The new National Guidelines for Lyceums (text published by the Ministry on 22 April 2026, currently under consultation; application expected from the 2027–2028 school year) rethink the teaching of physics in the science lyceum. Rather than a list of topics, they propose a method: physics as a tool for critical citizenship, enabling the evaluation of data and models on issues such as energy, the environment and artificial intelligence.
The framework in brief:
- The “how” before the “what”: strong emphasis on experimental and laboratory work and the cultural aspects of the subject.
- Historical and interdisciplinary contextualisation of concepts — understood in a conceptual sense, not as mere chronology.
- Modern physics without formalism: for relativity, quanta and nuclear physics, the aim is to understand the ideas, not to solve problems formally.
- A new section, «Why study this subject», which sets out the educational value of physics.
- A pathway across the first two-year cycle (basic concepts, without formalised dynamics yet), the second two-year cycle and the fifth year, with some essential topics for the exam.
Map of topics
The five broad areas into which the syllabus is organised. Each keyword links to the site page that covers it.
| Area | Key topics |
|---|---|
| Classical mechanics | kinematics, dynamics, inclined plane and circular motion, work and energy, oscillations, momentum, rotational dynamics, gravitation |
| Thermodynamics | temperature and heat, kinetic theory of gases, first law, entropy, heat engines |
| Electrostatics and circuits | Coulomb’s law, field and potential, circuits, Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s laws |
| Magnetism and induction | magnetic field, electromagnetic induction, Maxwell’s equations and electromagnetic waves |
| Modern physics | waves and optics, special relativity, quantum mechanics, nuclear physics |
Essential core topics for the exam (fifth year)
The Guidelines set classical mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism and modern physics as the founding core for the school-leaving exam. Some content (in particular fluid dynamics, details on gases and optics) remains coverable but is not part of the essential core.
Structure of the exam paper
The science lyceum exam paper usually requires two multi-topic problems (choose one) and a series of short questions.
The problems typically combine two or three areas: the classic example is a problem on electromagnetic induction that also requires conservation of energy and kinematics. To practise this kind of cross-topic problem, see the multi-topic examples.
Fonte: Nuove Indicazioni Nazionali per i Licei — MIM (22 aprile 2026).