A Level Physics

A Level Physics is a step up from previously studied Physics. Having an A Level Physics Tutor can really excel your learning and understanding of A-level Physics.

A Level Physics prepares a student for a wide range of undergraduate degrees and careers, as well as inviting them to consider some of the universe’s big questions. The Physics A Level takes students from the abstraction of astrophysics to the minutiae of particles, waves, and fields. A Level Physics complements students with ambitions in STEM, while also being a logical choice for those with an interest in the building blocks of life.

Exam Boards

It’s important to identify which exam board your child’s school is following for A Level Physics as they do vary. For example, syllabuses and optional modules vary between exam boards. Having some knowledge of exam boards is great information to give to your A Level Physics Tutor. This will help them tailor their lessons with your child, to include relevant syllabus content.

The main exam boards for A Level Physics are:

• Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR)
• Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA)
• Edexcel
• Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE)

What is A Level Physics all about?

Though syllabuses and prescribed materials do vary, an A Level in Physics generally spans electricity, mechanics, particles and waves, thermodynamics and nuclear physics. This A Level requires practical skills- such as methodical experimental design and clear scientific communication- as well as the ability to consider and algebraically model complex and abstract phenomena. A successful candidate demonstrates to both employers and academics that they possess analytical ability and methodological rigour.

How an A Level Physics tutor will help you do well

Physics examinations are designed to test understanding as well as knowledge. For example, many of the formulae that your child will need are already provided in the exam booklet. To do well in this subject, time is better spent going through practise papers to make sure your child can apply what they have learned in succinct prose or clear mathematical working.

Given that the mathematical requirements of this qualification are generally limited to rearranging equations, analysing graphs, and some mechanics, it is not necessary to study A Level Maths in order to do well at A Level Physics. However, Maths unpins many of the key concepts of Physics and taking both A Levels is certainly recommended if your child is considering studying Physics beyond A Level.

So, to do well you’re A Level Physics Tutor will spend a lot of time in the run up to the exam going through past papers. Going through past papers means your A Level Physics Tutor can help your child master each style of exam question. This will help your child to obtain higher marks.

Understand the mark scheme

It is important to understand how your child’s A Level Physics exams will be scored. Understanding this can help to provide the right support throughout your child’s revision. All the exam boards publish detailed guidance on what they are looking. Your A Level Physics tutor will know this like the back of their hand.

Your child needs to know exactly what the examiner wants from them in each style of assessment. They then need to learn how to ‘tick the boxes’ on the mark scheme to ensure they pick up the most marks they can. Learning different exam question styles will be an essential part of your child’s time with their A Level Physics tutor.

Make a revision plan

It is important that your child allows enough time for the revision process. They need to do their work properly. Your A Level Physics tutor will have a structured revision plan by the January of their exam year.

Quality Revision

Organisation is vital! Making sure your child has all their class notes and revision notes sorted is the first step. It is often helpful to check off notes against the requirement of a syllabus as the year goes on. Once your child and their tutor are confident, they have covered the whole syllabus, they can start to make revision notes. Or they can make mind maps based on things such as famous laws, experiments, or nuclear processes. The skills developed in this re-noting and reformulating are very helpful for reinforcing knowledge and ensuring understanding.

Before exam season, however, it is important to liaise with teachers about any material that your child is finding difficult. The more notice you give them before exams, the more likely it is that they’ll be able to make time to offer support and go over tricky topics.

Throughout the academic year and revision period, it is helpful to think about how your child learns. Do they like the pressure of a memory test or flashcards? Or is mapping out key ideas helpful? Maybe they like challenging themselves to write everything they know about a topic on one side of A4? Or talking things over with a parent, sibling, or their A Level Physics tutor? We all learn differently, so it is good to be aware of how best your child learns.

What is different for this year? Exam cycle 2022.

According to a Department for Education assessment released on 30 September 2021, “exam boards will provide advance information about the focus of the content of the exams for all GCSE, AS and A level subjects… for the summer 2022 exams”. This information will be released by 7 February 2022. If the information is released sooner than 7 February, DfE will give schools and students “at least a week’s notice”.

Sitting Public exams

Even after navigating the demands of GCSEs, students can feel immense pressure around the time of public exams and it is part of your job as a parent to help them navigate this.  On a positive note, this can be a time of great personal growth for teenagers, as they specialise in academic interests, sustain hard work over many months and push through exam nerves.  Talk to your child about managing their emotions and introduce important elements of self care, such as sufficient sleep and good nutrition.

A Level Physics Tutor

The best way to support your child through their A Level Physics is to give them the tools and skills to succeed. Some targeted intervention with an experienced A Level Physics tutor can make all the difference. Our A Level Physics tutors are experienced, qualified teachers, Heads of Department and Examiners who know the A Level Physics syllabus like the back of their hand. They can teach your child in the manner they learn best, explain the latest mark schemes, help them understand complicated processes, and dramatically improve their exam technique.

Here are some other articles you may find useful:

• Biology
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