A level Physics: Exam Structure by Board

Your Teacher Information Pack for A level Physics: how it is assessed for each board, key dates for summer 2027, and links to specifications, past papers and grade boundaries.

Learn how – Exam course packs: watch the 1-minute video · print (PDF) · also Teacher Information Packs

Qualification: A level (linear, two years)
Years: Year 12 and Year 13
Ages: 16–18
Boards covered: AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC Eduqas
Entries 2026 (England): 42,765 (no. 8 A level by entries)
Last checked: 2026-10-20

Entries: Ofqual provisional entries, summer 2026 (rounded to the nearest 5).

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Exam structure by board

Pick your board to see every paper with its length, marks and weighting, plus practicals, booklets and links.

AQA A-level Physics (7408)

First taught 2015 · first exams 2017 · 12 required practicals

Paper	Time	Marks	Weight
Paper 1: Sections 1-5 and 6.1	2 h	85	34%
Paper 2: Sections 6.2, 7 and 8	2 h	85	34%
Paper 3: Practical skills and data analysis; option	2 h	80	32%
Practical endorsement: Practical endorsement Endorsement	not stated	–	Reported separately

Full AQA pack · specification on the AQA website

Pearson Edexcel A level Physics (9PH0)

First taught 2015 · first exams 2017 · 16 required practicals

Paper	Time	Marks	Weight
Paper 1: Advanced Physics I	1 h 45 min	90	30%
Paper 2: Advanced Physics II	1 h 45 min	90	30%
Paper 3: General and Practical Principles in Physics	2 h 30 min	120	40%
Science Practical Endorsement: Science Practical Endorsement Endorsement	not stated	–	Reported separately

Full Pearson Edexcel pack · specification on the Pearson Edexcel website

OCR A Level Physics A (H556)

First taught 2015 · first exams 2017 · 12 required practicals

Paper	Time	Marks	Weight
Component 01: Modelling physics	2 h 15 min	100	37%
Component 02: Exploring physics	2 h 15 min	100	37%
Component 03: Unified physics	1 h 30 min	70	26%
Component 04: Practical Endorsement Endorsement	not stated	–	Reported separately

Full OCR pack · specification on the OCR website

OCR A Level Physics B (Advancing Physics) (H557)

First taught 2015 · first exams 2017 · 12 required practicals · being replaced

Paper	Time	Marks	Weight
Component 01: Fundamentals of physics	2 h 15 min	110	41%
Component 02: Scientific literacy in physics	2 h 15 min	100	37%
Component 03: Practical skills in physics	1 h 30 min	60	22%
Component 04: Practical Endorsement Endorsement	not stated	–	Reported separately

Full OCR pack · specification on the OCR website

WJEC Eduqas A level Physics (QAN 601/5522/X)

First taught 2015 · first exams 2017

Paper	Time	Marks	Weight
Component 1: Newtonian Physics	2 h 15 min	100	31.3%
Component 2: Electricity and the Universe	2 h	100	31.3%
Component 3: Light, Nuclei and Options	2 h 15 min	120	37.5%
Practical endorsement: Practical endorsement Endorsement	not stated	–	Reported separately

Full WJEC Eduqas pack · specification on the WJEC Eduqas website

Key dates

Summer 2027 exam series

First exam (GCSE and A level): Mon, 10 May 2027
Contingency day: Wed, 23 June 2027
Special consideration deadline: Wed, 30 June 2027

A levels are linear: all exams are sat at the end of the two-year course. Source: JCQ key dates June 2027. Check each board's final timetable for paper dates and results day.

Official documents

More packs

Before this: GCSE Physics exam structure. Other Level 3 packs: A level Mathematics, A level Psychology, A level Biology, A level Chemistry, A level Economics, A level Business, A level History, A level Sociology, A level Art and design, A level English literature, A level Geography, A level Politics, A level Media, film and TV studies, A level Further mathematics, Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), Core Maths (Level 3). Find another TIP

Exam facts (paper names, times, marks, weightings, codes) are taken from each awarding body's own specification and summarised in our own words; no specification text, papers, mark schemes or booklets are reproduced. Exam details checked against the board's specification on 2026-10-20. Always check the current specification on the board's website.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 (Ofqual and DfE pages on GOV.UK). Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education, Ofqual, JCQ, AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR or WJEC Eduqas.

Questions teachers ask

How many exam papers are there in A level Physics?

AQA 7408: 3 exam papers; Pearson Edexcel 9PH0: 3 exam papers; OCR H556: 3 exam papers; OCR H557: 3 exam papers; WJEC Eduqas QAN 601/5522/X: 3 exam papers. Check the specification for options.