Edexcel A-level Physics (9PH0): papers, topics and grade boundaries

Edexcel A-level Physics papers at a glance

The specification is the Pearson Edexcel Level 3 Advanced GCE in Physics (issue 3, November 2018). Papers can include multiple-choice, short open, open-response, calculation and extended writing questions, and at least 40% of the marks across the three papers are for mathematics at Level 2 or above. The content can be taught in a concept-led approach or the context-led Salters Horners approach, and both lead to the same papers.

Which topics are on which paper

Working as a physicist, which covers practical skills, units and uncertainty, is examined on all three papers.

Science practical endorsement and core practicals

The Science Practical Endorsement is assessed by your teacher and monitored by Pearson. The specification includes 16 core practical activities, and results are reported as a pass, separately from the grade. Core practicals are examined in the written papers.

Worked examples in Edexcel style

Waves: double-slit fringes

Light of wavelength 600 nm falls on two slits 0.50 mm apart, and the screen is 2.0 m away. The fringe spacing is:

Fields: gravitational field strength

With the Earth's mass 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg and radius 6.37 × 10⁶ m, the field strength at the surface is:

Nuclear radiation: half-life

A source falls from 800 Bq to 100 Bq in 36 minutes. 800 to 100 is three halvings, so 3 half-lives = 36 min and the half-life is 12 minutes. Practise projectile problems in our Laws of Motion course, then press Mark to check your answer in the course:

Oscillations: a simple pendulum

A pendulum of length 0.80 m swings through small angles. Take g = 9.81 m s⁻². The period and frequency are:

Thermodynamics: the ideal gas equation

A gas of 0.50 mol at 300 K occupies 0.010 m³. With R = 8.31 J K⁻¹ mol⁻¹, the pressure is:

Convert temperatures to kelvin and volumes to cubic metres before substituting.

Edexcel A-level Physics grade boundaries

These are Pearson's overall A level boundaries from its document "Grade boundaries: Edexcel GCE AS/A Level, June 2026". Each figure is the minimum mark, out of 300, at which a grade can be achieved.

An A* needed 239 of 300 and an A needed 215. An E needed 85.

How Edexcel A-level Physics differs from AQA

AQA A-level Physics (7408) has three 2-hour papers of 85, 85 and 80 marks (34%, 34% and 32%), multiple-choice questions on Papers 1 and 2, and a Paper 3 with one option from five. Edexcel has no options: its Paper 3 is 120 marks, 40% of the A-level, and draws on any topic. Edexcel says its papers may include multiple-choice questions among other types, where AQA sets a fixed 25 multiple-choice marks on each of Papers 1 and 2. AQA's boundaries are in theAQA A-level Physics guide.

Use the daily paper as a short timed mock

Uni-Sine publishes a free daily paper on theA-level Physics: Paper 1andA-level Physics: Paper 2tracks. Each is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, not a full Edexcel paper, and it is not written by Pearson. They cover mechanics, circuits, waves, particles, materials, circular motion, gravitational and electric fields, thermal physics, oscillations, capacitors and radioactivity.

Common mistakes in Edexcel A-level Physics

• Unit conversions such as nm to m.
• Rounding early in multi-step calculations.
• No uncertainty where the question asks for one.

Exam answers

The answers and a worked mark scheme come with today's paper once it is marked. We do not publish official or past paper answers. Every question on the daily paper is our own.

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UK · A-levelEdexcel A-level Physics data and formulae sheetThe Edexcel A-level Physics list of data, formulae and relationships for 9PH0: what is on it, what is not, and worked examples of using it.