AS Level Students CD

Examination structure
The examination consists of 5 papers, all of which are compulsory.You will be expected to answer all the questions on each
paper - there is no choice of questions.

If you are taking Advanced Subsidiary (AS Level) Physics you take Papers 1, 2 and 3 in a single examination series.
If you have already gained AS Physics, and are now progressing to the full Advanced Level (A Level) Physics, you can carry
forward your AS marks, and take just Papers 4 and 5 in a subsequent single examination series.
If you are taking the complete Advanced Level (A Level) Physics qualication, you take all ve Papers 1-5 in a single
examination series.
Weighting (%)
Title of Paper

Multiple Choice

AS Structured Questions

Length (hrs)

Marks

AS Level

A Level

1
14

40

31

15.5

60

46

23

14

Advanced Practical Skills

40

23

11.5

A2 Structured Questions

100

38.5

Planning, Analysis and Evaluation

14

30

11.5

More information about the five Papers

Paper 1. Multiple Choice
This paper is based entirely on the AS syllabus. It consists of 40
multiple choice questions which require you to make a direct
choice between the four possible answers A, B, C or D.
Paper 2. AS Level Structured Questions
This Paper is also based entirely on the AS syllabus. It consists
of a number of questions of variable length. You will be
expected to answer all the questions, in the spaces provided
on the question paper.
Paper 3. Advanced Practical Skills
This paper requires you to carry out practical work in timed
conditions.The Paper will consist of two experiments drawn
from different areas of physics. The experiments may be based
on physics not included in the syllabus content but you will
be assessed on your practical skills (measurement, recording
and evaluation) rather than your knowledge of theory.
Candidates will answer both questions on the question paper.
Paper 4. A Level Structured Questions
This Paper is based mostly on the A Level part of the syllabus,
but is likely to include some aspects of the AS syllabus also.
Therefore, it is necessary to revise the AS part of the syllabus
as well as your A Level work.The layout of the paper will be
similar to that of Paper 2. There will be a variable number of
questions with variable mark allocations. You will be expected
to answer all the questions in the spaces provided on the
question paper.
Paper 5. Planning, Analysis and Evaluation
Although a theory paper, this Paper tests the practical physics
skills of planning of experiments, analysis of results and
evaluation of conclusions.You may find some of the contexts
of the questions not contained within the syllabus. All of the
skills you need to apply to answering the questions are those
you will have developed during your practical work in the
laboratory, namely planning, analysis and evaluation.There will

be two questions of equal mark value. You will be expected

to answer both questions in the spaces provided on the
question paper.

Assessment Objectives
There are three assessment objectives that the five
examination papers assess, and it is useful for you to know
what each Objective involves and also the relative weighting
of these. You can then structure your revision tasks
appropriately.The three are as follows:
AO1 Knowledge with understanding
This includes knowledge and understanding of scientific facts,
laws, definitions, concepts, theories, terminology, apparatus,
together with the determination of scientific quantities.
This also includes the ability to use scientific vocabulary
and conventions. All the learning aspects of the subject are
incorporated but more than just learning the factual elements
is required. As facts are learned, they should be placed in
the correct context, and the relationships between them and
other facts should be understood.
AO2 Handling, applying and evaluating information
This includes the abilities to select, organise and present
relevant information that you have already learned; to
manipulate numerical and other data; to give reasoned
explanations of physical situations; to analyse and evaluate
information that may be given to you; to identify trends and
patterns, and to draw inferences from them; to construct
arguments to justify conclusions; to apply knowledge and
principles to new situations.
AO3 Experimental skills and investigations
This includes the abilities to plan experiments; to record and
collect observations and measurements from experiments; to
reach conclusions by analysing and interpreting data; and to
evaluate methods and suggest improvements to experiments.

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Hodder & Stoughton 2014

AS Level Students CD

Assessment consists of five papers, more details of which are

given later.
The weightings of these assessment objectives in the 5 papers,
shown as percentages, are as follows:
Paper

AO1

AO2

AO3

48

52

48

52

100

48

52

100

It can therefore be seen that just knowing the facts

(approximately one half of the assessment of AO1 in the
theory papers 1, 2 and 4) is not sufcient to do well in
Physics. Even if the facts are understood as well as known,
that still only allows as a maximum the attainment of
approximately 50% of the marks in these theory papers.
Handling and applying information is as important as
knowing and understanding it, and far outstrips the bare
knowledge of the factual material.
When you come to revising what you have learned before
the examination session, you should be aware of the relative
importance of these Assessment Objectives, and test your
ability to apply the information you have learned.

Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics Hodder & Stoughton 2014