A-level Physics Exam: free practice test
A-level Physics is a two-year linear qualification assessed by three written exams at the end of the course. With AQA (7408) Papers 1 and 2 cover the core content with 25 multiple-choice questions each, and Paper 3 tests practical skills, data analysis and one option topic. Exams are taken in the May/June series only.
Premium: 3,000 practice questions, 6 full mock exams, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes, topic by topic. See the study path ·
About the A-level Physics exam
A-level Physics is a two-year linear qualification assessed by three written exams at the end of the course. With AQA (7408) Papers 1 and 2 cover the core content with 25 multiple-choice questions each, and Paper 3 tests practical skills, data analysis and one option topic. Exams are taken in the May/June series only.
What's on the exam
Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →
How to pass the A-level Physics exam
- AQA Papers 1 and 2 open with 25 multiple-choice questions worth 1 mark each. Aim for about 1 minute each so you have time for the 60 marks of written questions.
- Show every step of a calculation with units, and give answers to the same number of significant figures as the data. Examiners award method marks even if the final answer is wrong.
- Learn the definitions word for word: the volt, the farad, specific charge, work function, gravitational potential and simple harmonic motion all appear as 2-mark recall questions.
- Paper 3 Section A tests the 12 required practicals. Know how to find gradients and intercepts, combine uncertainties and plot linearised graphs such as T² against l.
- Choose your option topic early and treat it as a full unit. Its 35 marks are 14% of the A-level.
Save your results and get your Readiness Score
Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the GCSE Maths Formula Sheet.
What's in the premium A-level Physics prep
Premium A-level Physics prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.
Your step-by-step study path
- 1Measurements, Particles and Radiation8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Notes free with an account
- 2Waves8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 3Mechanics and Materials8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 4Electricity8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 5Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 6Fields and Their Consequences7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 7Nuclear Physics7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- 8Practical Skills and the Option Topic7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25Premium
- Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like exam day. Hit your target on them before your first paper.Premium
Read the complete A-level Physics study notes for “Measurements, Particles and Radiation”
Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 16 minutes of reading: Units, prefixes and uncertainties · Inside the atom · Antiparticles, photons, annihilation and pair production · The four fundamental interactions · Classifying particles · Conservation laws · Quantum phenomena, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.
Study tools included
3,000 practice questions
3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organised topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.
6 full mock exams
6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.
Exam Readiness Score
One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready for exam day. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.
800 flashcards + spaced repetition
800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.
60 comprehensive key notes
60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.
Mind maps
See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.
Sample questions with answers
These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.
1. In β⁻ decay a neutron changes into a proton: n → p + e⁻ + X. What is particle X?
2. Light of frequency 1.2 × 10¹⁵ Hz falls on a metal with a work function of 3.0 × 10⁻¹⁹ J. What is the maximum kinetic energy of the emitted electrons? (h = 6.63 × 10⁻³⁴ J s)
3. The side of a square plate is measured as 4.0 ± 0.1 cm. What is the percentage uncertainty in its area?
4. A string 0.80 m long, fixed at both ends, vibrates at its first harmonic of 150 Hz. What is the speed of waves on the string?
5. Light of wavelength 600 nm is shone on a diffraction grating with 300 lines per mm. At what angle is the first-order maximum?
6. A ball is thrown horizontally at 12 m/s from the top of a cliff 20 m high. Ignoring air resistance, how far from the base of the cliff does it land? (g = 9.81 m/s²)
7. A wire 2.0 m long with cross-sectional area 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ m² extends by 1.0 mm under a tension of 50 N. What is the Young modulus of the material?
8. A cell of emf 6.0 V and internal resistance 0.50 Ω is connected to a 2.5 Ω resistor. What is the terminal potential difference?
9. A wire of length 1.5 m and cross-sectional area 2.0 × 10⁻⁷ m² is made of a metal with resistivity 4.9 × 10⁻⁷ Ω m. What is its resistance?
10. A 0.40 kg mass on a spring of stiffness 160 N/m oscillates with simple harmonic motion. What is its period?
11. A fixed mass of ideal gas at 27 °C and 100 kPa is heated at constant volume to 327 °C. What is its new pressure?
12. The gravitational field strength at the surface of a planet of radius R is 9.8 N/kg. What is it at a distance 2R from the planet's centre?
13. A 470 μF capacitor discharges through a 10 kΩ resistor. What percentage of its initial charge remains after 4.7 s?
14. A carbon-12 nucleus has a radius of 2.7 fm. Using R = r₀A^(1/3), what is the radius of a nucleus with nucleon number 96?
15. A student measures the period T of a simple pendulum for several lengths l to find g. Which graph and calculation is correct?
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- One subject of your choice: any GCSE, A-level or Functional Skills exam
- 3,000 practice questions + 6 full mock exams per exam
- 800 flashcards + 60 key notes per exam, by topic, plus mind maps
- Spaced repetition + mistakes bank
- Readiness Score & detailed reports
- Video lessons as they release
- Content updates during your access
- 5 bonuses: GCSE Maths formula sheet, command words cheat sheet, 12-week revision planner and more
- Pass Guarantee: complete the prep, pass or 100% back
Renews once a year until you cancel. We email you before each renewal. Cancel any time from your account; you keep access until the end of the year you've paid for.
Exam guide
A-level Physics exam guide (2027): A-level Physics is a linear two-year course: everything is assessed by written exams in May and June of Year 13. This guide follows AQA 7408, the most widely taken specification, and compares OCR Physics A (H556) and Pearson Edexcel (9PH0). It explains what is on each paper, how the option topic and the practical endorsement work, how grading is done and how to plan your revision.
A-level Physics exam FAQ
How many questions are on the A-level Physics exam?
AQA: 3 written papers, 85 + 85 + 80 marks (250 marks in total). OCR A and Edexcel also use 3 papers with different lengths, with a time limit of 6 hours in total (3 × 2 hours). Format: written exams, calculator allowed, with a data and formulae booklet. not tiered. the practical endorsement is reported separately as pass or not classified.
What is the passing score for A-level Physics?
Grade E is a pass and A* is the top grade. Boundaries are set after every exam series, so aim for 70% in practice.
How much does the A-level Physics exam cost?
No fee for school and college students (the school pays). Private candidates pay the exam centre; fees vary by centre, and the practical endorsement needs extra arrangements. School and college students don't pay exam fees themselves. Private candidates pay the exam centre, and fees vary by centre and board.
Which languages is the A-level Physics exam offered in?
English.
Where do I take the A-level Physics exam?
At your school or college, or as a private candidate at an exam centre that accepts them.
Is this A-level Physics practice test free?
Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full A-level Physics prep is Premium at £29 a month for this exam.
What's in the premium A-level Physics prep?
3,000 practice questions organised topic by topic (Measurements, Particles and Radiation: 375; Waves: 375; Mechanics and Materials: 375; Electricity: 375; Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics: 375; Fields and Their Consequences: 375; Nuclear Physics: 375; Practical Skills and the Option Topic: 375), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 50 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 8 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.
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Exam details are summarised from the exam boards' published specifications available in November 2026. the exam boards changes formats and fees, so confirm with AQA, OCR and Pearson Edexcel before you book. Kennington College is not affiliated with any exam board or with Ofqual.