A-level Physics practical assessment from Sept 2015 – a summary
The new AS and A-level specifications are designed to allow for co-teaching. Practical activities contribute to the requirements for


knowledge and understanding of experimental methods, indirectly assessed by written exams at AS and A-level
mastery of specific apparatus and techniques (see box on this page), separately reported as ‘practical endorsement’ for A-level only
Each student must carry out a minimum of 12 practical activities, throughout their two-year A level Physics course.
Use of apparatus and techniques - physics
A-level candidates must develop and demonstrate the following skills:
a) use appropriate analogue apparatus to record a range of measurements (to include length/distance, temperature, pressure, force, angles, volume)
and to interpolate between scale markings
b) use appropriate digital instruments, including electrical multimeters, to obtain a range of measurements (to include time, current, voltage, resistance,
mass)
c) use methods to increase accuracy of measurements, such as timing over multiple oscillations, or use of fiduciary marker, set square or plumb line
d) use stopwatch or light gates for timing
e) use calipers and micrometers for small distances, using digital or vernier scales
f)
correctly construct circuits from circuit diagrams using DC power supplies, cells, and a range of circuit components, including those where polarity is
important
g) design, construct and check circuits using DC power supplies, cells, and a range of circuit components
h) use signal generator and oscilloscope, including volts/division and time-base
i)
generate and measure waves, using microphone and loudspeaker, or ripple tank, or vibration transducer, or microwave / radio wave source
j)
use laser or light source to investigate characteristics of light, including interference and diffraction
k) use ICT such as computer modelling, or data logger with a variety of sensors to collect data, or use of software to process data
l)
use ionising radiation, including detectors
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The required practical activities are defined by each awarding organisation (AO), in their Specifications. Each AO is likely to map apparatus and
techniques’ against their practical activities, giving more than one opportunity for mastery of each skill.
AQA
OCR (specs A & B)
Edexcel
The OCR specification gives an
example activity for each of its 12
Practical Activity Groups. Others
will be given on the website. OCR
Centres can also devise and submit
activities of their own.
1
determination of g by a free-fall
method
investigating motion e.g. acceleration determine the acceleration of freelyof free fall
falling object
a, c, d, k
2
determination of Young Modulus by
a simple method
investigating properties of materials
e.g. Young's modulus
a, c, e
3
determination of resistivity of a wire
using a micrometer, ammeter and
voltmeter.
investigation of the emf and internal
resistance of electric cells and
batteries by measuring the variation
of the terminal pd of the cell with
current through it.
investigating electrical properties e.g. determine the electrical resistivity of
resistivity or conductivity of a metal a material
station
The 12 activities listed must be
carried out by all students taking this
course.
4
5
6
investigation of interference effects,
to include the Young’s slit
experiment and interference by a
diffraction grating.
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16 activities are listed but each
student only needs to complete 12 of
these.
apparatus &
technique:
indicative
opportunities
determine the Young modulus of a
material
a, b, e, f, g
determine the emf and internal
resistance of an electrical cell
b, f, g
investigating electrical circuits e.g.
potential divider circuits
calibrate a thermistor in a potential
divider circuit as a thermostat
a, b, f, g, k
investigating waves e.g. determine
the wavelength of light and sound by
two source superposition with a
double slit and diffraction grating
determine the wavelength of light
from a laser or other light source
using a diffraction grating
light: a, j
sound: a, h, i
investigate the effects of length,
tension, and mass per unit length on
the frequency of a vibrating string or
wire
a, b, c, i
investigating shm e.g. factors
affecting the period of a simple
harmonic oscillator
determine the value of an unknown
mass using the resonant frequencies
of the oscillation of known masses.
a, b, c, h, i
investigating gases e.g. determine an
estimate of absolute zero
investigate the relationship between
pressure and volume of a gas at fixed
temperature
a
7
investigation into the variation of the
frequency of stationary waves on a
string with length, tension and mass
per unit length of the string
8
investigation into simple harmonic
motion using a mass-spring system
and a simple pendulum.
9
investigation of Boyle’s (constant
temperature) law and Charles’s
(constant pressure) law for a gas.
10
investigation of the charge and
investigating capacitors e.g.
discharge of capacitors. (analysis
determine time constant using ln
techniques should include log-linear graph
plotting leading to a determination of
the time constant RC)
use an oscilloscope or datalogger to
b, f, g, h, k
display and analyse the p.d. across a
capacitor as it charges and discharges
through a resistor
11
investigation of the inverse-square
law for gamma radiation
investigate the absorption of gamma
radiation by lead
12
investigate, using a search coil and
oscilloscope, the effect on magnetic
flux linkage of varying the angle
between a search coil and magnetic
field direction
a, b, f, h
13
investigate how the force on a wire
varies with flux density, current and
length of wire using a top pan balanc
a, b, f
14
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investigating ionising radiation e.g.
absorption of 
investigating quantum effects e.g.
determination of Planck's constant
using LEDs
a, b, k, l
b, c, f, j
15
apply
investigative
approaches &
methods
unscaffolded investigation: e.g.
specific heat capacity of a material
16
use a falling ball method to
determine the viscosity of a liquid
b, c, d
17
use ICT to analyse collisions
between small spheres, e.g. ball
bearings on a table top
a, k
18
determine the specific latent heat of a f, g, k
phase change
19
investigate the relationship between
the force exerted on an object and its
change of momentum
20
determine speed of sound in air using a, h, i
a 2-beam oscilloscope, signal
generator, speaker and mic
a, d
NOTES
1 Some external monitoring will be put in place to ensure that the endorsement system works (Ofqual to report Spring 2015).
2 Students will need to keep a record of their practical activities, but the method of recording is expected to be flexible (e.g. lab book,
folder or eportfolio). Likewise teachers will be expected to record what practicals are done, noting students present and any failing to
demonstrate a competence (easiest done with a spreadsheet, which AOs will very likely provide).
3 Quite apart from the 12 required practicals, teachers may offer other opportunities for skills development.
4 OCR’s 12th Practical Activity Group is ‘Research skills’, which may involve online and offline research.
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