Acing A-Level/IB Physics: Expert Advice from The Admissions Academy

A-Level/IB Physics is one of the most fascinating and challenging subjects. Whether you’re studying OCR A, OCR B, or AQA, mastering Physics requires deep understanding, precision, and consistent practice.

At The Admissions Academy, we’ve worked with hundreds of Physics students aiming for top grades. Success in Physics isn’t about natural ability — it’s about mastering the concepts, building confidence, and learning how examiners think.

Here’s how to get a great mark in A-Level/IB Physics.

1. Know the Whole Syllabus – Leave No Topic Behind

It’s tempting to focus on topics you enjoy, like Mechanics or Electricity, and ignore trickier ones like Fields or Nuclear Physics. But A-Level exams are designed to test the whole syllabus. If you leave even one section weak, you risk losing an entire grade boundary when a 6-mark question appears from that topic.

Each exam board (OCR A, OCR B, AQA, Edexcel) provides a detailed specification outlining what you must know. Print it out and treat it as your checklist.

Practical tips:

• Review every topic from Year 12 and Year 13.

• Identify areas you find difficult early — don’t wait until revision season.

• Use summary notes or flashcards to test your recall regularly.

At The Admissions Academy, we help students see Physics as a connected system — linking forces, energy, fields, and waves into one coherent framework. When you understand how topics relate, Physics becomes far easier to remember and apply.

2. Do as Many Past Paper Questions as You Can

Past papers are the single best way to prepare for your Physics exams. Examiners love to recycle ideas and question structures — often testing the same principles in slightly different contexts. By working through as many past papers as possible from e.g OCR, AQA, or Edexcel, you’ll become familiar with their patterns and style.

Why this works:

• You’ll learn how examiners phrase complex scenarios.

• You’ll strengthen your problem-solving speed.

• You’ll develop the instinct to identify which equations or laws apply.

Mark every paper carefully using the official mark scheme and analyse where you lost marks. Were you unclear in your explanations? Did you miss units? Were your significant figures inconsistent? These small improvements quickly add up to big grade jumps.

3. Memorise Your Equations

Although you’ll get an equation booklet in the exam, relying on it constantly wastes valuable time and breaks your flow. The best Physics students memorise key formulas so they can apply them instantly.

Make sure you know equations from all areas — mechanics, motion, fields, thermal physics, and quantum physics.

For example:

• F = ma

• W = Fd cosθ

• V = IR

• pV = nRT

• E = hf

Repetition is key. Write equations out daily or use flashcards. Knowing them fluently allows you to focus on applying Physics principles rather than hunting through the formula sheet.

4. Memorise Your Definitions

Definitions are one of the easiest sources of marks across all exam boards. Many students lose several marks simply because they can’t recall the exact wording. Terms like work done, potential difference, electric field strength, and momentum often appear as 1–2 mark questions.

To prepare:

• Create a definitions list and memorise the official phrasing.

• Test yourself weekly.

• Use past papers to see how definitions are asked.

At The Admissions Academy, we’ve found that students who can recall all definitions accurately often gain an extra 5–8 marks per paper — enough to push them up an entire grade boundary.

5. Ask for Help When You Need It

Physics can be conceptually difficult. If something doesn’t make sense — ask early. Talk to your teacher after class, work through problems with friends, or consider one-to-one tutoring.

Private tutoring through The Admissions Academy helps students address weak areas directly and rebuild confidence. Our tutors specialise in clarifying complex ideas like electromagnetic induction, wave interference, and circular motion — topics where many students struggle.

Remember: asking for help isn’t a weakness; it’s an investment in your understanding and your results.

6. Use Mark Schemes to Your Advantage

Mark schemes are your best insight into the examiner’s mind. They reveal how points are awarded and what key words they expect in written explanations.

Study mark schemes carefully to understand:

• How marks are divided between equations, substitutions, and explanations.

• The specific phrases examiners reward (e.g., “force is proportional to displacement”).

• The importance of units, precision, and logical structure.

When marking your own work, compare your responses to the mark scheme. The closer your phrasing matches the examiner’s expectations, the more consistently you’ll pick up full marks.

Conclusion

Getting a great mark in A-Level/IB Physics isn’t about luck or raw intelligence — it’s about consistency, accuracy, and understanding.

• Learn the full syllabus — no gaps.

• Practise past papers regularly.

• Memorise equations and definitions.

• Ask for help when needed.

• Study mark schemes strategically.

At The Admissions Academy, we’ve helped countless students achieve A’s and A*s by following these exact principles. Physics rewards clear thinking and persistence — approach it with curiosity and structure, and success will follow.