AQA Physics A-Level
Subject Overview
These qualifications are linear. This means that students will sit all the AS exams at the end of their AS course and all the A-
level exams at the end of their A-level course. The topics are divided into 8 core section and some optional sections:
Core Sections:
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
A separate endorsement of practical skills will be taken alongside the A-level. This will be assessed by teachers and will
be based on direct observation of students’ competency in a range of skills that are not assessable in written exams.
There are 12 Required Practicals to be completed.
Subject Information – Assessment - AS
Component
/Unit/Exam
paper
Weighting
Title
Details
Paper 1
50% of AS
70 marks
Section
1 to 5
Externally Assessed
• Written exam of 1 hour and 30 minutes
70 marks of short and long answer questions split by topic.
• Relevant practical skills
Paper 2
50% of AS
70 marks
Section
1 to 5
Externally Assessed
• Written exam of 1 hour and 30 minutes
70 marks of short and long answer questions split by topic.
• Relevant practical skills
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
Subject Information – Assessment - A Level (Section 1-5 and 6.1- Periodic Motion)
Component
/Unit/Exam
paper
Weighting
Title
Details
Paper 1
34% of A-Level
85 marks
Section 1 to
5 and
6.1(Periodic
Motion)
Externally Assessed
• Written exam of 2 hours
60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice
questions on content.
• Relevant practical skills
Paper 2
34% of A-Level
85 marks
Section
6.2
(Thermal
Physics),7
and 8
Externally Assessed
• Written exam of 2 hours
60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice
questions on content.
• Relevant practical skills
