AQA A-Level Physics (7408)
AQA A-Level Physics (7408) is assessed by three 2-hour written papers, with practical skills tested in the exams and a separate practical endorsement reported alongside the grade. Our AQA A-Level Physics course follows the 7408 specification: measurements and errors, particles and radiation, waves, mechanics and materials, electricity, further mechanics and thermal physics, fields, nuclear physics and your chosen option. You prepare for all three 2-hour papers and the required practicals. Lessons are live and one-to-one with a verified subject tutor, who sets exam-style questions, marks them against the mark scheme and plans revision around your weakest topics. Suitable for Year 12 and Year 13 students, private candidates and resits.
Reviewed by K. Sharma, Master's in Physics, Maharishi Dayanand UniversityLast updated
$14 – $35
per hour
Free demo class · pay only if you continue
What you will learn
Learning outcomes
- Learning Outcomes (comma-separated):
- Understand physical quantities and SI units
- Analyse measurements and uncertainties
- Understand particles and radiation
- Explain wave properties and behaviour
- Apply mechanics principles
- Understand forces and motion
- Analyse materials and their properties
- Apply electricity concepts
- Solve electrical circuit problems
- Understand circular motion
- Explain simple harmonic motion
- Understand thermal physics
- Analyse gravitational fields
- Understand electric fields
- Explain capacitance
- Understand magnetic fields
- Explain electromagnetic induction
- Understand nuclear physics
- Apply mathematical methods to physics problems
- Analyse experimental data
- Develop practical investigation skills
- Evaluate uncertainties and errors
- Interpret graphs and experimental results
- Solve AQA-style physics questions
- Improve examination technique
Prerequisites
- GCSE Physics or equivalent
- GCSE Mathematics or equivalent
- Basic algebra
- Basic trigonometry
- Graph interpretation
- Scientific notation
- Basic experimental skills
Tags
Course structure
Syllabus(6 modules)
- SI Units
- Powers of Ten
- Estimating Physical Quantities
- Sources of Uncertainty
- Calculating Uncertainties
- Determining
- Uncertainties from Graphs
What is AQA A-Level Physics (7408)?
In short: this course gives one-to-one online tutoring for AQA A-level Physics (7408). A verified physics tutor teaches the core content and your option topic, problem solving, practical skills and uncertainties, using AQA past papers and mark schemes.
AQA A-Level Physics (7408) is a linear A-Level taken over two years, covering mechanics, waves, electricity, fields, thermal and nuclear physics plus one optional topic. It is assessed by three 2-hour written exams at the end of the course, graded A* to E, with a separately reported practical endorsement.
This course covers the full specification and your chosen option one to one with a verified physics tutor.
Official specification: AQA A-level Physics 7408.
What are the AQA A-Level Physics papers?
AQA A-level Physics is assessed by three written papers, each lasting 2 hours. Papers 1 and 2 are worth 85 marks and 34% each; Paper 3 is worth 80 marks and 32%, covering practical skills and your chosen option.
| Paper | Content | Marks | Weighting | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | Sections 1–5 and 6.1 (periodic motion) | 85 | 34% | 60 marks short and long answer; 25 multiple-choice questions |
| Paper 2 | Sections 6.2 (thermal physics), 7 and 8, assuming 1–6.1 | 85 | 34% | 60 marks short and long answer; 25 multiple-choice questions |
| Paper 3 | Section A practical skills and data analysis; Section B one option (sections 9–13) | 80 | 32% | 45 marks practical and data; 35 marks on the option |
What are the assessment objectives for AQA A-level Physics?
Across the three papers, AQA weights the assessment objectives at about 33% knowledge and understanding (AO1), 42% applying it (AO2) and 25% analysing, interpreting and evaluating information and evidence (AO3). Problem solving and practical analysis carry most of the marks.
| Objective | What it tests | Overall weighting |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes and techniques | 33% |
| AO2 | Applying knowledge and understanding | 42% |
| AO3 | Analysing, interpreting and evaluating information, ideas and evidence | 25% |
Which topics does 7408 cover?
| Core sections | Options (choose one for Paper 3) |
|---|---|
| 1 Measurements and their errors | 9 Astrophysics |
| 2 Particles and radiation | 10 Medical physics |
| 3 Waves | 11 Engineering physics |
| 4 Mechanics and materials | 12 Turning points in physics |
| 5 Electricity | 13 Electronics |
| 6 Further mechanics and thermal physics | |
| 7 Fields and their consequences | |
| 8 Nuclear physics |
How do you solve A-Level Physics problems?
Physics marks reward a clear method as much as the final answer.
- Write down the known quantities with units.
- Choose the relevant equation from the data and formulae booklet.
- Rearrange before substituting.
- Substitute and calculate, keeping units consistent.
- Give the answer to a sensible number of significant figures with units.
- Check it makes physical sense.
Required practicals and uncertainties
There are 12 required practicals, and Paper 3 Section A tests practical skills and data analysis in depth. Tutors practise uncertainties, plotting and using straight-line graphs, gradients and intercepts, and evaluating experimental methods.
What does a worked A-level physics calculation look like?
Here is a typical simple harmonic motion question: find the period of a 0.50 kg mass on a spring with spring constant 20 N m⁻¹.
| Step | Working |
|---|---|
| Equation | T = 2π√(m ÷ k) |
| Substitute | T = 2π√(0.50 ÷ 20) = 2π√0.025 |
| Calculate | 2π × 0.158 = 0.99 s |
| Answer | T ≈ 0.99 s (two significant figures) |
Where do students lose marks in AQA A-level Physics?
A-level physics students most often lose marks by substituting before rearranging, mishandling uncertainties, misreading graphs, giving the wrong significant figures and writing explanations without the underlying principle.
| Mark-loser | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Substituting too early | Rearrange symbolically first |
| Uncertainty errors | Add percentage uncertainties for products and quotients |
| Graph misreading | State what the gradient and intercept represent |
| Wrong significant figures | Match the data given |
| Explanations without principles | Name the law or model used |
How the lessons work
Lessons are live and one to one on video with a shared whiteboard. Your tutor uses AQA past papers and mark schemes and teaches your option in depth. See also Edexcel A-Level Physics, A-Level Mathematics and our Modern Physics subject page.
A level physics tutor online: who this AQA course is for, prerequisites and study plan
An A level physics tutor online gives you live 1-to-1 lessons on the AQA 7408 topics, with step-by-step calculations, required practicals and practice for your Paper 3 option.
This course suits Year 12 and Year 13 students taking AQA A-Level Physics, and resit students.
Prerequisites: GCSE Physics and Maths, basic algebra and trigonometry, and graph reading.
Course length: 50 one-hour lessons across 6 modules in the course syllabus.
| Stage | Topics | What you can do afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Measurements and their errors; particles and radiation | Handle uncertainties and explain particle physics |
| 2 | Waves; mechanics and materials | Solve wave, force and material problems |
| 3 | Electricity | Solve circuit problems |
| 4 | Further mechanics and thermal physics | Solve circular motion and gas law problems |
Where it leads: see the Edexcel A-Level Physics course if your school follows Edexcel, or our physics tutoring page.
AQA A-Level Physics (7408): frequently asked questions
What is the AQA A-Level Physics specification code?
The code is 7408 (7407 for AS).
How many papers are in AQA A-Level Physics?
Three 2-hour papers: Paper 1 (34%), Paper 2 (34%) and Paper 3 (32%).
What are the AQA Physics options?
Astrophysics, medical physics, engineering physics, turning points in physics and electronics. You study one.
Is there multiple choice in AQA A-Level Physics?
Yes. Papers 1 and 2 each include 25 multiple-choice questions.
How many required practicals are there?
Twelve required practicals for the A-Level.
Do I get a formula sheet?
Yes. A data and formulae booklet is provided, but you need to know how to use the equations.
How do I get an A* in AQA Physics?
Master problem-solving and practical skills, learn your option well and practise past papers with mark schemes.
What are the AQA A-Level Physics grade boundaries?
AQA publishes grade boundaries for AQA A-Level Physics after each exam series, and they change from year to year with paper difficulty. They show the raw marks needed for each grade. Your tutor marks full past papers and compares your scores with recent boundaries to estimate your grade and target the topics that matter most.
How much does an A-Level Physics tutor cost?
The price depends on the tutor and session length. You see the hourly rate before booking, with no subscription.
Do you help resit students?
Yes. Tutors target the topics that will lift your grade most.
How long are AQA A-level Physics papers?
Each of the three papers is 2 hours.
Is there a practical endorsement?
Yes. The practical endorsement is assessed by your teacher and reported separately from the A-level grade.
How should I revise for AQA A-level Physics?
Use retrieval practice by topic, practise required-practical and data questions, and do timed past papers marked against the mark scheme.
Can I book lessons in my time zone?
Yes. Lessons are online, so you can book times that suit your time zone and school week.
What is on AQA A-level Physics Paper 3?
Section A on practical skills and data analysis (45 marks) and Section B on one option topic (35 marks).
How do I find the period of a mass on a spring?
Use T = 2π√(m/k). For 0.50 kg and 20 N m⁻¹, T ≈ 0.99 s.
Is AQA A-Level Physics hard?
AQA A-Level Physics is one of the more demanding A-Levels because it combines abstract ideas, multi-step calculations and practical analysis. Students who are confident with algebra and practise past-paper problems regularly usually do well. Fields, circular motion and further mechanics need the most practice, so a tutor targets them early.
How many multiple-choice questions are there?
Papers 1 and 2 each include 25 multiple-choice questions.
Which option should I choose?
Your school usually chooses; options include astrophysics, medical physics, engineering physics, turning points and electronics.
Where can I find the AQA A-Level Physics specification?
AQA publishes the A-Level Physics 7408 specification on its website. It lists the topics, the required practicals and the structure of each paper, so use the current version for your exam year. Your tutor uses it to check that your revision covers exactly what you can be asked.
Can I get an A level physics tutor online?
Yes. You can learn with a 1-to-1 A level physics tutor online through live video lessons. Your tutor works through each calculation step by step, explains the required practicals, prepares you for your Paper 3 option and uses past papers to build your exam technique.
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