Examination Board:  AQA

Subject content

Core content

  • 1 Measurements and their errors
  • 2 Particles and radiation
  • 3 Waves
  • 4 Mechanics and materials
  • 5 Electricity
  • 6 Further mechanics and thermal physics
  • 7 Fields and their consequences
  • 8 Nuclear physics

Options

  • 9 Astrophysics
  • 10 Medical physics
  • 11 Engineering physics
  • 12 Turning points in physics
  • 13 Electronics

AS

Assessments

Paper 1
What's assessed

Sections 1 - 5

Assessed
  • written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 70 marks
  • 50% of AS
Questions

70 marks of short and long answer questions split by topic.

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Paper 2
What's assessed

Sections 1 - 5

Assessed
  • written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • 70 marks
  • 50% of AS
Questions

Section A: 20 marks of short and long answer questions on practical skills and data analysis

Section B: 20 marks of short and long answer questions from across all areas of AS content

Section C: 30 multiple choice questions

A-level

Assessments

Paper 1
What's assessed

Sections 1 to 5 and 6.1 (Periodic motion)

Assessed
  • written exam: 2 hours
  • 85 marks
  • 34% of A-level
Questions

60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice questions on content.

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Paper 2
What's assessed

Sections 6.2 (Thermal Physics), 7 and 8

Assumed knowledge from sections 1 to 6.1

Assessed
  • written exam: 2 hours
  • 85 marks
  • 34% of A-level
Questions

60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice questions on content.

+

Paper 3
What's assessed

Section A Compulsory section: Practical skills and data analysis

Section B: Students enter for one of sections 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13

Assessed
  • written exam: 2 hours
  • 80 marks
  • 32% of A-level
Questions

45 marks of short and long answer questions on practical experiments and data analysis.

35 marks of short and long answer questions on optional topic.

Grade 7 in GCSE Combined Science or Physics and Grade 6 in Maths.

 

Physics is a good choice for students who want a career in Finance, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Dentistry, Computing, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Environmental Science. Physics will also prepare students for industry careers, such as those within the engineering or electronics sectors. It can demonstrate a solid grasp of mathematics and the ability to learn and understand new concepts.

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