Topic outline
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Mid A Level Mocks
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Mid A level exam Guidance for Physics
The exam will cover the Year 12 content only which is covered in your purple CGP textbook. We will not examine any of the Year 13 content which we have covered since the recent test in Physics.
The format of the exam will be similar to the exams for the AS qualification, examples of which are available on the AQA web site https://www.aqa.org.uk/find-past-papers-and-mark-schemes
There will be two 90 minute papers. Paper 1 will consist only of short answer questions and paper 2 will contain short answer and multiple-choice questions.
When answering short answer questions with calculations, follow this format:
- Write out the formula
- Cleary show the values substituted into the formula
- Answer with unit
When answering descriptive questions, look at the command words.
Are you asked to “name”, “describe “ or “explain”. This will give you a guide to the level of detail needed as will the marks available and the amount of space allowed for your answer. Try to use correct scientific terminology.
When answering multiple choice questions, be aware that each question is worth only one mark. Do not spend too much time on any single question.
As a guide, you should allow about 1 minute 15 seconds for each mark in the exam.
Exam Content
Refer to the AS section of the AQA Physics GCE specification here:
https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/physics/specifications/AQA-7407-7408-SP-2015.PDF
The toipcs covered will be as follows. Page references for the specification are in brackets for you to find more detail:
1 Measurements and their errors (page 10)
2 Particles and radiation (page 12)
3 Waves (page 17)
4 Mechanics and materials (page 21)
5 Electricity (page 27)
You may also be examined on the required practical activities which are relevant to the AS part of the course which are detailed in your practical handbook. These practical activities are:
1 Investigation into the variation of the frequency of stationary waves on a string with length, tension and mass per unit length of the string.
2 Investigation of interference effects to include the Young’s slit experiment and interference by a diffraction grating.
3 Determination of g by a free-fall method.
4 Determination of the Young modulus by a simple method.
5 Determination of resistivity of a wire using a micrometer, ammeter and voltmeter.
6 Investigation of the emf and internal resistance of electric cells and batteries by measuring the variation of the terminal pd of the cell with current in it.