OCR GCSE Physics (J249 Gateway Science): papers, marks and grade boundaries

OCR GCSE Physics at a glance

OCR has two GCSE physics specifications: Physics A (Gateway Science, J249) and Physics B (Twenty First Century Science, J259). This guide covers Physics A. It is linear, with all papers sat in the May and June series at the end of the course, and you are entered for Foundation or Higher tier.

The tiers decide the grade range: 5 to 1 for Foundation, 9 to 4 for Higher. The second paper at each tier also tests how topics connect, and takes P1 to P4 for granted.

What the papers cover

• P1 Matter: the particle model, changes of state and pressure.
• P2 Forces: motion, Newton’s laws and forces in action.
• P3 Electricity: static and charge, and simple circuits.
• P4 Magnetism and magnetic fields: magnets, magnetic fields and the uses of magnetism.
• P5 Waves in matter: wave behaviour, the electromagnetic spectrum and wave interactions.
• P6 Radioactivity: radioactive emissions, and their uses and hazards.
• P7 Energy: work done, power and efficiency.
• P8 Global challenges: physics on the move, powering Earth and beyond Earth.
• P9 Practical skills: the practical activities, tested in both papers.

Each paper opens with 15 multiple choice marks. The remaining 75 are written: practical, maths and structured questions plus one six mark question marked by level of response.

Equations, calculator and the maths

OCR permits a scientific or graphical calculator in all four papers, subject to the JCQ rules. The specification lists equations that you must recall and apply, with the unit of the answer, and others that you must select and apply. The recall list includes density, speed, acceleration, kinetic energy, force, momentum, work done, power, the force of a spring, weight, gravitational potential energy, charge flow and potential difference. Some, such as pressure and moments, apply only to the separate physics qualification. Higher-only statements are in bold in the specification, so check what your tier needs.

In an answer, set out the equation first, then the numbers with their units, then the result. If the arithmetic slips, the first two lines still score.

Worked examples in OCR style

Energy: gravitational potential and kinetic energy

A 0.50 kg ball is lifted 3.0 m. Use g = 10 N/kg, or the value given in your question.

If it is dropped and no energy is lost, all 15 J becomes kinetic energy:

Forces: F = ma and kinetic energy

A 1200 kg car is driven by a resultant force of 3000 N from rest.

Electricity: a series circuit

A 12 V battery is connected to a 4.0 Ω resistor and an 8.0 Ω resistor in series. Add the resistances, then find the current and the potential difference across the 8.0 Ω resistor:

The potential differences share out in the same ratio as the resistances: 4 V and 8 V add up to the 12 V supply. Practise more in our Electricity course:

Grades and June 2026 grade boundaries

OCR adds your two paper marks into a total out of 180 and compares it with the boundaries for your tier. These tables are from OCR’s document published on 25 September 2026 for the June 2026 series. They change every year.

Higher tier boundaries

Foundation tier boundaries

Worked through: a Higher student with 70 and 68 marks has 138 out of 180, which is above the grade 7 boundary of 131 and 3 marks short of the grade 8 boundary of 141, so it is a grade 7.

Using the daily paper as a short timed mock

There are free daily papers for both the Physics Foundation and Physics Higher tracks, and a new one appears each day: 8 questions, 25 to 35 marks, marked as soon as you submit. OCR does not write them, and they are much shorter than a real 90 mark paper, so they suit a quick check on a topic like energy, circuits or forces.

• Foundation covers: density and states of matter, speed and distance-time graphs, waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, atomic structure and radiation, simple circuits, energy stores and transfers, power and efficiency, magnets and forces.
• Higher covers: the electromagnetic spectrum, half-life, Newton’s laws and momentum, particle model and pressure, specific heat capacity, the motor effect, mains electricity, wave equations, stopping distances, series and parallel circuits and space physics.

For more on mocks, see our GCSE mocks guide, the GCSE Physics guide and the GCSE Physics mock paper page.

Exam answers

Uni-Sine does not publish official answers or mark schemes for OCR GCSE Physics papers. The answers and a worked mark scheme for each question come with today’s paper once you have submitted it and it has been marked, so you can see where every mark was won or lost.

Common mistakes in OCR GCSE Physics

• Wrong units. Grams, minutes and kilojoules must become kilograms, seconds and joules before they go into an equation.
• Rearranging slips. Do the same thing to both sides, one step at a time.
• Mixing up current, potential difference and resistance in series and parallel circuits.
• Saying energy is "used up". Energy is transferred, and some is dissipated to the surroundings.
• Carrying a rounded number forward into the next line of a calculation.

Read next

UK · GCSEOCR GCSE Physics equation sheet: all 30 equationsThe OCR GCSE Physics equation sheets for June 2027: 30 equations on Physics A (J249), how Physics B (J259) differs, what is missing, and worked examples.