Project Description
AS/A Level Physics Course
Exam board: AQA
AS Level: 7407 – A Level: 7408
As you probably know from GCSE, Physics is the science of the physical world. There are hardly any new topics at A-level that you won’t have come across. Higher Level GCSE calculation topics are simply repeated, e.g. acceleration and kinetic/potential energy, voltage-current-resistance, while others e.g. heat energy electromagnetism and astronomy have calculation introduced at A-level, while only descriptive at GCSE. Maths is involved in A-level Physics but you do not need to do A-level Maths. You just need to be good at most higher-tier GCSE maths, formulae (using and re-arranging them), graphs e.g. y=mx+c, Pythagoras, sin cos and tan percentages and standard form.
In the second year of the course, full A Level, in module 5 you will study further mechanics such as circular motion and oscillations, heat energy, the kinetic molecule theory of gases, then astronomy-planet orbits, stars and the Big Bang theory of the Universe. Module 6 is electromagnetism, (motors generators and transformers), radioactivity particle physics and medical physics. Much of the exam material in the A-level exams will be AS content so you will revise all of this in the A-level course.
Physics is an essential subject to take at A-Level if you plan to take a Physics or Engineering course at university. It is also a useful A-Level to have if you plan to study Pharmacy, Optometry, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Biomedical Science, Chemistry or Earth Sciences.
Entry Requirements
To study A Level Physics you need a minimum of five GCSEs at grade 4-9 or C and above. You also require grade 5 or C + in Mathematics and Physics and one other science / 5 or above in Combined Science.
Curriculum
These qualifications are linear. Linear means that students will sit all the AS exams at the end of their AS course and all the A-level exams at the end of their A-level course.
Subject content
Core content
- 1 Measurements and their errors
- 2 Particles and radiation
- 3 Waves
- 4 Mechanics and materials
- 5 Electricity
- 6 Further mechanics and thermal physics
- 7 Fields and their consequences
- 8 Nuclear physics
Options
- 9 Astrophysics
- 10 Medical physics
- 11 Engineering physics
- 12 Turning points in physics
- 13 Electronics
AS Assessments
A level Assessments
- In addition, there are 12 practical assessments required to complete this A level.
Access Arrangements
Access Arrangements allow candidates/learners with special educational needs, disabilities or temporary injuries to access the assessment without changing the demands of the assessment.
For example, readers, scribes and Braille question papers. In this way, Awarding Bodies will comply with the duty of the Equality Act 2010 to make ‘reasonable adjustments’.
We can arrange access arrangements and assess you with our special assessor. The deadline for application to the exam board is the February of the year the learner sits the exams.
To find out more about exam access arrangements click here
Study Options
You can choose from the following study options:
- Online classes
- Blended learning (in-person and online)
- Self-study
FAQs
SWANSEA COLLEGE A LEVEL COURSES
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