The qualification builds on the knowledge, understanding and process skills that you will have

developed in GCSE Science. Students are expected to have achieved at least a GCSE Grade C in

Physics or CC in Science (Double Award) or an equivalent National Curriculum level Intermediate

GNVQ. It will be very helpful to have at least a grade C in GCSE Mathematics as numeracy and

mathematical skills are important in Physics. Communication is also important in Physics so you

will need to be able to communicate effectively, be able to research and critically think about

problems.

You will learn theory and develop relevant practical skills throughout the course.

A level physics aims for students to:

¨ sustain and develop their enjoyment of, and interest in, physics

¨ develop essential knowledge and understanding in physics

¨ develop the skills needed for the use of this knowledge and understanding in new and changing

situations where appropriate

¨ develop an understanding of the link between theory and experiment

¨ appreciate how physics has developed and is used in present day society

¨ show how physics links with social, philosophical, economic , industrial and environmental

matters

¨ recognise the quantitative nature of physics

¨ understand how mathematical expressions relate to physical principles

¨ bring together knowledge of ways in which different areas of physics relate to each other

¨ study how scientific models develop..Ó Edexcel Foundation 1999 Page 2 of 5

A level physics is suitable for students who:

¨ have an interest in, and enjoy physics;

¨ want to find out about how things in the physical world work;

¨ enjoy applying their mind to solving problems;

¨ enjoy carrying out investigations by the application of imaginative, logical thinking;

¨ want to use physics to support other qualifications or progress onto further studies or

employment.

AS physics is also suitable for students who:

¨ want to go on to the full A level;

¨ want a grounding in a relevant worthwhile qualification of recognised value;

¨ want to broaden their educational experience before making a decision about which A levels to

take;

¨ are taking A levels in the other Sciences and/or Mathematics or other relevant courses such as

Design and Technology and want to take another course that will support their studies.

The AS is a qualification in its own right. You study three units in the AS.

The full A level is made up from the AS level and three more units.

You can take the full A level in three ways:

1. Taking first the AS and then the A level

2. Taking all the units at the end of the course

3. Taking some units during the course and some at the end.

You have to take the synoptic unit at the end of the A level course.

This table shows you the examinations you will take and the % each unit is worth of either the AS

or the A level:

1 Unit Test AS and A level 1 h 20 min 30% 15%

2 Unit Test AS and A level 1 h 20 min 30% 15%

3 Topics Test and

Practical Test

AS and A level 45 min

1 h 30 min

20%

20%

10%

10%

4 Unit Test A level 1 h 20 min - 15%

5 Unit Test and

Practical Test

A level 1 h 00 min

1 h 30 min

-- 7.5%

7.5%

6 Synoptic Test

(Terminal Unit)

A level 2 h 00 min - 20%.

AS is short for Advanced Subsidiary. This is the first half of the A Level course. It is a stepping-stone

to the full A Level qualification. You can take just the AS on its own, if you and your teacher

agree that this is best for you. You can even decide at the end of the AS course whether to continue

to take the full A Level qualification. You study three units in the AS:

This unit leads on from GCSE studies and covers rectilinear motion, forces and moments, Newton’s

first and third laws, dynamics, momentum, Newton’s second law, mechanical energy, radioactive

decay and the nuclear atom.

This unit includes electric current and potential difference, electrical circuits, heating matter,

specific heat capacity, specific latent heat, temperature, kinetic model of matter, conservation of

energy, the first law of thermodynamics and efficiency.

You will study from a choice of topics for this unit. One topic is chosen from: astrophysics, solid

materials, nuclear and particle physics and medical physics.

Also, you sit a practical test. The practical test and the assessment of the topics will take place on

different days.

The full A Level qualification is made up of the AS units plus three more units which are studied at

a higher level. You don’t necessarily have to take the full A Level qualification; you can still get a

certificate just for the AS, and your teacher will advise you on what is best. If you do decide to

take the second half of the course it will cover the three units described below.

This unit includes circular motion and oscillations, simple harmonic motion, waves, superposition

of waves, quantum phenomena and the expanding Universe.

The first part of this unit covers gravitational fields, electric fields, capacitance, magnetic fields, and

electromagnetic induction.

The second part of this unit is a practical test. The practical test and the unit test will take place on

different days.

A synoptic unit means you draw together knowledge and understand and skills from throughout the

course.

It contains the following content which is assessed synoptically: analogies in Physics - comparison

of springs and capacitors, comparison of electric and gravitational fields, comparison between

capacitor discharge and radioactive decay; accelerators - conservation of mass-energy, linear

accelerators, ring accelerators and detecting particles.

Also, there are synoptic questions which tests content from anywhere in the specification (but not

from the Topics).

As well as studying A level Physics, this course will enable you to develop some Key Skills. These

Key Skills will be essential to you whatever you go on to do afterwards. You can develop all the

Key Skills when you study physics.

The Key Skills are in two groups:

1. three that form the Key Skills qualification which is worth the same as an AS

2. three more that are called wider Key Skills – these are very important to show skills that are

valued by Higher education and by employers.

Physics leads on to a wide range of courses and careers. You could go on to use Physics to support

other qualifications or progress onto further studies or employment. This could be:

¨ from a Higher National programme (HNC & HND) to degree level;

¨ courses ranging from Physics, the Sciences, Medicine to Engineering;

¨ Chemical Engineering and related programmes;

¨ employment in the area of radiography, and biotechnology as possible examples.

In fact Physics is recognised as an entry qualification for a wide range of Higher Education courses

and employment.

Physics   Chemistry    Biology  Department Curriculum  School   Research