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Physics

Why study Physics?

Physics at A level is a subject for the curious, for those who ask the deepest questions about the universe but who also want to know about the workings of the physical world in everyday life. 

Course overview

The course covers a complete A level grounding in the fundamentals of the subject.

In the first year, you’ll cover familiar areas in more depth: mechanics, materials, electricity and waves, and exciting new topics: particles, quantum phenomena and material science.

In year two, you’ll be introduced to topics including fields and nuclear physics, and choose from options such as astrophysics, electronics, medical physics, and engineering physics. The practical skills relating to how science works are integrated throughout the two years.

You’ll develop the ability to plan, implement, analyse and evaluate experiments. You’ll learn strategies for successful problem solving, and gain an understanding of the use of IT for the analysis of results using Excel, data gathering and research. You’ll also become skilled at communicating difficult concepts clearly.

How is the course assessed? 

External Exam (all papers 2 hours)

  • Paper 1 – mainly first year core content
  • Paper 2 – mainly second year core content
  • Paper 3 – Section A: Practical skills
    Section B: Optional topic (Astrophysics, Medical physics, Engineering,Turning Points, Electronics)

Internal Assessment

  • There are two mock exams in the lower-sixth (January and May) and two in the upper-sixth (November and February).
  • Tests are set every 4-6 weeks, on topics as they are completed.
  • Practical work is assessed through 12 specified practicals that are performed throughout the 2 years.
What will I do in lessons?

You will be introduced to topics through teacher demonstrations and practical work, which will then be consolidated in class and at home through problem-solving in groups or individual work.

What Independent study will be expected?

5+ hours per week mainly consolidating work covered in class by answering questions but also reading ahead and completing lab reports.

Exam Board

AQA
Link to specification

GCSE entry requirements:

  • 7 in Mathematics required
  • 5 English Language required
  • 7 + 6 in Science Combined Trilogy required (if Physics is the only science subject being studied at A level)
  • 7 + 7 in Science Combined Trilogy required (if Physics is being studied alongside another A level science subject)
  • OR  7 physics + 6 biology + 6 chemistry required
What A Levels go well with this one?

Maths, Further maths, Chemistry, Philosophy, Biology

What can I do beyond A Levels with this subject?

The course is essential for students who wish to go on to study engineering as well as physics and prepares you for a wide range of other related degrees such as architecture, natural sciences, maths and medicine.

Frequently asked questions

How much maths is there and do I need to take maths A level to study A level physics?

The maths content is set by all exam boards to be 40% of the course. You are not required to take A level maths although it does help with your understanding and it is required should you apply for a physics related course at university.

How big are your classes?

Approximately 22 students per group

Does it help if I take Further Maths?

It will help but again is not required. It may also help in the first term of a physics related university course.

How much support is there?

There is a 60 minute drop-in tutorial usually once a week (sometimes twice) and peer mentoring is arranged between upper and lower-sixth students. Booster classes are also run as the exams get closer. Teachers are also very generous with their time when not teaching and are often available when free. For students applying to Oxbridge we run tutorials to help them prepare for the entrance exams and give mock interviews for all physics related applications, including engineering.

What do your students go on to do?

Engineering, (mechanical, civil, aeronautical, electrical, chemical), physics, astrophysics, maths, architecture, chemistry and degree apprenticeships at Oxbridge, Russell Group and 1994 Group universities.

What sort of enrichment activities do you run?

We run a number of visits throughout the year including a popular 3 day trip to the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva and the Swiss Plasma Centre in Lausanne.

Other visits in recent years have included Silverstone and Imperial College’s physics dept.

There is also the opportunity to enter the British Physics Olympiad.

Over the last 6 years we have taken part research projects with Queen Mary, University of London that used Python coding to search for exoplanets in data from NASA’s Kepler satellite and a solid state detector to investigate cosmic radiation. This year we also ran a research project with a Ph.D student from UCL’s Opto-mechanics group using laser tweezers to detect dark matter.

Last year there was a popular Astronomy club that held observation nights and went on a trip to Mill Hill Observatory.

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