Assessment
All candidates take three papers.
Candidates who have studied the Core subject content, or who are expected to achieve a grade D or below, should be entered for Paper 1, Paper 3 and either Paper 5 or Paper 6. These candidates will be eligible for grades C to G.Candidates who have studied the Extended subject content (Core and Supplement), and who are expected to achieve a grade C or above, should be entered for Paper 2, Paper 4 and either Paper 5 or Paper 6. These candidates will be eligible for grades A* to G.
Core candidates take:
Core candidates – Paper 1
- Time: 45 minutes (40 marks)
- 40 four-choice multiple-choice questions Questions will be based on the Core subject content
- No marks deducted from incorrect answers
- NO CALCULATOR ALLOWED
- Data booklet provided
- 30% weight
- Externally assessed
Core candidates – Paper 3
- Time: 75 minutes (80 marks)
- Short-answer and structured questions Questions will be based on the Core subject content
- No marks deducted from incorrect answers
- NO CALCULATOR ALLOWED
- 50% weight
- Externally assessed
Unit 1. General physics
Unit 2. Thermal physics
- 2.1 Simple kinetic molecular model of matter
- 2.2 Thermal properties and temperature
- 2.3 Thermal processes
Unit 3. Properties of waves, including light and sound
Unit 4. Electricity and magnetism
- 4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism
- 4.2 Electrical quantities
- 4.3 Electric circuits
- 4.4 Digital electronics
- 4.5 Dangers of electricity
- 4.6 Electromagnetic effects
Extended candidates take:
Extended candidates – Paper 2
- Time: 45 minutes (40 marks)
- 40 four-choice multiple-choice questions Questions will be based on the Extended subject content (Core and Supplement)
- No marks deducted from incorrect answers
- NO CALCULATOR ALLOWED
- 30% weight
- Externally assessed
Extended candidates – Paper 4
- Time: 75 minutes (80 marks)
- Short-answer and structured questions Questions will be based on the Extended subject content (Core and Supplement)
- No marks deducted from incorrect answers
- NO CALCULATOR ALLOWED
- 50% weight
- Externally assessed
Unit 1. General physics
Unit 2. Thermal physics
- 2.1 Simple kinetic molecular model of matter
- 2.1.1 States of matter
- 2.1.2 Molecular model
- 2.1.3 Evaporation
- 2.1.4 Pressure changes
- 2.2 Thermal properties and temperature
- 2.3 Thermal processes
- 2.3.1 Conduction
- 2.3.2 Convection
- 2.3.3 Radiation
- 2.3.4 Consequences of energy transfer
Unit 3. Properties of waves, including light and sound
Unit 4. Electricity and magnetism
- 4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism
- 4.2 Electrical quantities
- 4.2.1 Electric charge
- 4.2.2 Current
- 4.2.3 Electromotive force
- 4.2.4 Potential difference
- 4.2.5 Resistance
- 4.2.6 Electrical working
- 4.3 Electric circuits
- 4.4 Digital electronics
- 4.5 Dangers of electricity
- 4.6 Electromagnetic effects
Unit 5. Atomic physics
- 5.1 The nuclear atom
- 5.2 Radioactivity