specification overview
Pearson Edexcel International A-Level Physics (YPH11) is a modular qualification made up of 6 units, examined in January, June and October. Units 1-3 form the International AS (IAS); units 4-6 add the International A2 for the full IAL. Practical skills are assessed in dedicated exam papers (Unit 3 and Unit 6).
subject content
1. Mechanics and Materials
Unit 1 (WPH11)- Motion, forces and Newton's laws
- Work, energy and power; materials
2. Waves and Electricity
Unit 2 (WPH12)- Waves and the particle nature of light
- Electric circuits and DC electricity
3. Practical Skills in Physics I
Unit 3 (WPH13)- Experimental techniques from units 1 and 2
- Data analysis and evaluation
4. Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles
Unit 4 (WPH14)- Momentum; further electric fields; capacitance
- Magnetic fields; particle physics
5. Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology
Unit 5 (WPH15)- Thermal physics and ideal gases
- Nuclear radiation; oscillations; astrophysics
6. Practical Skills in Physics II
Unit 6 (WPH16)- Experimental techniques from units 4 and 5
- Advanced data analysis and evaluation
assessment structure
| Paper | What's assessed | Length | Marks | Weight | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 (WPH11) | Mechanics and Materials | 1h 30m | 80 | 20% IAL / 40% IAS | Multiple-choice, short-open, open-response, calculations and extended writing |
| Unit 2 (WPH12) | Waves and Electricity | 1h 30m | 80 | 20% IAL / 40% IAS | Multiple-choice, short-open, open-response, calculations and extended writing |
| Unit 3 (WPH13) | Practical Skills in Physics I (units 1-2 techniques) | 1h 20m | 50 | 10% IAL / 20% IAS | Structured practical-skills questions |
| Unit 4 (WPH14) | Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles (may include synoptic content) | 1h 45m | 90 | 20% IAL / 40% IA2 | Multiple-choice, short-open, open-response, calculations and extended writing |
| Unit 5 (WPH15) | Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology | 1h 45m | 90 | 20% IAL / 40% IA2 | Multiple-choice, short-open, open-response, calculations and extended writing |
| Unit 6 (WPH16) | Practical Skills in Physics II (units 4-5 techniques) | 1h 20m | 50 | 10% IAL / 20% IA2 | Structured practical-skills questions |
The qualification is modular. Papers are available in January, June and October series. Practical skills are assessed in dedicated written papers rather than a separate endorsement.
assessment objectives
| AO | What it means | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of science. | 32-34% |
| AO2(a) | Application of knowledge and understanding of science in familiar and unfamiliar contexts. | 34-36% |
| AO2(b) | Analysis and evaluation of scientific information to make judgements and reach conclusions. | 11-14% |
| AO3 | Experimental skills in science, including analysis and evaluation of data and methods. | 20% |
required practicals
| Practical | What it involves |
|---|---|
| CP1 Determine the acceleration of a freely-falling object | – |
| CP2 Use a falling-ball method to determine the viscosity of a liquid | – |
| CP3 Determine the Young modulus of a material | – |
| CP4 Determine the speed of sound in air using a 2-beam oscilloscope, signal generator, speaker and microphone | – |
| CP5 Investigate the effects of length, tension and mass per unit length on the frequency of a vibrating string or wire | – |
| CP6 Determine the wavelength of light from a laser or other light source using a diffraction grating | – |
| CP7 Determine the electrical resistivity of a material | – |
| CP8 Determine the e.m.f. and internal resistance of an electrical cell | – |
| CP9 Investigate the relationship between the force exerted on an object and its change of momentum | – |
| CP10 Use ICT to analyse collisions between small spheres, e.g. ball bearings on a table top | – |
| CP11 Use an oscilloscope or data logger to display and analyse the potential difference (p.d.) across a capacitor as it charges and discharges through a resistor | – |
| CP12 Calibrate a thermistor in a potential divider circuit as a thermostat | – |
| CP13 Determine the specific latent heat of a phase change | – |
| CP14 Investigate the relationship between pressure and volume of a gas at fixed temperature | – |
| CP15 Investigate the absorption of gamma radiation by lead | – |
| CP16 Determine the value of an unknown mass using the resonant frequencies of the oscillation of known masses | – |
key tips for success
Plan your unit staging
Papers are available in January, June and October. Decide which units go in which series so you're not cramming five theory units at once.
Prepare for Units 3 and 6
The practical papers are worth 20% of the IAL combined. Practise experimental design, data analysis and evaluation using unfamiliar contexts.
Expect synoptic questions on Units 4 and 5
Later units can pull knowledge from earlier ones. Revise Units 1-2 before sitting Units 4-5.
Master field equations
Gravitational, electric and magnetic fields have analogous equations. Learn the parallels early.
Practise capacitor discharge equations
Unit 4 tests capacitor charging/discharging. Learn RC time constants, energy stored, and exponential decay until automatic.
Know the difference between IAS and IAL
Units 1-3 make up the International Advanced Subsidiary (IAS). Adding units 4-6 gives you the full IAL.
Where to next
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