Why study this course?

Our A Level in Physics A enables students to build on their knowledge of the laws of physics, applying their understanding to solve problems on topics ranging from subatomic particles to the entire universe. They also have the opportunity to develop all the relevant practical skills.

What will I study?

Module 1 – Practical Skills – this is taught across the two years

Year 12

Module 2 – Foundations of Physics

• Physical quantities and units
• Making measurements and analysing data
• Nature of quantities

Module 3 – Forces and Motion

• Motion
• Forces in action
• Work, energy and power
• Materials
• Momentum

Module 4 – Electrons, Waves, and Photons

• Charge and current
• Energy, power and resistance
• Electrical circuits
• Waves
• Quantum Physics

Year 13

Module 5 – Newtonian World and Astrophysics

• Thermal physics
• Circular motion
• Oscillations
• Gravitational fields
• Astrophysics and cosmology

Module 6 – Particles and Medical Physics

• Capacitors
• Electric fields
• Electromagnetism
• Nuclear and particle physics
• Medical imaging

Study Visits/Trips

We have run different visits over the last few years, depending on availability, cost and student interest.

This year, we are hoping to take Y12 and Y13 students to Science Live: A-Level Physics in Birmingham, to hear from physicists doing cutting edge research, as well as receive insights from examiners.

Previous visits have included:

• CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Geneva, Switzerland to learn about cutting edge particle physics.
• Iceland to learn about geothermal energy, volcanic activity and the Aurora Borealis.
• Jodrell Bank, Manchester to learn about radio telescopes and how they are used to study other galaxies.

How will I be Assessed?

Students are only formally assessed at the end of the Y13 course.  There are:

• Two 2hr 15min exams using structured questions, each assessing different parts of the content (modules 3-6) and practical skills (modules 1-2).
• One 90 minute exam (Unified Physics), which uses more extended response questions to assess all content and practical skills.
• Practical Endorsement for Physics – Pass/Fail which is teacher-assessed.

The Practical Endorsement for Physics is designed to better prepare students for practical work at University and beyond.

Students are required to maintain a neat and ordered lab book which covers a large range of apparatus and techniques.

Where can this subject lead?

Studying physics helps students become employable across many sectors, and opens doors to many University courses.  Students who are successful in Physics show themselves to be excellent problem-solvers, clear communicators of complex ideas and highly capable at using mathematics.  

A-Level Physics opens the door to many diverse degrees and careers; students may choose to go on to study Physics at University and A-Level Physics is also usually a prerequisite to study Engineering (whether Electrical, Civil, Aerospace or many others).  However, no matter what career you see yourself in, or even if you don’t know yet, there are very few limits to the University degrees and careers that Physics will support.

More information about a few of the many potential career paths can be found here: https://www.iop.org/careers-physics/your-future-with-physics/career-paths

Associated Courses / Skills

A-Level Physics can be taken alongside any subjects at A-Level, but the most common one is A-Level Mathematics, which helps build students’ confidence in solving mathematical problems in Physics.  There is also overlap in the skills developed between the other Science courses, especially A-Level Chemistry.

Further, the logic and problem-solving developed throughout the A-Level Physics course will be beneficial to many other subjects, including Computer Science, IT, Further Mathematics and many more…

COURSE MATERIALS