The rule: two one-year subjects
On the general academic (científico-humanísticos) courses, Portaria n.º 226-A/2018 states that students choose two one-year subjects in 12.º ano (Year 12), one of which must be linked to the nature of the course, according to the option group in the course matrix.
On the Ciências e Tecnologias (sciences) course, the DGE's Aprendizagens Essenciais (official syllabus documents) present Year 12 Biology, Physics and Chemistry as option subjects of the course. Which subjects each school offers depends on that school. The DGE also publishes Aprendizagens Essenciais for Year 12 Geology.
What each one covers
| Subject | Domains in the Aprendizagens Essenciais | What it builds on |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Five proposed domains, of which each school chooses three: reproduction and fertility management; genetic heritage; immunity and disease control; food production and sustainability; preserving and restoring the environment. | Deepens and broadens knowledge already built in the course's core subjects |
| Physics | Mechanics (two-dimensional kinematics and dynamics, centre of mass and linear momentum, fluids); force fields (gravitational and electric fields, magnetic fields); modern physics (introduction to quantum physics, atomic nuclei and radioactivity). | Follows on from Física e Química A (Years 10 and 11) |
| Chemistry | Metals and metal alloys; fuels, energy and the environment; plastics, glass and new materials. | Follows on from Física e Química A (Years 10 and 11) |
In Year 12, Physics and Chemistry are two separate subjects, each with its own Aprendizagens Essenciais. According to those documents, both can also be an option for students on other courses who, under the law, follow their own study pathway.
Do they have a national exam?
No. The official list of national final exams (Table A of the Guia Geral de Exames 2026) does not include Year 12 Biology, Physics or Chemistry. The science exams on that list are Biologia e Geologia (702) and Física e Química A (715), both in Year 11.
Nor are they entrance exams. The science entrance exams, Biologia e Geologia and Física e Química, are met with exams 702 and 715.
How they count towards the average
In one-year subjects, the final subject grade equals the internal school grade: CFD = CIF. With no exam, the grade is the one the student earns at school over the year.
The final course grade is a weighted average of the final grades of every subject in the curriculum, and that average enters the university application grade with a weight of at least 40%. A good grade in a Year 12 option therefore helps the entrance average.
How to choose
- By the degree you want to follow: Physics and Chemistry continue Física e Química A; Biology goes deeper into topics such as genetics and immunity.
- By what you enjoy and do well in: since the final grade is the internal one, work throughout the year counts a great deal.
- By what the school offers: not every school offers every option, and in Biology the school picks three of the five domains.
- Without counting on these subjects as entrance exams: the science entrance exams are the Year 11 exams.
Common questions
How many option subjects are chosen in Year 12?
Two one-year subjects, one of which must be linked to the nature of the course, according to Portaria n.º 226-A/2018.
Are Year 12 Physics and Chemistry one subject?
No. They are two separate one-year subjects, each with its own Aprendizagens Essenciais.
Do the Year 12 options have a national exam?
No. The list of national exams in the Guia Geral de Exames 2026 does not include Year 12 Biology, Physics or Chemistry.
Do the Year 12 options count towards the entrance average?
Yes. They count towards the final course grade, which enters the application grade with a weight of at least 40%.
