How to get an A at AS and an A* in Cambridge A Level Physics

Start with a physical model

Before selecting an equation, sketch the system and identify what changes and what remains constant. A moving object, an electrical circuit and an oscillating system each need a defined model. Label quantities with units and decide which effects can reasonably be neglected in the stated question.

At AS, make force diagrams, energy transfers, wave relationships and circuit reasoning dependable. Explain a result in words after calculating it. If your equation predicts that resistance increases when a longer wire is replaced by a shorter identical wire, the explanation should alert you to an error.

Build A2 explanations from familiar ideas

A2 often feels difficult because familiar mathematics appears in less familiar settings. Compare relationships carefully: inverse-square behaviour, exponential change and proportionality each create recognisable graphs. Note both the mathematical similarity and the physical difference between the systems.

For a long explanation, write a causal chain. Identify the change, the relevant principle and the consequence. Avoid jumping from the question directly to a memorised conclusion. When an examiner changes the apparatus or context, the chain remains usable even when your rehearsed sentence does not.

Treat practical skills as examinable reasoning

The official 9702 course includes a timetabled practical examination. Work with your teacher or centre to obtain supervised laboratory practice. Practise reading scales, selecting a sensible range, recording units and maintaining appropriate precision. These habits should become automatic before a timed assessment.

For data analysis, distinguish random scatter from a systematic shift. Explain how an improvement addresses a specific limitation: increasing a measured distance can reduce relative reading uncertainty, while repeating measurements helps assess scatter. A generic instruction to be more careful does not identify an experimental solution.

Review the explanation as well as the number

After marking a question, inspect your definitions, directions, units and significant figures. A numerical answer may hide weak understanding if it came from guessing an equation. Conversely, a wrong final value may follow a sound method with one repairable substitution error.

Use timed multiple-choice and structured practice in separate sessions, then combine them in your weekly plan. For each incorrect option, explain why it fails. Check the syllabus year and component before using old questions, and judge grades using the relevant published thresholds rather than a fixed online percentage.

Common mistakes—and how to fix them

Your four-week revision plan

Use this as a focused revision cycle alongside your lessons. If you are still learning the course, give unfamiliar topics more time before attempting full papers.

1. Week 1

   Diagnose models

   • Attempt short questions across your current topics.
   • Build a list of equations with meanings, units and assumptions.
2. Week 2

   Strengthen explanations

   • Write causal explanations for unfamiliar contexts.
   • Complete a supervised practical or teacher-guided data task.
3. Week 3

   Apply under time

   • Attempt the theory components appropriate to your stage.
   • Review multiple-choice distractors and practical limitations.
4. Week 4

   Repair and rehearse

   • Redo questions involving repeated unit or graph errors.
   • Complete a balanced mock session and review every uncertain answer.

Your questions, answered