How Many A Level Physics Papers Are There?

Staring at your A Level Physics timetable and feeling confused? You're not alone. Most students starting their course aren't sure exactly how many exams they'll face or what each paper actually tests.

Here's the frustrating bit: without knowing your exam structure, you could waste hours revising the wrong topics or miss crucial content entirely. You might spend ages perfecting mechanics calculations only to discover half your marks come from a completely different paper. Or worse, you could walk into your final exam and realise it covers material you barely revised because you didn't know it was weighted so heavily.

But here's the good news: once you understand your exam structure, everything clicks into place. You'll know exactly which topics appear in which papers, how much time you've got for each exam, and where to focus your revision for maximum impact. No surprises. No wasted effort. Just a clear path to exam success.

Why trust us? At Save My Exams, we've been helping students just like you since 2017, and now support over 2.5 million learners every month. As an experienced Physics teacher and examiner, I’ve helped hundreds of students prepare for their A Level exams. I know exactly what the exam boards are looking for — and more importantly, how to help you get there.

Let's break down exactly how many A Level Physics papers you'll sit, what each one covers, and how to smash them all.

Key Takeaways

• You'll sit 3 written papers for A Level Physics, regardless of which exam board you follow

• Each exam board tests the same core physics content but structures their papers differently

• There's no separate practical exam — instead, you'll complete a Practical Endorsement assessed throughout your course

• Paper weightings vary: typically 34-37% for Papers 1 and 2, and 26-32% for Paper 3

• Smart revision planning means tailoring your approach to each paper's focus — from core content to synoptic questions

Why It's Important to Know Your Exam Structure

Understanding your exam structure isn't just about counting papers — it's about taking control of your revision.

When you know how many papers you're sitting, what each one covers and how long you've got, you can plan your study time properly. No last-minute surprises. No wasted effort on the wrong topics.

Plus, knowing which paper tests what helps you target your revision more effectively. Some papers focus on specific topics, whilst others test everything you've learned. Getting familiar with this structure early means you'll walk into your exams feeling confident and prepared.

A Level Physics Exam Structure by Exam Board

All UK students follow one of four main exam boards: AQA, Edexcel (Pearson), OCR A, or OCR B (Advancing Physics). Each board requires you to sit three written papers, but they structure these exams differently.

Let's look at what each exam board offers.

AQA A Level Physics

Number of papers: 3

AQA structures their physics assessment into three distinct papers:

Paper 1 (2 hours, 85 marks, 34% of A Level)

• Covers core content from Sections 1-5 plus Periodic Motion (Section 6.1)

• Mix of short answer questions (60 marks) and multiple choice (25 marks)

• Tests topics including measurements, particles and radiation, waves, mechanics and materials, and electricity

Paper 2 (2 hours, 85 marks, 34% of A Level)

• Focuses on Thermal Physics (Section 6.2), Fields and their consequences (Section 7), and Nuclear physics (Section 8)

• Same format as Paper 1: short/long answer questions plus multiple choice

• Assumes knowledge from earlier sections too

Paper 3 (2 hours, 80 marks, 32% of A Level)

• Split into two sections

• Section A (45 marks): Practical skills and data analysis — compulsory for everyone

• Section B (35 marks): Choose ONE optional topic from:

  • Astrophysics

  • Medical physics

  • Engineering physics

  • Turning points in physics

  • Electronics

The optional topic in Paper 3 lets you focus on an area that genuinely interests you, which can make revision more engaging.

Edexcel A Level Physics (Pearson)

Number of papers: 3

Pearson Edexcel takes a slightly different approach:

Paper 1: Advanced Physics I (1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks, 30% of A Level)

• Tests core Year 1 and Year 2 content

• Includes multiple choice, short answer, and extended questions

• Covers topics like mechanics, electric circuits, further mechanics, electric and magnetic fields, nuclear and particle physics

Paper 2: Advanced Physics II (1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks, 30% of A Level)

• Focuses on different core content areas

• Same question styles as Paper 1

• Tests materials, waves, particle nature of light, thermodynamics, space, nuclear radiation, gravitational fields, and oscillations

Paper 3: General and Practical Principles in Physics (2 hours 30 minutes, 120 marks, 40% of A Level)

• The longest paper — and worth the most marks

• Questions can draw from ANY topic across the entire specification

• Includes synoptic questions that combine multiple topics

• Tests your understanding of experimental methods and practical skills

• Uses contexts from across all your learning

Notice how Edexcel's Paper 3 is weighted more heavily than the others? That tells you where to focus extra attention during revision.

OCR A Level Physics A

Number of papers: 3

OCR A structures their papers around content modules:

Paper 1: Modelling Physics (2 hours 15 minutes, 100 marks, 37% of A Level)

• Tests content from Modules 1, 2, 3, and 5

• Includes topics like development of practical skills, foundations of physics, forces and motion, and Newtonian world and astrophysics

• Section A: 15 marks of multiple choice

• Section B: 85 marks of structured questions and extended responses

Paper 2: Exploring Physics (2 hours 15 minutes, 100 marks, 37% of A Level)

• Assesses Modules 1, 2, 4, and 6

• Covers electrons, waves and photons, plus particles and medical physics

• Same format as Paper 1: short multiple choice section followed by longer questions

Paper 3: Unified Physics (1 hour 30 minutes, 70 marks, 26% of A Level)

• The synoptic paper — tests content from ALL modules (1-6)

• No multiple choice here, just structured and extended response questions

• Expects you to make connections between different physics topics

OCR A's approach means Papers 1 and 2 focus on specific modules, whilst Paper 3 brings everything together.

OCR A Level Physics B (Advancing Physics)

Number of papers: 3

OCR B takes a context-led approach to physics:

Paper 1: Fundamentals of Physics (2 hours 15 minutes, 100 marks, 37% of A Level)

• Tests your understanding of core physics principles

• Covers topics through real-world contexts

• Includes both calculation-heavy and theory-based questions

Paper 2: Scientific Literacy in Physics (2 hours 15 minutes, 100 marks, 37% of A Level)

• Focuses on how physics applies to everyday situations and technology

• Tests your ability to read and interpret scientific information

• Questions often include pre-release material studied beforehand

Paper 3: Practical Skills in Physics (1 hour 30 minutes, 70 marks, 26% of A Level)

• Dedicated to assessing practical and investigative skills

• Includes analysis of experimental data and evaluation of methods

• You'll answer questions about experiments you may not have done yourself

OCR B's unique feature is that pre-release material for Paper 2 — you'll receive this in advance, giving you time to research and prepare. This makes Paper 2 feel very different from traditional physics exams.

Is There a Practical Exam in A Level Physics?

Here's the good news: there's no separate practical exam where you're tested on the spot in a lab.

Instead, all exam boards use a Practical Endorsement system. This is assessed by your teachers throughout your A Level course and appears separately on your certificate as either Pass or Not Classified. Importantly, it doesn't contribute to your A Level grade.

What is the Practical Endorsement?

The Practical Endorsement proves you've developed essential hands-on physics skills. To achieve a Pass, you must:

• Complete at least 12 practical activities during your course

• Demonstrate competency in using scientific equipment safely and correctly

• Keep clear records of your practical work

• Show you can follow procedures, make accurate observations, and analyse results

Your teachers assess you against Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) throughout the course. These criteria are the same across all exam boards and cover skills like:

• Following written instructions accurately

• Using equipment correctly with minimal help

• Identifying and controlling variables

• Recording observations precisely

• Evaluating your methods and results

Why does the Practical Endorsement matter?

Whilst it doesn't affect your A Level grade directly, many universities — especially for science and engineering courses — expect you to have passed the Practical Endorsement. It demonstrates you're not just good at physics theory but can actually apply it in real situations.

Plus, the practical skills you develop will help you answer the exam questions about experiments and investigations that appear in all three papers.

How Each Paper Contributes to Your Final Grade

Understanding the weightings helps you prioritise your revision time effectively.

For AQA:

• Papers 1 and 2: 34% each (68% total)

• Paper 3: 32%

For Edexcel:

• Papers 1 and 2: 30% each (60% total)

• Paper 3: 40% (the highest weighting)

For OCR A and OCR B:

• Papers 1 and 2: 37% each (74% total)

• Paper 3: 26% (the lowest weighting)

Notice how Edexcel gives Paper 3 the most weight, whilst OCR gives it the least? This tells you where to focus your final revision push.

Your final grade is calculated by adding up your raw marks from all three papers, then applying grade boundaries. These boundaries vary each year depending on overall difficulty, but you'll need roughly:

• 80%+ for an A*

• 70%+ for an A

• 60%+ for a B

The exact boundaries change annually, so don't treat these as fixed rules — but they give you a target to aim for.

Tips for Preparing for Each A Level Physics Paper

Different papers need different revision approaches. Here's how to tackle each type effectively.

For mathematical and calculation-heavy papers (typically Papers 1 and 2)

These papers test your problem-solving skills and ability to apply equations.

Practice makes perfect:

• Work through past papers under timed conditions

• Focus on multi-step calculations where one answer feeds into the next

• Learn to spot which equations you need quickly (our equations guides for AQA and OCR help here)

• Check your working clearly — you get marks for method even if your final answer is wrong

Master the maths:

• Practise rearranging formulae confidently

• Get comfortable with standard form and prefixes (nano, micro, kilo, mega)

• Learn when to use which equation — some situations need multiple steps

• Always include units in your final answer

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Forgetting to convert units (cm to m, g to kg)

• Missing out intermediate steps in calculations

• Not stating assumptions clearly

• Rounding too early — keep full calculator values until the end

For theory-based, content recall questions

These questions test whether you've learned and understood core physics concepts.

Build strong foundations:

• Create concise revision notes for each topic

• Use flashcards for definitions and key concepts

• Practise explaining physics in your own words — if you can teach it, you understand it

• Draw and label diagrams for processes like the photoelectric effect or electromagnetic induction

Learn command words:

• State = give a fact (one mark)

• Describe = say what happens (usually 2-3 marks)

• Explain = say what happens AND why (usually 3-4 marks)

• Compare = give similarities AND differences

Each command word tells you how much detail to include.

Link topics together:

• Physics concepts connect to each other

• Understanding how energy transfers between forms helps across multiple topics

• Recognising patterns (like inverse square laws) speeds up problem-solving

For data analysis and experimental questions

These assess your practical and investigative skills.

Know your practicals:

• Review all 12 required practicals thoroughly

• Understand WHY each experiment is done that way

• Practise sketching experimental setups from memory

• Learn the common sources of error for each practical

Master graphs:

• Practise plotting graphs accurately (line of best fit, not dot-to-dot)

• Calculate gradients confidently — this often gives you a physics constant

• Understand what the y-intercept means

• Recognise relationships from graph shapes (linear, inverse, exponential)

Uncertainty and error analysis:

• Learn to calculate percentage uncertainties

• Understand the difference between random and systematic errors

• Know how to reduce uncertainties (repeated readings, more precise instruments)

• Practise combining uncertainties when quantities are added, subtracted, multiplied or divided

Read data carefully:

• Questions might give you data from unfamiliar experiments

• Extract information methodically from tables and graphs

• Check units — they're often the clue to which calculation you need

The examiners want to see that you can think like a scientist, not just remember facts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Take the Practical Endorsement Separately?

No, the Practical Endorsement isn't a standalone qualification you can sit separately.

It's integrated throughout your two-year A Level course. Your teachers assess you continuously as you complete practical activities in class. You can't just "turn up" for a practical exam at the end.

However, if you're retaking your A Level, you CAN carry forward a Pass from your previous attempt — you won't need to redo it.

How Long Is Each A Level Physics Paper?

AQA:

• Papers 1 and 2: 2 hours each

• Paper 3: 2 hours

Edexcel:

• Papers 1 and 2: 1 hour 45 minutes each

• Paper 3: 2 hours 30 minutes (the longest single paper)

OCR A and OCR B:

• Papers 1 and 2: 2 hours 15 minutes each

• Paper 3: 1 hour 30 minutes (the shortest)

Time management matters hugely. In a 2-hour paper, you've got roughly 1.4 minutes per mark. If a question is worth 6 marks, you should spend about 8 minutes on it — no more.

Are the Papers Different for AS and A Level?

Yes, significantly.

AS Level (one year):

• Only 2 papers

• Tests roughly half the content (usually Year 1 material)

• Less demanding questions

• No Practical Endorsement required

• Separate qualification — doesn't count towards A Level

A Level (two years):

• 3 papers

• Tests the full specification

• More challenging questions including synoptic ones

• Practical Endorsement required

• Cannot combine AS and A Level results

If you're studying the full A Level, you won't sit AS papers at the end of Year 1 anymore — everything happens at the end of Year 2.

Which A Level Physics Paper Is the Hardest?

Most students find Paper 3 the most challenging, though this varies by exam board.

Why Paper 3 is tough:

• It's synoptic — combines topics from across the entire course

• Questions require you to link different areas of physics

• Often includes unfamiliar contexts where you must apply your knowledge

• Heavy focus on practical analysis and experimental design

• For Edexcel, it's worth 40% (the highest weighting)

That said, "hardest" is subjective. Some students struggle more with:

• Papers 1 and 2 if they find calculation-heavy questions challenging

• Multiple choice sections where wrong answers can't earn partial credit

• Optional topics in Paper 3 (AQA) if they haven't revised them thoroughly

The best strategy? Don't leave Paper 3 revision until last. Start practising synoptic questions early so you get comfortable making connections between topics.

Final Thoughts

Now you know exactly what to expect: three written papers, each with its own focus and style, plus a Practical Endorsement assessed throughout your course.

Understanding this structure is your first step towards exam success. With this knowledge, you can plan your revision strategically, target your weak areas, and walk into each exam feeling confident about what's coming.

Remember — the exam boards aren't trying to trick you. They want to see what you've learned. Familiarise yourself with past papers, practise the required practicals, and build your understanding step by step.

You've got this.

Ready to boost your revision? Check out our comprehensive A Level Physics revision notes covering every topic you'll need, or browse our topic-by-topic question banks to test yourself on specific areas.

References

• AQA A Level Physics Specification (opens in a new tab)

• Pearson Edexcel A Level Physics Specification (opens in a new tab)

• OCR A Level Physics A Specification (opens in a new tab)