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Assessment
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Advancing Physics is examined by OCR with assessment through written examinations and teacher-assessed coursework.
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Advancing Physics AS
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Written papers
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Unit 2860 – Physics in Action (1 hour 30 minutes) (90 marks)
Unit 2861 – Understanding Processes (1 hour 30 minutes) (90 marks)
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The question papers are straightforward and allow for a variety of experience. They include short questions and structured questions which the candidate can answer from the knowledge and particular contexts they have chosen to study. Some questions may set the physics studied during the course into a new context.
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The question papers contain three sections: in Section A there are approximately 20 marks for the very short questions; in Section B approximately 40 marks for the structured questions and in Section C there are 30 marks for extended answers. All questions on these papers are compulsory.
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Coursework
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Unit 2862 - Physics in practice (120 marks)
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There are three short coursework tasks in Unit 2862. Each task is expected to take no more than three hours of contact time and an equivalent amount of independent study for research and writing up. The work is carried out during the AS course, and assessed at that time. The three pieces of work together form a coursework portfolio for which a single mark is submitted for Unit 2862.
- The three tasks are:
- Instrumentation task
- Materials research and presentation
- Making sense of data
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Institute of Physics/OCR Coursework Prize
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To nominate a student for an outstanding piece of coursework, please fill in the form below.
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Coursework prize form.
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Download OCR's 'Teacher support:coursework guide' document (2,874Kb)
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Advancing Physics A2
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Written papers
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Unit 2863/1– Rise and fall of the Clockwork Universe (1 hour 10 minutes) (70 marks)
Unit 2864/1– Field and Particle Pictures (1 hour 10 minutes) (70 marks)
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The A2 question papers have a similar format to those for AS. There are short questions and structured questions. Some questions may set the physics studied during the course into a new context. The distribution of marks is approximately 20 marks for the short questions in Section A and 50 marks for the structured parts in Section B. All questions on these papers are compulsory.
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Unit 2865 – Advances in Physics (1 hour 30 minutes) (90 marks)
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In preparation for Section A of this synoptic paper candidates receive a printed text
about physics (approximately 1500 – 2000 words) which includes data and diagrams. This is supplied to candidates some weeks beforehand for study before the examination.
In the exam they receive a new copy of the passage together with the (unseen)
questions about the content. This form of comprehension / data analysis paper allows candidates to have plenty of time to read the passage and look up unfamiliar ideas before sitting down to answer the questions. Whilst the context of the passage may be unfamiliar to the candidate, the physics that they are asked to use will be drawn from across the whole course. The paper tests the synoptic ability of the candidate.
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Section B of this paper contains two structured questions. These further test synoptic abilities through questions about physics and its applications, in the context of problems that bring together ideas of physics from different areas of the course.
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Coursework
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There are two coursework tasks for A2. Each provides an opportunity for candidates to work independently, choosing their own topic for study. The tasks require more time from the candidate and it is expected there will be a significant difference in the outcome in comparison with those tasks tackled in the AS course. Each task is expected to take two weeks of contact time and the associated independent study time.
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Unit 2863/2: Practical Investigation (40 marks)
The practical investigation should be carried out on any aspect of physics of interest to the candidate.
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Unit 2864/2: Research Report (40 marks)
This consists of a written report on a physics topic of the candidate’s choice, which requires the use and synthesis of ideas from different areas of the subject.
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Institute of Physics/OCR Coursework Prize
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To nominate a student for an outstanding piece of coursework, please fill in the form below.
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Coursework prize form.
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