A Level Electronics Topics: Full List

A Level Electronics – currently only offered by WJEC (Eduqas (opens in a new tab) in England and CBAC (opens in a new tab) in Wales) – consists of 16 topics within four core concepts: system synthesis, DC electrical circuits, input and output sub-systems, and energy and power.

All four core concepts are assessed across three components: principles of electronics, application of electronics, and extended system design and realisation tasks.

To help you plan your revision, we’ve pulled together all A Level Electronics topics into one place. Don’t worry about wading through all 60 pages of the specification; our guide is designed to give you a practical overview of what you’ll actually be tested on, helping you to take your A Level Electronics exams with clarity and confidence.

Key Takeaways

• WJEC A Level Electronics consists of 16 topics within four core concepts: system synthesis, DC electrical circuits, input and output sub-systems, and energy and power

• All four core concepts are assessed across three components: principles of electronics, application of electronics, and extended system design and realisation tasks

• Use this guide as a shortcut for the A Level Electronics specification and as a revision checklist

Why It’s Important to Know Your Exam Board

Although subject content often overlaps across exam boards, each exam board has a different syllabus. The same subject can therefore be taught very differently in one exam board compared to another, with varying topics, skills and assessment methods.

Knowing exactly which topics your exam board covers means you can create a focused revision plan. You won't waste time studying content that won't be tested, and you'll know exactly what to expect when it comes to exams.

WJEC is currently the only exam board offering A Level Electronics. If you’re taking A Level Electronics, your exam board is WJEC (Eduqas in England and CBAC in Wales).

WJEC A Level Electronics Topics (A490QS)

Both WJEC Eduqas and CBAC consist of 16 topics within four core concepts:

1. System synthesis

2. DC electrical circuits

3. Input and output sub-systems

4. Energy and power 

Below is the topic list with an overview of what’s included in each one:

1. Semiconductor components

• Construction of semiconductors in terms of n-type and p-type materials 

• Processes at a p-n junction 

• Use of a range of diodes and transistors

2. Logic systems

• Types of logic gates in control and their function

• Combinations of logic gates to perform other logic functions and solve set tasks

• Methods for simplifying logic systems

3. Operational amplifiers

• Uses of operational amplifiers (op-amps) and how they can be connected for different purposes

• Gain and outputs calculated from different inputs and resistor values 

• Bandwidth, distortion and slew-rate

4. Signal conversion

• The need for signal conversion 

• Design and use of both digital to analogue and analogue to digital signal conversion subsystems

5. AC circuits and passive filters

• Resistive loads for AC circuits 

• Impedance to passive filters 

• High-pass and low-pass passive RC filters and passive LC band-pass filters

6. Communications systems

• Basic understanding of communication systems which will be developed in topics 7, 12 and 13

7. Wireless transmission

• Principles of wireless transmission 

• Amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM)

8. Instrumentation systems

• Op-amps for instrumentation systems

• Bridge circuits with thermistors 

• Strain gauges in instrumentation

• Slotted and encoded discs

9. Timing circuits

• Use of RC circuits to create time delays, as well as mono and astable timing circuits

10. Sequential logic systems

• Latches based on NAND gates 

• Propagation delays in sequential systems

• Characteristics and uses for a range of systems based on D-type flip-flops, dedicated 4-bit counters, 2 digit decimal counter and synchronous counter systems

11. Microcontrollers

• The microcontroller as a programmable integrated circuit (PIC)

• Internal structure of microcontrollers

• How microcontrollers are interfaced and programmed through flowcharts and assembler language to perform tasks

12. Digital communications

• Different types of modulation 

• Regeneration of digital signals

• Block diagrams of pulse code modulation (PCM) systems 

• Nyquist theorem 

• Time division multiplexing (TDM)

13. Optical communication

• Principles and limitations of optical communication

• Principles for converting between electrical and optical signals

14. Mains power supply systems

• Power supplies with half and full wave rectification

• Use of capacitors and load and line regulation

• Analysis and design of regulators based upon a zener diode, a transistor emitter follower and a non-inverting amplifier

15. High power switching systems

• High power switching for both DC/AC loads

• Use and application of thyristors, diacs and triacs for high power switching

16. Audio systems

• Use of amplifier and filter sub-systems to construct audio systems

For more information on the electronic and mathematical skills required for each topic, check the specification.

Each of your three components will require you to draw on knowledge from other topics. You should prioritise the topics in the table below for each component, but remember to revise your other topics as well:

How to Use Topic Lists for Revision

Create a revision plan

Print or copy out the A Level Electronics topics into a checklist. Use the traffic light system (opens in a new tab) to prioritise the topics you feel least confident in, and tick each topic off as you revise. Seeing progress is really motivating, and it stops you from accidentally skipping topics.

Practise with past papers

Once you’ve revised the relevant topics, test your knowledge and understanding by completing A Level Electronics past papers. Use the table above to remind you of which topics come up in each paper, and assess how you did against the relevant mark scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to revise all A Level Electronics topics for the exam?

Ultimately, yes. Although each paper has a list of topics you’ll be tested on, WJEC makes it clear that each component also requires knowledge from other topics.

Are these topics the same across all exam boards?

WJEC is currently the only exam board offering A Level Electronics, which consists of 16 topics.

How do I know which topics I struggle with most?

Alongside the traffic light system, look at which topics you tend to get the lowest marks on in mock exams or past paper questions. Prioritise revising the areas you’re least confident in.

Do all topics come up in every exam paper?

Not exactly. Component 1 and Component 2 cover topics 1–8 and 9–16 respectively, while Component 3 focuses on topics 4 and 11.

However, the fact that each component draws on knowledge from other topics means you’ll still need to be strong in all 16 topics to do well.

Final Thoughts

With our full list of WJEC A Level Electronics topics, you’ll now have a clear idea of exactly what you’ll be tested on, and in which paper. Rather than relying on a lengthy specification, you can now quickly and easily create a revision checklist tailored to each of your three A Level Electronics components.

Though revising 16 topics might seem overwhelming, keep in mind that many overlap: topic 6, for instance, is developed in topics 7, 12 and 13. This means that once you’ve revised one topic, other related topics will be easier to grasp.

Gradually build up your confidence in A Level Electronics by focusing on the topics you find trickiest first.

Good luck!