How to Revise for A Level Physics

Struggling with A Level Physics revision? You're not alone – Physics is one of the most challenging A Level subjects.

This guide will show you exactly how to revise A Level Physics effectively. We'll give you practical study strategies, and help you tackle those tricky calculations with confidence.

Why A Level Physics is Challenging

A Level Physics has a reputation for being tough, and there are many reasons why students find it difficult.

First: there is so much of it. You’ll learn mechanics, electricity, thermal physics, waves, nuclear physics, and more. And each topic has its own set of formulas, concepts, and applications.

Next: the maths. You'll need to handle complex equations, manipulate formulas, and work with logarithms and trigonometry. All in the context of a physics calculation.

Finally: it’s abstract. Topics like quantum mechanics, electromagnetic induction, and particle physics deal with ideas that you don’t experience in everyday life.

I’ve been working with A Level physics students for over ten years. Over those years I’ve learned that the right revision strategies, a clear plan, and persistence meant my students were able to master even the trickiest concepts and feel confident going into the exams.

With the help of this guide, so can you.

Understand the A Level Physics Assessment Structure

Before you start revising, you need to know exactly what you're preparing for because it varies by exam board.

If you are with AQA, Edexcel or OCR, you will sit three written papers; if you’re with CIE, you’ll sit five papers – three for the AS qualification, and then two more for the whole A Level.

You’ll come up against multiple-choice questions (often trickier than you think), short-answer questions, like definitions, and long-answer questions that require an extended response from you, one where you’ll need to present a coherent line of reasoning. These long-answer questions are often the ‘wordy’ ones, but not always: calculations can be involved too.

AQA and Edexcel

• Papers 1 and 2 are a mix of multiple choice and short and long answer questions on a range of topics.

• Paper 3 tests knowledge of the required practicals

OCR

• Paper 1 is a mix of multiple choice and short and long answer questions on a range of topics, including the required practicals.

• Papers 2 and 3 are like paper 1 but there are no multiple choice questions

CIE

• Paper 1 has only multiple choice questions, and is based on the AS specification.

• Paper 2 contains AS short and long answer questions on a range of topics.

• Paper 3 is the AS practical assessment.

• Paper 4 contains A Level short and long answer questions on a range of topics.

• Paper 5 is the Planning, Analysis and Evaluation paper, and the questions are based on the experimental skills required in the specification.

Use the Specification as Your Roadmap

Your Physics A Level specification is the most important document for revision: it lists every topic and sub-topic you'll be examined on, and on which paper they’ll appear. 

You can use the specification to guide your revision and to track your revision progress.

• Create a checklist based on the specification and tick off topics as you complete them.

• Group related topics together (topics such as forces and motion, or gravitational and electric fields).

Prioritise areas that carry more marks or appear frequently in past papers.

Break Revision into Manageable Topics

A Level Physics covers a huge amount of content. Break that content down into small topic areas so revision is more manageable. That way, you’re less likely to become overwhelmed by the scale of the exam-prep task facing you.  

Start with the fundamental topics: Mechanics, Electricity, Waves. Each of these contains several sub-topics that you can tackle individually, and get ticked off that check-list. Focus on one new topic at a time though, even when that topic gets difficult.

For each topic, follow a three-step approach. 

1. Make sure you understand the key concepts and how they connect to each other. Save My Exams revision notes can really help you with this.

2. Memorise the essential formulas and when to use them.

3. Practise applying your knowledge to exam-style questions.

Build Conceptual Understanding First

Just like you did at GCSE, you’re going to need to memorise stuff, mostly definitions and formulas now you’re studying A level. These are much easier to remember if they are grounded in understanding. 

Understanding means you know that the ‘p’ in pV = nRT is pressure while the ‘p’ in p = mv is momentum. Understanding means you know that the pressure ‘p’ and the momentum ‘p’ are both related to force. 

When you’re revising a new topic, work on developing that understanding first.

Start with the basic concepts. Ask yourself questions. What exactly is a gravitational field, and what does it do? Why does a bulb light up in an electric circuit? Why do waves interfere? And when you think you have the answers, try explaining them to someone else. If you can’t, there are still gaps in your knowledge and you need to do more work.

Use visual learning tools. Physics becomes much clearer when you can visualise concepts. Draw force diagrams for every mechanics problem. Sketch electric field lines to understand field interactions. Use graphs to represent motion and energy changes. Online simulations and animations can also help abstract concepts click into place. The PHET website at the University of Colorado (opens in a new tab) is great for this.

Practise Physics Calculations Regularly

Calculations make up around 40% of the Physics A Level qualification, so you need to be comfortable with maths. You’ll regularly be rearranging equations, working with indices and logarithms and using trigonometry as part of a physics calculation. 

A physics calculation is more than just maths though. You could rearrange a formula perfectly, but if you have the wrong formula, you’ll get no marks for your efforts. First, always, is processing the information in the question so that you can choose the appropriate formula. This is a skill, and it needs practice. Lots of it. And often.

Revise Using Past Papers and Mark Schemes

Past papers are one of your most valuable revision resources. They show you exactly what to expect in the exam. 

Start with older papers for practice, and don’t time yourself – just focus on the physics at first. But as the exams get closer and you’re using the more recent papers, time yourself – it can help you build your speed and you’ll learn to manage your time effectively. 

One more thing: always check your solutions against the mark scheme, not just so you know that you know your stuff (or not!), but so you can see what examiners are looking for when they’re marking your work.

Use Active Recall and Spaced Repetition

Reading your notes will form a big part of your revision – after all, they contain all the topics you need to learn. Here’s the thing though: just reading your notes isn’t enough. You also need more active techniques that force your brain to retrieve information, techniques like active recall and spaced repetition.

Active recall means testing yourself rather than just re-reading notes. Flashcards are great for this.

Regular self-testing is more effective than marathon revision sessions. Test yourself on topics you studied last week, not just what you covered yesterday.

And mix up your revision topics during each session. This technique, called interleaving, helps you remember what you’ve learnt and can lead to better performance in the exam.

Prepare for Practical Skills Questions

Practical skills make up a significant portion of your A Level Physics grade, so don't ignore them.

Learn the required practicals that you did throughout the A-level: know the methods, equipment, safety considerations, and common sources of error. 

Know how to present and analyse experimental data, and how to evaluate results and draw conclusions. You’ll also need to be able to calculate uncertainties, plot and interpret graphs, and consider accuracy and precision (and know the difference between them).

You may also be asked how an experiment can be improved. Common improvements include taking repeat readings and using more sensitive equipment.

Make a Smart Revision Plan

A good revision plan keeps you organised and ensures you cover everything before your exams.

Start your revision early. Physics requires time to sink in, so cramming rarely works. Aim to start serious revision at least 3–4 months before your exams.

Balance content review with question practice. Spend about 40% of your time learning concepts and formulas, and 60% practising exam questions.

Schedule regular breaks and variety. Alternate between different physics topics and include breaks for other subjects to keep your mind fresh.

Build in time for review and consolidation. Plan to revisit difficult topics multiple times, rather than covering them once and moving on.

Set realistic daily goals. It's better to consistently achieve smaller targets than to set ambitious goals that you can't maintain.

Exam Day Preparation and Mindset

Your exam preparation doesn't end with revision – you need to perform on the day too.

Read questions carefully and identify what they're actually asking for. Many marks are lost because students answer the wrong question. 

Show all your working clearly. Even if your final answer is wrong, you can still pick up method marks for correct working.

Manage your time effectively. Don't spend 15 minutes on a 2-mark question when there are higher-value questions waiting.

Play to your strengths. If you feel more confident on particular topics, do those questions first.

Stay calm and trust your preparation. If you've followed a good revision plan, you'll have the knowledge and skills you need to succeed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Hours Should I Revise for A Level Physics?

In my experience as a Physics educator, the most successful A Level Physics students spend 3–4 hours per week on the subject outside lessons, and will increase this closer to the exam.

The key is consistency rather than total hours. Regular daily practice is more effective than long, infrequent sessions.

What Topics Are Most Likely to Come Up in A Level Physics?

Mechanics and electricity typically carry the most marks across all exam boards. Within these areas, forces and motion, electrical circuits, and energy are particularly important.

However, all topics can appear, so don't gamble by leaving out entire sections of the specification.

How Can I Get Better at Physics Calculations?

Practise regularly with a variety of questions. Start with simple numerical substitutions and work up to more complex multi-step problems.

Focus on understanding the physics behind equations rather than just memorising formulas. This helps you choose the right approach for unfamiliar problems.

What's the Best Way to Learn Physics Formulas?

Create formula sheets or flash cards, organised by topic, and use symbols and words so you know what quantity each letter represents in a formula (p = mv  momentum = mass x velocity).

Practice rearranging formulas to find different variables.

When practising calculations on a particular topic, write down as many formulas as you can remember from the topic, and check you know what each symbol in a formula represents.

Final Thoughts

A Level Physics is challenging, but it's absolutely achievable with the right approach.

Remember the key principles: understand concepts before memorising, practice calculations regularly, and use past papers extensively. Know your specification inside out and create a realistic revision plan that you can stick to.

Start your revision early. Physics knowledge builds up gradually, so regular practice beats last-minute cramming every time.

Don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Your teachers, classmates, and online resources are all there to support your learning.

With dedication and the right strategy, you can master A Level Physics and achieve the grades you're aiming for. Good luck!

Sources

PHET website at the University of Colorado (opens in a new tab)