FORUM
CIFE
the sixth-form experts
Call us now for advice
0208 767 8666
  • Home
  • About CIFE
    • Close
    • menu-about-image
    • About CIFE
      • About CIFE
      • CIFE news
      • FAQs about CIFE colleges
      • Choose the right CIFE college
      • Why colleges join CIFE
      • Links to good sites for sixth formers
      • CIFE Featured Students
      • CIFE Student Profiles
      • University Destinations
      • cife is the professional association for independent sixth-form colleges

        All CIFE colleges share the belief that students come first and that education should adapt to the individual rather than the other way round. That belief is made real by staff who have the time to get to know students fast and to tailor their approach to each individual. This makes CIFE colleges particularly good at helping students change school successfully.

        GET IN TOUCH

  • Choose a college
    • Close
        • Bath
          Bath Academy
        • Birmingham
          MPW Birmingham
        • Cambridge
          CATS College Cambridge
          MPW Cambridge
        • Canterbury
          CATS College Canterbury
        • Market Harborough
          Brooke House College
        • Northampton
          Bosworth Independent College
        • Oxford
          Carfax College
          Cherwell College
          Oxford International College
          Oxford Sixth Form College
        • Reading
          Padworth College
        • Rochester
          Rochester Independent College

        SEE ALL COLLEGES

        • London
          Ashbourne Independent Sixth-form College
          Bales College
          Cambridge Tutors College
          CATS College London
          Collingham Independent College
          David Game College
          LSI Independent College
          MPW London
          Regent Independent College
          Westminster Tutors
      • Read our questions to ask cife colleges for advice on making the best choice.

        Find out more about cife colleges' approach to sixth-form education.

        For help and advice on choosing the right college for you please get in touch.

        GET IN TOUCH

  • Fees & Scholarships
    • Close
    • menu-fees-image
    • Fees at CIFE Colleges
      • Fees at CIFE Colleges
      • Scholarships
      • Each cife college sets its own fees. Comparing fees at sixth form colleges isn’t always straightforward because many charge a fee that depends upon the number and level of the subjects you take. View the links on our cife college fees page to quickly find individual college fees.

        If you need financial help in order to study at a cife college, do have a look at Help with Fees at CIFE colleges as many colleges offer scholarships for talented students.

        GET IN TOUCH

  • Advice
    • Close
    • menu-advice-image
    • All Sixth-form advice articles
      • Choose the right A levels
      • A guide to individual A level subjects
      • How to choose your CIFE college
      • The EPQ – Extended Project Qualification
      • How to revise
      • FAQs about A level retakes
      • FAQs for international students
      • CIFE intercollegiate articles
      • We have a library of over 60 free advice articles ranging from how to pick the right A levels, through how to revise effectively, to how to get the best out of university open days. Browse our full sixth form advice library, or if you need further help please get in touch and we will do our best to help you.

        • Sixth-form advice articles about study skills...
        • Advice articles about sixth-form choices...
        • Sixth-form advice articles about university entrance...

        GET FREE ADVICE

  • Courses
    • Close
    • menu-courses-image
    • All courses
      • Two-year A-level
      • A-level retakes
      • One-year A-level courses
      • Final-year A-level
      • University Foundation courses
      • GCSE courses
      • Easter Revision Courses
      • With their long experience of helping students settle in quickly, wide subject choice and flexible course structures, courses at cife colleges make it easy to move school and they provide an excellent environment for a new start.

        For free, independent advice on the course options available to you please get in touch.

        GET IN TOUCH

  • Contact us
logo

All about A level Physics

Home » Sixth-form advice articles » Guide to individual A level subjects » All about A level Physics

What’s A level Physics about?

A level Physics gives you the opportunity to explore the phenomena of the universe and to look at theories that explain what is observed.  This subject combines practical skills with theoretical ideas to develop descriptions of the physical universe.  You will learn about everything from kinematics to cosmology and many recent developments in fascinating topics, such as particle physics. If you are interested in the limits of space, the beginning of time and everything in between this is the subject for you. Physics is more than a subject – it trains your brain to think beyond boundaries.

All exam boards offer an A level Physics Here's a list of what the AQA A level Physics course covers: Particles and Quantum Phenomena, Waves and Optics, Forces, Newton’s Laws of Motion, Momentum, Work, Energy and Materials, Electricity and DC Circuits, Circular Motion, Simple Harmonic Motion, Thermal Physics and Gases, Gravitational Fields, Electric Fields, Capacitors, Magnetic Fields and Electromagnetic Induction, Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy. AQA also include an option topic: 1 from Astrophysics, Medical Physics, Engineering Physics, Turning Points in Physics and Electronics.

And there's a full programme of practical work to complement the theory classes and to train you in lab skills.

Want to find out more? Try

  •  A short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson;
  • Why don’t penguins’ feet freeze? by New Scientist,
  • The Quantum Universe: Everything that can happen does happen by Brian Cox and Jeff Forshaw.
  • Good websites for Physicists include www.iop.org and www.physicsworld.com

What sort of work is involved?

A level Physics is a mixture of highly conceptual thinking and very practical applications. You need to be able to think about abstract ideas such as fields, but be able to apply those ideas to how, for instance, electric motors work. Getting accurate results from experiments requires practice and competence in the use of lab equipment.  Calculations are an important part of A level Physics and you need to be comfortable with algebra. At the same time descriptive work requires you to communicate clearly on paper.

What background do I need?

A good grounding in Physics is essential - 7 or higher at GCSE Physics or double science.  You need to be comfortable with Mathematics and able to write good English that is scientifically accurate.  A general interest in science would be helpful.  Much of what you learn in Physics will complement A levels in Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Where can it lead?

Physics is a highly respected A level. A good grade in A level Physics demonstrates to an employer that you have analytical and mathematical skills that you can apply to real life situations.  There are many possible career paths that it will create for you, for example: Engineering, Medicine, Forensic Science, Astronomy, Cosmology, Electronics, Power generation, Finance and many more.

One year course?

It's possible to cover the whole course in a year if you have a strong work ethic, mature study habits and good mathematical skills. In general that means you are likely to have done some serious post-16 study already.

Assessment

The whole of the A level Physics course is examined at the end of the full course. There are three theory papers and a practical skills assessment. Your grade is determined by how well you do on the theory papers. Your result in the practical is noted as an endorsement alongside your A-level grade. The papers are:

  • 2 papers each covering about half of the main course content
  • A third paper with data response / synoptic questions which can come from any part of the specification, plus questions on the option topic (see earlier)
  • The practical skills assessment involves performing a series of twelve experiments in class time which are assessed

 

Written by Graham Fowler, Head of Physics at Bosworth Independent College

Return to the list of A level subjects

Free advice on A level subject choice
Please feel free to get in touch by
calling 0208 767 8666
emailing us at enquiries@cife.org.uk
or filling in the contact form below.

    Your Name (required):

    Your Email (required):

    Your contact phone number:

    Tell us how we can help:


    The data entered on this form will be used only for the purpose of responding to your enquiry. It will not be used for sales/marketing, nor shared with any third party unless required to respond to your query (i.e. with one of our partner colleges).


     



    Return to the list of A level subjects

    Our Advice page links to more cife articles.  

     
     
    [testimonials_slider refresh_interval=3 random="true" show_start_stop="false" hide_source="true" adaptive_height="false"]

    Further advice articles

    • Sixth-form advice articles about study skills...
    • Advice articles about sixth-form choices...
    • Sixth-form advice articles about university entrance...

    Need any help?

    Please feel free to contact us for no-obligation, independent advice; either by calling us on 0208 767 8666 or by filling in the form below. We look forward to hearing from you.

     

      Your Name (required):

      Your Email (required):

      Your contact phone number:

      Tell us how we can help:


      The data entered on this form will be used only for the purpose of responding to your enquiry. It will not be used for sales/marketing, nor shared with any third party unless required to respond to your query (i.e. with one of our partner colleges).


       

      Share:
      Paul Redhead On 5th June 2019   /    

      Courses at cife colleges

      GCSE courses
      Two-year A level courses
      Final-year A level courses
      One-year A level courses
      A level retake courses
      University Foundation courses
      Easter A level & GCSE revision courses

      Advice articles

      FAQs about retakes
      Revision
      UCAS personal statement
      Tips for a top UCAS application
      For international students
      Choosing the right A levels
      Oxbridge and medicine interviews
      All advice articles

      cife

      More about cife
      FAQ about colleges
      News
      Why colleges join cife
      Useful links
      Fees at cife colleges
      Contact us

      Sitemap
      Privacy policy
      Website Terms & Conditions
      Copyright © 2017 - 2021 cife
       
      Web Design by WebSanity
       
      BACK TO TOP
      Back to Top