Most students starting their course are not sure exactly how many exams they will face or what each paper actually tests in A Level Physics. 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.
But here is the good news: once you understand your exam structure, everything clicks into place. You will know exactly which topics appear in which papers, how much time you have for each exam, and where to focus your revision for maximum impact. In this quick guide, we will break down exactly how many A Level Physics papers there are, what each one covers, and how to prepare them all.
Understand each paper, what it tests, and how to prepare smarter with expert guidance.
Understanding your exam structure is not just about counting papers; it is about taking control of your revision. When you know how many papers you’re sitting, what each one covers and how long you have got, you can plan your study time properly.
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 will walk into your exams feeling confident and prepared.
All students follow one of four main exam boards: AQA, Pearson Edexcel, 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 structures its physics assessment into three unique papers:
Covers core content from Sections 1-5 plus Periodic Motion (Section 6.1). A mix of short answer questions (60 marks) and multiple choice (25 marks). Test topics including measurements, particles and radiation, waves, mechanics and materials, and electricity
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.
Split into two sections. Section A (45 marks): Practical skills and data analysis, compulsory for everyone. Section B (35 marks), and you can choose one optional topic from:
The optional topic in Paper 3 lets you focus on an area that genuinely interests you, which can make revision more engaging.
Pearson Edexcel takes a slightly different approach:
Tests core Year 1 and Year 2 content and includes multiple choice, short answer, and extended questions. Covers topics like mechanics, electric circuits, further mechanics, electric and magnetic fields, nuclear and particle physics
Focuses on different core content areas and the same question styles as Paper 1. Test materials, waves, particle nature of light, thermodynamics, space, nuclear radiation, gravitational fields, and oscillations.
The longest paper and worth the most marks. Questions can be drawn from any topic across the entire specification. Includes synoptic questions that combine multiple topics and test your understanding of experimental methods and practical skills.
OCR A structures its papers around content modules:
Test content from Modules 1, 2, 3, and 5. Includes topics like development of practical skills, foundations of physics, forces and motion, and the Newtonian world and astrophysics. Section A includes 15 marks of multiple-choice questions. Section B contains 85 marks of structured questions and extended responses.
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
The synoptic paper and test 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, while Paper 3 brings everything together.
OCR B takes a context-led approach to physics:
Tests your understanding of core physics principles and covers topics through real-world contexts. Includes both calculation-heavy and theory-based questions.
Focuses on how physics applies to everyday situations and technology, and tests your ability to read and interpret scientific information. Questions include pre-release material studied beforehand.
Dedicated to assessing practical and investigative skills, and includes analysis of experimental data and evaluation of methods. You will answer questions about experiments you may not have done yourself.
Compare AQA, Edexcel, OCR A, and OCR B to know exactly what to study and how to prepare.
Here’s the good news: there is no separate practical exam where you are tested on the spot in a lab.
Instead, all exam boards use a Practical Endorsement system. Your teachers assess this throughout your A Level course, and it appears separately on your certificate as either a pass or not classified. Importantly, it does not contribute to your A Level grade.
The Practical Endorsement proves you have developed essential hands-on physics skills. To achieve a pass, you must:
Whilst practical skills are assessed throughout your course, using structured revision can help you tackle related exam questions. Learn proven strategies in How to Revise for A Level Physics in 2026? Learn Smartly.
While it does not 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 are 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.
A Level Physics has 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 is coming.
Remember, the exam boards are not trying to trick you. They want to see what you have learned. Familiarise yourself with past papers, practise the required practicals, and build your understanding step by step.
Ready to boost your exam grades? Check out our comprehensive “A Level Physics: Topics, Exams and How to Get Top Grades” covering every topic you will need, or “How to Revise for A Level Physics in 2026? Learn Smartly” to improve your exam grades.
No, you cannot take the Practical Endorsement separately, as it is part of the primary qualification.
AQA Papers 1, 2, and 3 are 2 hours each. Pearson Edexcel Papers 1 and 2 are 1 hour 45 minutes each, and Paper 3 is 2 hours 30 minutes (the longest single paper). OCR A and OCR B Papers 1 and 2 are 2 hours 15 minutes each, and Paper 3 is 1 hour 30 minutes (the shortest).
Most students find Paper 3 the most challenging, though this varies by exam board.
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