Advanced Subsidiary (AS level) and Advanced Level (A-level) subjects set out the criteria for knowledge, comprehension, assessment and specifications for that subject at advanced level. Hence, a framework is created wherein different awarding bodies create the details of the specification. The specifications and framework are designed to have equivalence across all awarding bodies. As a prime objective, the specification is designed to provide more knowledge & understanding while at the same time encouraging students to go for higher studies or further research. Development of an insight related to the field of work is one of the other significant criteria. Students come to terms with issues related to social, environmental ethics and learn how to handle them. AS & A-level Physics specifications require students to enhance their knowledge of S.I. units, an understanding of vector and scalar quantities, and awareness of the order of magnitude of physical quantities and the limitations of physical measurements.

Assessment
Assessment Objectives		Weighting
		AS Level	A2 Level	A Level
AO 1	Knowledge and understanding	30-40%	20-30%	25-35%
AO 2	Application of knowledge and understanding	30-40%	40-50%	35-45%
AO 3	How science works	20-40%	20-40%	20-40%

For completion of A-level, a student has to clear six units. Out of these six units, one AS and one A2 unit are internally assessed and are more often than not based on assessment of practical skills.

Three different boards provide specifications for A-level Physics, viz.:

• Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA)
• Edexcel
• Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR)

AQA

Specification A (AS + A2 Level Physics)

1)      AS Level

• Unit 1 - PHYA1 Particles, quantum phenomena and electricity
• Unit 2 - PHYA2 Mechanics, materials and waves
• Unit 3 - Investigative and practical skills in AS Physics

2)      A2 Level

• Unit 4 - PHYA4 Fields and further mechanics
• Unit 5 - One of Units PHA5A, PHA5B, PHA5C, PHA5D
• Unit 6 Investigative and practical skills in A2 Physics

Specification B

1.      AS Physics

• Foundation physics
• Waves and nuclear physics
• Experimental work

2.      Advanced (A2) Physic

• Further physics
• Fields and their applications
• Experimental work

For more details, refer to official AQA website.

Edexcel

Specification A

1.      AS Physics

• Unit 1: Physics on the go
  
  
  1. a) Study of mechanics
  2. b) Externally assessed
  3. c) Availability: January and June
  4. d) First assessment: January 2009
  5. e) 40% of AS marks
  6. f) 20% of total GCE marks

• Unit 2: Physics at Work
  
  
  1. a) Study of waves, electricity, wave-particle duality
  2. b) Externally assessed
  3. c) Availability: January and June
  4. d) First assessment: January 2009
  5. e) 40% of AS marks
  6. f) 20% of total GCE marks

• Unit 3: Exploring Physics
  
  
  1. a) Case study on application of Physics
  2. b) Internally or externally assessed
  3. c) Availability: June
  4. d) First assessment: June 2009
  5. e) 20% of AS marks
  6. f) 10% of total GCE marks

2.      A2 Physics

• Unit 4: Physics on the Move
  
  
  1. a) Further mechanics (momentum and circular motion), electric and magnetic fields, and particle physics
  2. b) Externally assessed
  3. c) Availability: January and June
  4. d) First assessment: January 2010
  5. e) 40% of A2 marks
  6. f) 20% of total GCE marks

• Unit 5: Physics from Creation to Collapse
  
  
  1. a) Study of thermal energy, nuclear decay, oscillations, astrophysics and cosmology.
  2. b) Externally assessed
  3. c) Availability: January and June
  4. d) First assessment: January 2010
  5. e) 40% of A2 marks
  6. f) 20% of total GCE marks

• Unit 6: Experimental Physics
  
  
  1. a)  Experiment and analysis
  2. b)  Internally or externally assessed
  3. c)  Availability: June
  4. d) First assessment: June 2010
  5. e)  20% of A2 marks
  6. f)   10% of total GCE marks

Specification Salters Horners

1.      AS Physics (Salters Horners)

• Unit 1: Physics at work, rest and play; The sound of music; Technology in space; Higher, faster, stronger
• Unit 2: Physics for life; Good enough to eat; Digging up the past; Spare part surgery
• Unit 3: Working with physics; Coursework

2.      Advanced Physics (Salters Horners)

• Unit 4: Moving with physics; Transport on track; The medium is the message; Probing the heart of matter
• Unit 5: Physics from creation to collapse
  • 5.1 Coursework
  • 5.2 Reach for the stars; Build or bust?
• Unit 6: Exploring physics; Synoptic test

For more details, refer to Edexcel Official website.

OCR

Specifications A

OCR AS GCE in Physics A

Option papers include:

For more details about different specifications OCR A-Level GCE Physics, refer to:

Physics A

Physics B