Physics A Level
Course Overview
One of our students summed it up very well:
Physics isn’t about learning a load of facts; it’s about acquiring the skills to tackle the question “how does that work?”
Over the two-year course, we will cover Physics on a range of scales from the very smallest (Quantum, Nuclear and Particle Physics) to the very biggest (Astrophysics and Cosmology), attempting to answer questions from “What is the Universe made from?” to “How old is the Universe?” and looking at the Physics behind a range of technologies, from medical scanners to touch-screen devices.
More broadly, studying A-level Physics develops your critical thinking and problem-solving skills. It will equip you with a versatile range of transferrable skills applicable to problem solving in a wide range of contexts.
Course Components
Year 1 Components
- Forces & Motion
- Waves
- Quantum Physics
Year 2 Components
- Thermal Physics
- Electric, Magnetic and Gravitational Fields
- Oscillations & Circular Motion
- Cosmology & Astrophysics
- Nuclear & Particle Physics
- Medical Imaging
Key Info
Minimum Entry Requirements
Five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above including:
- GCSE grade 6 in Physics (or grade 6 in Combined Science)
- And GCSE grade 6 in Maths
Assessment
- 3 exams in Year 13 – Papers 1 & 2 are 37% each, and paper 3 is 26%
- A second qualification (the “practical endorsement”) is also attained by the end of Year 13
- Exam Board: OCR
Subject Lead
Mr S Snowden
Why Choose this Course?
Physics will equip you with a large number of “transferable skills”.
Skills you Gain
It will enhance your analytical and research skills. It will enable you to attack problems and solve them in a methodical and logical way. You will be able to investigate theories, devise experiments and ways of testing theories and explore new ideas. These strong problem-solving skills are highly sought after in the wider world.
After Northgate
What does A-level Physics lead to? As well as the development of transferable skills, so along with the obvious progression to degrees in Physics or engineering, it’s also a very useful qualification for those going into medicine, law economics and a multitude of other pathways.
“It’s so rewarding when you leave the classroom and then realise that what you’ve learnt about is going on all around you in the real world.”
“Studying Physics gives you a greater understanding of how and why everything works and shows that the things we take for granted every day (such as communications) are complex and interesting underneath.”