Physics
Course title: Physics A Level AQA (Block D)
Academic year: |
2024/25 |
Course Venues: |
Blessed William Howard |
Course Type: |
A-Level |
Course Code: |
12DBwPH1 |
Duration: |
2 years |
Course Description:
This course is for students who wish to develop essential knowledge and understanding in Physics, the applications of Physics, and the skills needed for its use in new and changing situations. Students will develop an understanding of the link between theory and experiment and appreciate how Physics has developed and is used in present day society.
This is a new A-level specification, first taught in September 2015. It is planned to encourage the practical aspect of the course, whilst removing the traditional controlled assessments. The course has broad content with an option in A2 to study a range of courses including Medical Physics, Engineering Physics or Electronics. It is designed to inspire and motivate students and give the foundations for further study in Physics and related qualifications.
Course Content:
All exams will be sat at the end of the second year of study.
Unit 1 – Year 1:
- Measurements and their errors
- Particles and radiation
- Waves
- Mechanics and materials
- Electricity
Unit 2 – Year 2:
- Further mechanics and thermal physics
- Fields and their consequences
- Nuclear physics
Options
- Astrophysics
- Medical physics
- Engineering physics
- Turning points in physics
- Electronics
Entry requirements:
The standard entry criteria to study in the sixth form are a 9-4 in at least seven different subjects, including English and mathematics.
To study A-level physics, you will be required to achieve at least a grade 6 in combined science or have achieved 6 or above in separate science.
As A-level physics has a high mathematical content, a GCSE at grade 6 in mathematics is also required.
Assessment:
A-level assessment is in three papers, each 2 hours;
Paper 1 (34%), Sections 1-5 and 6.1 (Periodic motion) assessed.
Paper 2 (34%), Sections 6.2 (Thermal Physics), 7 and 8 assessed.
Paper 3 (32%), Optional topic and understanding of practical skills assessment is mainly in Paper 3.
Financial Information:
Students will need to either buy or give a full-cost deposit for their textbook (student’s choice). We will also arrange any revision conferences and fieldtrips as necessary. This will have a financial implication.
Further information:
There is only one book for the entire 2 year course; ISBN: 978-0198351870. Textbooks can be bought or hired from the school at a price of £42.50. If hired, the full deposit will be returned at the end of the A2 course subsequent to the book being returned in a good condition.
A-level physics is a 2 year linear course and students will sit all the exams at the end of their course.
Course title: Physics A Level OCR (Block A)
Academic year: |
2025/26 |
Course Venues: |
Blessed William Howard |
Course Type: |
A-Level |
Course Code: |
12DBwPH1 |
Duration: |
2 years |
Course Description:
This course is for students who wish to develop essential knowledge and understanding in Physics, the applications of Physics, and the skills needed for its use in new and changing situations. Students will develop an understanding of the link between theory and experiment and appreciate how Physics has developed and is used in present day society.
This is a new A-level specification, first taught in September 2015.
It is designed to inspire and motivate students and give the foundations for further study in Physics and related qualifications.
Course Content:
All exams will be sat at the end of the second year of study.
Unit 1 – Year 1:
- Development of practical skills in physics
- Foundations in physics
- Forces and motion
- Electrons, waves, and photons
Unit 2 – Year 2:
- Newtonian world and astrophysics
- Particles and medical physics
Entry requirements:
The standard entry criteria to study in the sixth form are a 9-4 in at least seven different subjects, including English and mathematics.
To study A-level physics, you will be required to achieve at least a grade 6 in combined science or have achieved 6 or above in separate science.
As A-level physics has a high mathematical content, a GCSE at grade 6 in mathematics is also required.
Assessment:
A-level assessment is in three papers, paper 1 and 2 are 2 hours 15 minutes long and paper 3 is 1 hour 30 minutes long.
Paper 1 (37%), Sections 1,2,3 and 5 (Modelling physics) assessed.
Paper 2 (37%), Sections 1,2,4 and 6 (Exploring physics) assessed.
Paper 3 (26%), All sections 1 to 6 (Unified physics) assessed.
Financial Information:
Students will need to either buy or give a full-cost deposit for their textbook (student’s choice). We will also arrange any revision conferences and fieldtrips as necessary. This will have a financial implication.
Further information:
There is only one book for the entire 2 year course (you can buy it whole or broken down into the two years); ISBN: 9781789080483. Textbooks can be bought or hired from the school at a price of £22.00. If hired, the full deposit will be returned at the end of the A2 course subsequent to the book being returned in a good condition.
A-level physics is a 2 year linear course and students will sit all the exams at the end of their course.