Question 1

What does Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics cover?

Accepted Answer

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics (1PH0) covers 15 topics across two written papers, with Topic 1 (Key concepts of physics) examined on both.

| Paper | Topics covered |
|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Topics 1–7: Key concepts of physics, Motion and forces, Conservation of energy, Waves, Light and the electromagnetic spectrum, Radioactivity, Astronomy |
| Paper 2 | Topic 1 + Topics 8–15: Key concepts of physics, Energy – Forces doing work, Forces and their effects, Electricity and circuits, Static electricity, Magnetism and the motor effect, Electromagnetic induction, Particle model, Forces and matter |

You'll also complete 8 core practicals during the course, which Edexcel tests through written questions in the papers rather than a separate practical exam. Our notes walk through every topic clearly, so you always know exactly what the specification expects of you.

Question 2

What are the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics core practicals?

Accepted Answer

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics includes 8 core practicals that you complete in the lab during your course. The written papers then assess your understanding of these experiments through questions on methods, variables, results and evaluation.

| # | Core practical |
|---|---|
| 1 | Investigate the relationship between force, mass and acceleration by varying the masses added to trolleys |
| 2 | Investigate the suitability of equipment to measure the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave in a solid and a fluid |
| 3 | Investigate refraction in rectangular glass blocks in terms of the interaction of electromagnetic waves with matter |
| 4 | Investigate how the nature of a surface affects the amount of thermal energy radiated or absorbed |
| 5 | Construct electrical circuits to investigate the relationship between potential difference, current and resistance for a resistor and a filament lamp, and to test series and parallel circuits using resistors and filament lamps |
| 6 | Investigate the densities of solid and liquids |
| 7 | Investigate the properties of water by determining the specific heat capacity of water and obtaining a temperature-time graph for melting ice |
| 8 | Investigate the extension and work done when applying forces to a spring |

Our notes walk through the key concepts behind each core practical, which makes written exam questions on methods, variables and evaluation much more straightforward to approach.

Question 3

How does foundation tier differ from higher tier?

Accepted Answer

**Grades:** Higher awards grades 4–9 (with an allowed 3); Foundation awards grades 1–5.

**Topics:** Both tiers cover all 15 topics. The spec marks Higher-tier-only content in bold; examples include momentum calculations, centripetal force, Fleming's left-hand rule, and the transformer turns-ratio equation. Our notes highlight these Higher-only spec points so you know exactly what is in scope for your tier.

**Core practicals:** Both tiers must complete the same 8 core practicals, and both are assessed through written questions in the exam papers rather than a separate practical exam.

**Exam structure:** Both tiers sit two papers of 1 hour 45 minutes each, worth 100 marks and 50% of the GCSE. Higher students sit papers coded 1PH0/1H and 1PH0/2H; Foundation students sit 1PH0/1F and 1PH0/2F.

**Question types:** Both tiers use the same mix of multiple-choice, short answer, calculation, and extended open-response questions. Higher tier questions demand mathematical reasoning at Foundation-tier GCSE Maths level or above; foundation tier requires Key Stage 3 maths.

Question 4

Where should I start with GCSE Physics revision?

Accepted Answer

A good place to start is Topic 1 (Key concepts of physics), since Edexcel tests it on both Paper 1 and Paper 2, meaning the time you invest there pays off across the whole qualification. From there, we'd suggest working through the topics in order: Paper 1 covers Topics 2–7, and Paper 2 covers Topics 8–15.

Our notes break each topic down clearly, so you can move through them at your own pace without missing anything. One thing worth keeping in mind on higher tier is that at least 30% of the marks involve maths, so as you work through each topic it's worth making sure you're comfortable with the equations as well as the explanations. If you're not sure where your gaps are, our by-topic view can help you see which areas need the most attention.

Question 5

What's on Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics Paper 1 and Paper 2?

Accepted Answer

Each of the two written papers covers a distinct set of topics and carries equal weight in your final grade.

| Paper | Topics covered | Length | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (1PH0/1H) | Topic 1: Key concepts of physics; Topic 2: Motion and forces; Topic 3: Conservation of energy; Topic 4: Waves; Topic 5: Light and the electromagnetic spectrum; Topic 6: Radioactivity; Topic 7: Astronomy | 1 hour 45 minutes | 50% |
| Paper 2 (1PH0/2H) | Topic 1: Key concepts of physics; Topic 8: Energy – Forces doing work; Topic 9: Forces and their effects; Topic 10: Electricity and circuits; Topic 11: Static electricity; Topic 12: Magnetism and the motor effect; Topic 13: Electromagnetic induction; Topic 14: Particle model; Topic 15: Forces and matter | 1 hour 45 minutes | 50% |

One important Edexcel quirk worth noting: Topic 1 (Key concepts of physics) is examined on **both** papers, so make sure you have those foundational ideas secure before either sitting. Our notes are organised by topic, so you can work through Paper 1 and Paper 2 content separately and track exactly where you stand on each one.

Question 6

Can I use these notes as my Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics textbook?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our notes are written to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics specification (1PH0), covering all 15 topics spread across your two papers, so you can work through them confident that everything on the spec is included.

We'd suggest pairing them with our flashcards and quizzes for spaced retrieval practice, since returning to the material in different formats helps the content stick far better than reading alone. Whenever you want to focus on a specific area, our by-topic view lets you jump straight there without hunting through a whole textbook.

Question 7

How do I get a grade 9 in Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics Higher?

Accepted Answer

A grade 9 in Edexcel GCSE Physics (1PH0) means genuinely commanding all three assessment objectives, including the application and analysis questions that together make up 60% of the marks (AO2 and AO3), while also being very confident with the maths skills that account for at least 30% of the available marks across both papers.

In practice it usually looks something like:

- **Knowing the Higher-only content thoroughly.** The spec flags Higher-only material in bold throughout, covering areas like momentum, centripetal force, transformer calculations and electromagnetic induction; our notes highlight every one of these spec points so nothing slips through.
- **Being confident with every calculation.** With maths at a minimum of 30% of marks, working carefully through multi-step problems, checking units and using the provided equation sheet precisely is what separates grade 8 from grade 9 answers.
- **Practising AO3 questions regularly.** The 20% of marks testing analysis, evaluation and improvement of experimental procedures reward students who engage with data critically; our exam practice includes extended-style AO3 questions throughout.
- **Giving Topic 1 extra attention.** Key concepts of physics appears on both Paper 1 and Paper 2, so it repays more revision time than most topics; our by-topic view makes it straightforward to track which content appears on which paper.
- **Using spaced retrieval across all 15 topics.** Our flashcards and quizzes are built for spaced retrieval practice, which helps knowledge stick reliably across the full breadth of the spec.