Physics GCE A Level

Physics GCE A Level

Qualification: AS/A2 - 2 year course

Course type: Level 3 (advanced)

Entry requirements:
4 x GCSE B grades must include B in Maths and B in Physics or Additional Science

Head of Department: Ms Lynn Pharaoh

Course assessment:
The AS and A2 Physics courses are each assessed by 2 written exams along with some assessment of your practical skills. The assessment of your practical skills involves you making measurements and processing data which you then use to answer questions in a written test. You must pass AS Physics in order to proceed onto the A2 course.

What can this course offer me?
Physics at KGV is taught in an interactive way with an emphasis on developing your practical, thinking, problem solving and I.T. skills. The range of topics covered in the course takes you from deep within the atom to the far reaches of the universe.
A work-booklet which provides you with notes, details of experimental work and problem solving exercises, is provided for every topic so in lessons you can focus on developing your Physics related skills.

What will I learn?
The AS course includes the study of mechanics, energy, waves, particle physics, quantum physics and electricity. The A2 course includes the study of gravity, electromagnetism, astrophysics, nuclear and thermal physics. Each of your physics lessons will be made up of a range of activities including experiments (the results of which you will usually analyse on our Easygraph program), problem solving exercises and computer simulations.

What Makes a good Physics student?
To start our AS physics course you must satisfy both of the following entry requirements:

• A grade B in either GCSE Physics or GCSE Additional Science
• A grade B in GCSE Mathematics

Which other courses link well with this subject?
Physics is an excellent subject to take with Mathematics, Electronics and the other Sciences, but, if you have an enquiring mind, you can combine Physics with any other subject.

Future Opportunities
There is a huge range of careers that Physics can help you towards. The following list are a few of the most common careers that our Physics students at KGV go on to:
Research Physicist, Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer; Electrical and Electronic Engineer, Automotive Engineer, Aerospace Engineer, Doctor, Teacher, Astrophysicist, Geophysicist, Engineer in the Armed Forces etc. Although you can take A level physics without taking A level maths, you should be aware that to study physics or engineering at universisty you will require both physics and maths A levels.

Is there anything else I need to know?
As a physics student you will also have opportunities to take part in a technology tournament and spend a few days at university sampling engineering or science courses. And finally......how do you decide if physics is for you? It's simple: if you are curious about how the universe works, physics is perfect for you.