A LEVEL PHYSICS
Exam Board
AQA
Overview
Physicists look for all the hidden laws that explain why all matter (that’s every physical thing) and energy in the known universe exists, where it comes from and how it behaves the way it does. Physicists use the laws they uncover to develop new materials, machinery, and technology to improve our lives and help us explore the universe further, from computers to telescopes and spacecraft.
On this course you will study topics such as radiation, electricity, waves and mechanics.
Why Choose This?
Physicists use the laws they uncover to develop new materials, machinery, and technology to improve our lives and help us explore the universe further, from computers to telescopes and spacecraft.
Physics will help you to build up your problem solving, research, and analytical skills. With these skills you’ll be able to test out new ideas plus question and investigate other people’s theories, which is useful for any kind of job that involves research or debate.
Physics is a seriously useful subject for the majority of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) careers and you’ll find physicists everywhere, in industry, transport, government, universities, the armed forces, the secret service, games companies, research labs and more.
Areas of Study & Assessment
Year 12 units:
Measurements and their errors
Particles and radiation
Waves
Mechanics and materials
Electricity
Year 13 units:
Further mechanics and thermal physics
Fields and their consequences
Nuclear physics
Optional unit: Usually astrophysics or medical physics
This course is 100% examination at the end of Year 13. You will also complete 12 required practicals which will be assessed within the examinations. There are five practical competencies (CPAC) that you have to have mastered by the end of the course. Your teacher will monitor your work in practical lessons and assess you against the exam board criteria. You will be expected to prepare for each lesson by studying the theory before each lesson and your teacher will assess you at key points throughout the course.
What Our Students Say
I have recently started studying physics and it has been wonderful. The teachers have been really helpful and the lessons are great. I have really developed my maths skills and have been fascinated by learning about the variety of particles that exist.