains electricity and power, and series and parallel circuits. It also includes the electromagnetic spectrum, radioactive decay, wave equations, pressure and stopping distances, which are not part of 92047, and no questions on 92046. For the whole course, see the NCEA Level 1 PESS guide.

Is NCEA 92047 changing?

NZQA's 2027 specification keeps the three-question printed format. In 2028 Year 11 moves to a new foundational award.

Common mistakes in NCEA 92047

• Writing numbers with no formula. NZQA's 2025 report says many candidates did not identify the equation they were using, and says to show which variables change and which stay the same.
• Confusing power and energy. The report says some mixed up power with energy or voltage.
• Mixing up convection and conduction. A convection diagram needs labels, and the density change comes from particles moving further apart as they speed up.
• Talking about heat as a substance. Use thermal energy transferred.
• Misreading the system. The report says some candidates wrote about objects falling when the object was being lifted.
• Rearranging wrongly. Check your rearranged equation by substituting a number.

Read next

New Zealand · NCEA Level 1NCEA Level 1 Physics, Earth and Space Science guideNCEA Level 1 PESS explained: the Sun, Earth and Moon and energy externals, the two internals, the 2026 exam date, 2027 dates and worked examples.