A-Level Physics is a two-year linear course assessed entirely through three written papers at the end of Year 13. There is no coursework. Students complete twelve specified practical activities during the course, and questions testing the skills from those practicals are woven into all three exam papers.
How many papers does A-Level Physics have?
Under the most widely used AQA specification, A-Level Physics uses three papers all sat in May or June of Year 13. Paper 3 is distinctive because one section focuses on practical skills and another offers a choice of optional topics.
| Paper | Content | Duration | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Particles, waves, mechanics, materials, electricity | 2 hours | 85 marks | 34% |
| Paper 2 | Thermal physics, nuclear physics, fields, astrophysics | 2 hours | 85 marks | 34% |
| Paper 3 | Practical skills + optional topic | 2 hours | 80 marks | 32% |
What does each paper cover?
Paper 1 covers the core topics introduced in Year 12. These include particles and quantum mechanics (the structure of matter, particle interactions, photoelectric effect, wave-particle duality), waves (superposition, diffraction, standing waves, refraction), mechanics (projectile motion, Newton's laws, moments, work-energy-power), materials (stress, strain, Young's modulus), and electricity (current, resistance, Kirchhoff's laws, potential dividers, internal resistance).
Paper 2 covers topics that build on Year 12 foundations and extend them in Year 13. Topics include circular motion, simple harmonic motion, gravitational fields, electric fields, magnetic fields and electromagnetic induction, capacitors, thermal physics (ideal gases and Boltzmann), nuclear physics (radioactive decay, nuclear binding energy), and astrophysics (the standard AQA optional topic embedded in Paper 2, covering distances, Hubble's law, and the Big Bang).
Paper 3 has two sections:
- Section A: Practical skills — questions on data analysis, graph linearisation, identifying errors, evaluating experimental design; this section draws directly on the twelve required practicals
- Section B: Optional topic — schools choose one from Astrophysics, Medical physics, Engineering physics, Turning points in physics, or Electronics. Students answer only on their school's chosen topic
What are the twelve required practicals?
A-Level Physics students must complete twelve specified practical activities during the course. Their skills are assessed in exam papers, not in a separate practical test. AQA's twelve required practicals include:
- Investigating the variation of resistance with length of wire
- Using a multimeter and investigating current-voltage characteristics
- Determining the Young modulus of a material (e.g., a wire under tension)
- Measuring the speed of sound in air (stationary waves/resonance tube)
- Investigating the effects of aperture size on single-slit diffraction
- Measuring the wavelength of laser light using a diffraction grating
- Investigating simple harmonic motion (pendulum or mass-spring system)
- Investigating circular motion
- Measuring the gravitational field strength using free fall
- Investigating the charge and discharge of a capacitor
- Investigating magnetic flux and Faraday's law
- Investigating the inverse-square law for gamma radiation
A Practical Endorsement (Pass or Fail) is recorded on the certificate. It does not affect the A*–E grade but confirms practical participation.
How is A-Level Physics graded?
A-Level Physics is graded A*, A, B, C, D, E with U for ungraded. The A* requires an overall score of at least 80% and at least 90% on Papers 1 and 2 combined; Paper 3 does not contribute to the A* boundary.
| Grade | Approximate overall percentage |
|---|---|
| A* | 80%+ overall; 90%+ on P1 + P2 |
| A | ~70–79% |
| B | ~60–69% |
| C | ~50–59% |
| D | ~40–49% |
| E | ~30–39% |
Boundaries vary year to year. Physics grade boundaries historically tend to be lower in raw mark terms than Biology or Chemistry because the papers include more multi-step calculation questions.
How does the content split across Year 12 and Year 13?
| Year | Core areas |
|---|---|
| Year 12 | Particles and quantum mechanics, waves, mechanics, materials, electricity |
| Year 13 | Circular motion, SHM, fields (gravitational, electric, magnetic), capacitors, thermal physics, nuclear physics, optional topic |
All content is examined in Year 13. Schools may also enter students for a standalone AS-Level Physics in Year 12, but AS grades do not count towards the A-Level.
Frequently asked questions
Is the optional topic chosen by the student or the school?
In most cases the optional topic is chosen by the school or department, not by individual students. All students in the cohort typically study the same optional topic because it is taught during lessons. The most common choice nationally is Astrophysics; Medical physics and Turning points in physics are also popular. Students should find out early which topic their school has chosen.
Does A-Level Physics require strong maths?
Yes. A-Level Physics is one of the most mathematically intensive A-Level subjects. Students regularly use algebra, trigonometry, logarithms, exponential functions, and basic calculus (gradients and areas under graphs) in their answers. Many sixth forms recommend or require at least grade 7 in GCSE Maths, and students taking Physics alongside A-Level Mathematics gain a significant advantage.
What GCSE grades are needed to take A-Level Physics?
Most sixth forms require at least a grade 6 in GCSE Physics (or Combined Science at 6-6) and a grade 6 or 7 in GCSE Maths. Because A-Level Physics is heavily mathematical, a weaker maths grade is often treated as a higher barrier than a weaker science grade.
Can a student take A-Level Physics without taking A-Level Maths?
Technically yes — there is no formal co-requisite — but it is strongly advisable to take them together. The mathematical demands of A-Level Physics (particularly in Fields, SHM, and capacitors) become much more manageable alongside A-Level Maths. Some sixth forms make concurrent A-Level Maths a condition of entry to Physics.
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