Assessment overview
There are six teaching chapters of physics content plus one chapter of ideas about science and one practical skills chapter:
- P1: Radiation and waves
- P2: Sustainable energy
- P3: Electric circuits
- P4: Explaining motion
- P5: Radioactive materials
- P6: Matter - models and explanations
- P7: Ideas about science
- P8: Practical skills
Foundation tier (grades 5 to 1)
| Paper | Marks | Duration | Weighting | insert text |
Breadth in physics (01) | 90 | 1 hour 45 mins | 50% | Assesses content from all eight chapters |
Depth in physics (02) | 90 | 1 hour 45 mins | 50% | Assesses content from all eight chapters |
Higher tier (grades 9 to 4)
| Paper | Marks | Duration | Weighting | insert text |
Breadth in physics (03) | 90 | 1 hour 45 mins | 50% | Assesses content from all eight chapters |
Depth in physics (04) | 90 | 1 hour 45 mins | 50% | Assesses content from all eight chapters |
Students must complete either the foundation tier (components 01 and 02) or the higher tier (components 03 and 04) to be awarded the OCR GCSE (9-1) in Physics B (Twenty First Century Science).
Content overview
Students develop their understanding of how the ideas of physics can describe the complex and diverse phenomena of the natural world in terms of a small number of key ideas which are of universal application.
The chapters are further subdivided:
- P1: Radiation and waves
- What are the risks and benefits of using radiations?
- What is climate change and what is the evidence for it?
- How do waves behave?
- What happens when light and sound meet different materials?
- P2: Sustainable energy
- How much energy do we use?
- How can electricity be generated?
- P3: Electric circuits
- What is electric charge?
- What determines the current in an electric circuit?
- How do series and parallel circuits work?
- What determines the rate of energy transfer in a circuit?
- What are magnetic fields?
- How do electric motors work?
- What is the process inside an electric generator?
- P4: Explaining motion
- What are forces?
- How can we describe motion?
- What is the connection between forces and motion?
- How can we describe motion in terms of energy transfers?
- P5: Radioactive materials
- What is radioactivity?
- How can radioactive materials be used safely?
- How can radioactive material be used to provide energy?
- P6: Matter - models and explanations
- How does energy transform matter?
- How does the particle model explain the effects of heating?
- How does the particle model relate to material under stress?
- How does the particle model relate to pressure in fluids?
- How can scientific models help us understand the Big Bang?
- P7: Ideas about science
- What needs to be considered when investigating a phenomenon scientifically?
- What conclusions can we make from data?
- How are scientific explanations developed?
- How do science and technology impact society?
- P8: Practical skills
- A practical-based topic which provides students with the skills required for the 15% practical content in the examinations
- Students complete at least eight practical activities and have the opportunity to use all the apparatus and techniques listed in the specification
- This will include awareness of safety procedures and the use of appropriate scientific diagrams to record apparatus and procedures
- Practical skills are embedded within all the teaching chapters.