New Physics Students

Year 10 Taster Day

Course description

Are you interested in the big questions in life? Will we be able to travel in time? How will the universe end? How did it begin and how did we get here? What am I made from, and where did all those elements come from? Where does all our energy come from?

Do we know the answers to any of these questions, and if so, how?
The Advancing Physics course shows how Physics is exciting, always developing, and of great practical use in many ways and in many careers; as well as probing some of the deepest truths about the physical world.  Advancing Physics describes essential core ideas in Physics in a variety of up-to-date and interesting settings.

Course outline

The course consists of six modules. It is assessed by three examinations, each of which can assess content from any of the modules.

Module 1: Development of practical skills

For a range of practicals throughout the two year course, students will be assessed on: 
- experimental design
- safe working practice
- accurate measurement techniques
- research and referencing

Assessment occurs in the final written exam, and as part of the A Level Practical Endorsement.

Module 2: Fundamental data analysis

Students will be assessed in their ability to: 
- identify factors affecting experimental accuracy
- plot appropriate graphs to best display data
- estimate uncertainties

Module 3: Forces & Motion

- motion
- forces, moments & equilibrium 
- Newton's laws & momentum
- work, energy & power
- drag forces & projectile motion
- materials science

Module 4: Electrons, Waves & Photons

- electricity & electric circuits
- wave behaviour: diffraction, refraction & polarisation
- wave superposition & interference effects
- basic quantum physics

Module 5: Newtonian World & Astrophysics

- thermal physics & gas laws
- circular motion
- oscillations 
- gravitational fields & orbital mechanics
- astrophysics & cosmology

Module 6: Particles & Medical Physics

- capacitors
- electric & magnetic fields
- electromagnetism
- particle physics
- nuclear physics & radioactivity
- medical imaging

Why study Physics?

Advice for new students

More physics videos

Exam Papers

Paper 1
37 % of course
2 hr 15 mins

Covers breadth of understanding of concepts from modules 1,2, 3 & 5

Assessed by MCQs, shorter structured Qs, extended response Qs, and open problem-solving questions

Paper 2
37 % of course
2 hr 15 mins

Covers breadth of understanding of concepts from modules 1,2, 4 & 6

Assessed by MCQs, shorter structured Qs, extended response Qs and open problem-solving questions

Paper 3
26 % of course
1 hr 30 mins

Synoptic paper, with a greater emphasis on problem-solving and practical skills, data analysis and dealing with experimental uncertainty and error.

Career opportunities and further study

A Physics qualification is highly valued by employers and universities. It has also been shown that people with a Physics degree earn higher salaries compared to many other degrees. 

A level Physics is useful or essential for a wide range of careers, including all branches of engineering, scientific research, medical physics, radiography and other areas linked to medicine, electronics, meteorology, environmental science and geophysics. 

Physics A Level is also often taken by people intending to study medicine, dentistry and pharmacy, whilst the logic and problem-solving skills it develops are essential for successful careers in business, law and finance.

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Overview

Exam board:    OCR A
Assessment:    Exams (100 %)
Qualification:  A Level (linear)
Level:                    Level 3

(There is also an additional add-on practical qualification).

What our students say

"Physics is a fantastic course – with a wide range of exciting and challenging topics – and lessons are very interesting"


“I have enjoyed the subject and my lessons. If my exams have gone well, I hope to study physics at A2”


“Physics is challenging but very rewarding”

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