How Many GCSE Physics Papers Are There?

Key Takeaways

• Triple Science students sit 2 Physics papers, each lasting 1 hour 45 minutes

• Combined Science students sit 2 Physics papers, each lasting 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes, depending on the exam board

• Both tiers (Foundation and Higher) have the same number of papers, just with different difficulty levels

• Paper 1 and Paper 2 cover different topics from the specification

Why You Need to Know the Number of Papers

Understanding your exam structure is one of the smartest things you can do before sitting your GCSEs.

When you know exactly how many papers you're taking, you can plan your revision time much more effectively. Instead of panicking about unknown exams, you can create a clear schedule that covers all the content you need.

Knowing the format also reduces exam anxiety. There's nothing worse than walking into the exam hall unsure about what's coming. When you understand the structure, you feel more in control and confident.

Plus, different papers cover different topics. Once you know which content appears on each paper, you can target your revision strategically and make sure you're not missing any important areas.

GCSE Physics Exam Structure Overview

Before we dive into the specific papers, let's clear up the two main pathways for studying science at GCSE.

Triple Science (also called Separate Sciences) means you study biology, chemistry, and physics as three completely separate GCSEs. You get three individual grades at the end—one for each science.

Combined Science means you study all three sciences together as one qualification. At the end, you receive two GCSE grades (like 7-7 or 6-5) that reflect your overall performance across biology, chemistry, and physics.

The pathway you're on determines how many physics papers you'll sit and how long each one lasts.

How Many Papers for Physics Students?

If you're taking GCSE Physics as a separate science, you'll sit 2 papers for your final exam.

This applies to all the major exam boards in the UK. The structure is consistent whether you're studying with AQA, Edexcel, or OCR.

AQA GCSE Physics (8463)

Number of papers: 2
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes each
Tier options: Foundation and Higher

AQA's GCSE Physics specification (opens in a new tab) splits the content across two papers. 

Paper 1 covers topics 1-4:

• Energy

• Electricity

• Particle model of matter

• Atomic structure

Paper 2 covers topics 5-8:

• Forces

• Waves

• Magnetism and electromagnetism

• Space physics

Questions in paper 2 may draw on an understanding of energy changes and transfers due to heating, mechanical and electrical work and the concept of energy conservation.

Both papers are worth 50% of your final grade. Each paper has 100 marks available. Both papers contain a mix of multiple-choice and structured questions.

Edexcel GCSE Physics (1PH0)

Number of papers: 2
Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes each
Tier options: Foundation and Higher

Edexcel's specification (opens in a new tab) splits the content across two papers. 

Paper 1 assesses topics 1-7:

• Key concepts of physics

• Motion and forces

• Conservation of energy

• Waves

• Light and the electromagnetic spectrum

• Radioactivity

• Astronomy

Paper 2 assesses topics 8-15:

• Key concepts of physics

• Energy - Forces doing work

• Forces and their effects

• Electricity and circuits

• Static electricity

• Magnetism and the motor effect

• Electromagnetic induction

• Particle model

• Forces and matter

Questions in paper 2 will assume knowledge of topics in paper 1.

Each paper contributes 50% to your overall grade, with 100 marks per paper. Each paper contains a mix of multiple-choice and structured questions.

OCR GCSE Physics A - Gateway Science (J249)

Number of papers: 2 

 Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes each
Tier options: Foundation and Higher

• Paper 1 & Paper 2 are Foundation only papers

• Paper 3 & Paper 4 are Higher only papers

OCR's Gateway Science specification (opens in a new tab) splits the content across two papers. 

Papers 1 and 3 assess topics (opens in a new tab) P1-P4 and P9: 

• Matter

• Forces

• Electricity

• Magnetism and magnetic fields

• Practical skills

Papers 2 and 4 assess topics (opens in a new tab) P5–P8 and P9: 

• Waves in matter

• Radioactivity

• Energy

• Global challenges

• Practical skills

Questions in paper 2 will assume knowledge of topics in paper 1.

Each paper is worth 90 marks and contributes 50% to your final grade. Each paper is split into sections:

• Section A: 15 multiple-choice questions, worth 15 marks

• Section B: Structured questions, worth 75 marks

How Many Physics Papers for Combined Science Students?

If you're taking Combined Science, you'll sit 2 physics papers as part of your overall science exam.

Remember, Combined Science includes biology, chemistry, and physics. You'll sit 6 papers in total—2 for each science.

The physics papers for Combined Science are shorter than the separate science papers because they cover less content.

AQA Combined Science: Trilogy (8464)

Number of Physics papers: 2
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes each
Tier options: Foundation and Higher

AQA's Combined Science specification (opens in a new tab) includes two physics papers. 

Paper 1 assesses topics 18-21:

• Energy

• Electricity

• Particle model of matter

• Atomic structure

Paper 2 assesses topics 22-24:

• Forces

• Waves

• Magnetism and electromagnetism

Questions in paper 2 will assume knowledge of topics in paper 1.

Each paper carries 70 marks and contributes 16.7% to your final grade. Each paper contains a mix of multiple-choice and structured questions.

Your physics marks combine with your biology and chemistry marks to create your two overall Combined Science grades.

Edexcel Combined Science (1SC0)

Number of Physics papers: 2
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes each
Tier options: Foundation and Higher

Edexcel's Combined Science (opens in a new tab) includes two physics papers. 

Paper 5 assesses topics 1-6:

• Key concepts of physics

• Motion and forces

• Conservation of energy

• Waves

• Light and the electromagnetic spectrum

• Radioactivity

Paper 6 assesses topic 1 and topics 8-15:

• Key concepts of physics

• Energy - Forces doing work

• Forces and their effects

• Electricity and circuits

• Magnetism and the motor effect

• Electromagnetic induction

• Particle model

• Forces and matter

Questions in paper 6 will assume knowledge of topics in paper 5.

Each paper is worth 60 marks and contributes 16.7% to your final grade. Each paper contains a mix of multiple-choice and structured questions.

Your physics marks combine with your biology and chemistry marks to create your two overall Combined Science grades.

OCR Combined Science (J250)

Number of Physics papers: 2
Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes each
Tier options: Foundation and Higher

• Paper 5 & Paper 11 are Foundation only papers

• Paper 6 & Paper 12 are Higher only papers

OCR's Combined Science (opens in a new tab) includes two physics papers.

Papers 5 (F) & 11 (H) assess topics (opens in a new tab) P1-P3 & CS7:

• Matter

• Forces

• Electricity and magnetism

• Practical skills

Papers 6 (F) & 12 (H) assess topics (opens in a new tab) P4–P6 and CS7:

• Waves and radioactivity

• Energy

• Global challenges

• Practical skills

Paper 6 will assume knowledge of topics in Paper 5. 

Paper 12 will assume knowledge of topics in Paper 11.

Each paper is worth 60 marks and contributes 50% to your final grade. Each paper is split into sections:

• Section A: 10 multiple-choice questions, worth 10 marks

• Section B: Structured questions, worth 50 marks

Each paper contributes 16.7% to your final grade; your physics marks combine with your biology and chemistry marks to create your two overall Combined Science grades.

Exam Board-Specific Differences

While all exam boards follow a similar structure, there are some important differences to know about.

AQA Physics

• Paper codes: 8463/1F, 8463/1H (Paper 1); 8463/2F, 8463/2H (Paper 2)

• Format: Mix of multiple choice, structured questions, closed short answer, and open response questions

• Marks per paper: 100 marks (separate science); 70 marks (Combined Science)

• Unique features: Clear topic splits between papers

Edexcel Physics

• Paper codes: 1PH0/1F, 1PH0/1H (Paper 1); 1PH0/2F, 1PH0/2H (Paper 2)

• Format: Multiple choice questions, short answer questions, calculations, and extended open-response questions

• Marks per paper: 100 marks (separate science); 60 marks (Combined Science)

• Unique features: 8 mandatory core practicals that students must complete

OCR Physics (Gateway Science)

• Paper codes: J249/01, J249/02 (Foundation); J249/03, J249/04 (Higher)

• Format: Structured questions, calculations, and extended response questions

• Marks per paper: 90 marks

• Unique features: Topic P9 focuses specifically on practical skills and appears on both papers

How Each Paper Contributes to Your Final Grade

Each paper you sit makes a specific contribution to your overall physics grade.

Triple Science (Separate Physics)

Both papers are weighted equally. Each paper is worth 50% of your final physics grade.

So if you score 80 marks out of 100 on Paper 1 and 70 marks out of 100 on Paper 2, your overall performance would be calculated from both papers combined.

The exam board then uses grade boundaries to convert your total mark into a GCSE grade (9-1).

Combined Science

For Combined Science, Physics makes up one-third of your total Combined Science grade.

Your two physics papers combine with your two biology papers and two chemistry papers. All six papers contribute to your final two GCSE grades.

Each individual physics paper represents approximately 16.7% of your overall Combined Science result.

This means you need consistent performance across all three sciences to achieve your target grades.

Tips to Prepare for Each Physics Paper

Now you know the structure; here's how to prepare effectively.

Use the specification as your revision checklist

The exam board specification lists every single topic you could be tested on. Download the official specification for your exam board and tick off each topic as you revise it.

This ensures you don't miss any important areas and helps you track your progress.

Master the equation sheet

You will get an equation sheet in your GCSE Physics or Combined Science exam, regardless of the exam board. For exams in 2025, 2026, and 2027, Ofqual have confirmed (opens in a new tab) that students won’t need to memorise the equations for GCSE Physics or Combined Science. A full list of all the equations you need to be familiar with can be found in your specification document. 

However, for all the equations, you still need to know when and how to use them. Practise using the equation sheet before your exam while completing practice questions.

If you’re taking AQA, you can find the full equations sheets for 2025 on the AQA website (opens in a new tab). These are likely to be the same in the 2026 exams.

If you’re taking Edexcel, you can access the equations list for 2024 on the Pearson website (opens in a new tab). This was the same in 2025, and is also likely to be the same in 2026.

If you’re taking OCR, the equations sheets for 2026 are now available on the OCR website (opens in a new tab).

Focus on required practicals

All exam boards include questions about practical work in their written papers. These aren't separate practical exams—instead, you'll answer written questions about experiments.

AQA has 8 required practicals. Edexcel has 8 mandatory core practicals. OCR includes practical skills in Topic P9.

Make sure you understand:

• How to plan and carry out each practical

• How to take accurate measurements

• How to present results in tables and graphs

• How to calculate values like density, resistance, or wave speed

• How to identify and explain sources of error

• How to suggest improvements to methods

These questions often come up in exams and can earn you valuable marks.

Practise past papers strategically

Past papers are your best revision tool. They show you exactly what exam questions look like and help you get used to the timing.

Work through AQA past papers, Edexcel past papers, or OCR past papers for your specific exam board.

Here's how to use them effectively:

• Complete papers under timed conditions to practice exam technique

• Mark your work using the official mark scheme

• Identify which topics you struggled with

• Go back and revise those specific areas

• Repeat with another past paper to check your improvement

Target revision for each paper separately

Don't just revise "Physics" as one big subject. Break it down by paper.

If you're taking AQA, revise Topics 1-4 for Paper 1, then Topics 5-8 for Paper 2. Create separate revision sessions for each paper's content.

This focused approach helps your brain organise information better and makes revision less overwhelming.

However, do not leave your paper 2 revision until after your paper 1 exam! Revise systematically for both papers, allowing equal time for each.

At Save My Exams, our Revision Notes cover the exact content you need to know for your exam. This is the perfect place to start your revision journey.

Then, test your knowledge and recall with our exam board-specific Flashcards. These are the perfect tools for learning those equations, keywords and definitions that you need to memorise for your exam. 

Practising exam questions is the single biggest thing you can do to boost your chances of success. Our Exam Questions are written specifically for each exam board and arranged by topic. They cover both multiple-choice and structured questions with student-friendly model answers, mark scheme guidance and examiner tips and tricks to help you understand exactly what examiners are looking for. 

Check out our Smart Mark tool for instant feedback on your answers to exam questions, helping you master your subject more quickly. Our AI marker was tested, improved and validated by our team of qualified teachers and examiners to provide accurate, exam-specific feedback.

We also have target tests that pinpoint your weak areas and turn them into strengths, with personalised, exam-style tests built just for you. Smart, focused exam practice, making sure you’re ready for anything.

Then, when you’re ready to hone your exam technique, we offer mock exams that allow you to replicate the full exam experience.

Strengthen your maths skills

At least 30% of the marks on a GCSE Physics paper test your mathematical skills. For combined science, the average per paper is 20%, but this is weighted 30% physics, 20% chemistry and 10% biology.

For your GCSE Physics exam, you'll need to:

• Rearrange equations

• Substitute values correctly

• Convert units (like grams to kilograms or minutes to seconds)

• Calculate gradients from graphs

• Work out percentage changes

• Use standard form for very large or very small numbers

Practise these skills regularly. When answering calculation questions, always show your working so that even if you make a mistake, you can still earn method marks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Take the Same Number of Papers in Foundation and Higher Tier?

Yes, absolutely. Whether you're sitting Foundation tier or Higher tier, you'll take the same number of papers.

The only difference is the breadth of content and relative difficulty. Higher-tier papers include some additional content that Foundation students don't need to know.

The paper timings are also identical across both tiers—1 hour 45 minutes for separate Physics and 1 hour 10/15 minutes for Combined Science Physics papers.

Are Practical Experiments Tested in the Physics Papers?

Yes, but not in the way you might think. You won't sit separate practical exams.

Instead, you'll answer written questions about practical work in your physics papers. These questions test whether you understand how to plan experiments, take measurements, analyse results, and draw conclusions.

For example, you might be asked to describe how to investigate the relationship between force and extension for a spring, or explain how to measure the speed of sound.

Your teacher will ensure you complete all the required practicals during your course. (opens in a new tab)The skills you develop during these practicals will help you answer exam questions confidently.

How Do I Know if I'm Taking Triple or Combined Science?

The easiest way to find out is to ask your science teacher or check your exam entries.

Your school decides which pathway students follow, usually based on ability and career aspirations.

Here are the main differences:

Triple Science:

• You study three separate GCSEs (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

• More content to learn in each subject

• Greater depth of understanding required

• Three separate grades at the end

• Better preparation if you want to study sciences at A-Level

• Longer exam papers (1 hour 45 minutes)

Combined Science:

• You study all three sciences as one qualification

• Less content overall—covers core concepts only

• Two GCSE grades at the end (like 7-7 or 6-5)

• Suitable for students wanting a solid science education without specialising

• Shorter exam papers (1 hour 15 minutes)

Both pathways are valuable. Triple Science suits students considering science-related careers or further study. Combined Science provides excellent general scientific knowledge for all students.

Can I Take Higher Tier for Physics Only?

This depends on whether you're taking Combined Science or Triple Science.

For Triple Science: Yes, you can take different tiers for different sciences. You might take the Higher tier for chemistry but Foundation tier for physics, depending on your strengths. Your school will help you decide which tier is best for each subject.

For Combined Science: No, you must take the same tier across all three sciences. If you're sitting Higher tier, you'll take Higher tier papers for biology, chemistry, and physics. You can't mix tiers because all your science papers combine to create your two overall grades.

Your teacher will recommend which tier suits you based on your classwork, mock exams, and target grades. Foundation tier allows access to grades 5-1, while Higher tier allows access to grades 9-4.

Final Thoughts

Understanding exactly how many physics papers you're sitting is the first step to exam success.

Whether you're taking 2 papers lasting 1 hour 45 minutes each for Triple Science or 2 papers lasting 1 hour 15 minutes for Combined Science, you now know what to expect.

Use this knowledge to plan your revision strategically. Focus on the specific topics for each paper. Practise with the equation sheet you'll receive in the exam. Complete past papers under timed conditions.

Remember, from 2025 onwards, you don't need to memorise long lists of equations. Instead, focus on understanding concepts and knowing when to apply different formulas.

You've got this! With the right preparation and a clear understanding of the exam structure, you'll walk into that exam hall feeling confident and ready to show what you know.

References

• AQA GCSE Physics 8463 Specification (opens in a new tab)

• AQA GCSE Combined Science: Specification (opens in a new tab)

• Edexcel GCSE Physics Specification (opens in a new tab)

• Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Specification (opens in a new tab)

• OCR GCSE Gateway Science Physics A Specification (J249) (opens in a new tab)

• OCR GCSE Gateway Science Physics A Specification (J249) - Specification at a glance (opens in a new tab)

• OCR GCSE Gateway Science Combined Science A (opens in a new tab)

• OCR GCSE Gateway Science Combined Science A- Specification at a glance (opens in a new tab)