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GCSE guide · checked October 2026

GCSE Physics, explained simply

Two exams on energy, electricity, forces, waves, magnetism and space, worth one full GCSE. This page shows what each paper covers, the marks your child really needs for each grade, and how to revise. Pick your exam board and tier and the page changes to match.

  • 2 exams
  • 3 hours 30 minutes in total
  • Required practicals
  • Grades 9 to 1

Exam board

Tier

Not sure which board? Ask your child's school, or check the front of a mockA practice exam, usually set by school a few months before the real thing. paper.

The exams at a glance

AQA GCSE Physics (8463), Higher tier. 2 papers, 3 hours 30 minutes of exams and 200 marks in total. Each paper is worth 50% of the grade.

PaperNotesTimeMarks
Paper 1Energy, electricity, particles, atoms1 hour 45 minutes100 (50%)
Paper 2Forces, waves, magnetism, space1 hour 45 minutes100 (50%)

Specification: AQA GCSE Physics (8463)

What's in the exams

The specifications split the content between the two papers rather than giving a percentage for each topic, so this shows what each paper covers. Each paper is half the grade.

  • Paper 1: topics 1 to 450%
  • Paper 2: topics 5 to 850%

Foundation or Higher?

Foundation

Grades 1 to 5. Questions are more straightforward, and a 5 is the top grade possible. It suits students aiming for a standard pass (4) or strong pass (5).

Higher

Grades 4 to 9, with a 3 allowed if a student just misses a 4. It is needed for grades 6 and above, and most sixth forms want it for A-Level. The risk: fall below the grade 3 mark and there is no grade at all.

The marks you really need for each grade

You do not need 90% for a top grade. Grade boundaries are set after the exams are marked, so a grade stays the same standard even when the papers are harder. These are the real AQA Higher boundaries from June 2026:

GradeMarks neededAs a percentageChart
9157 out of 20078.5%
8142 out of 20071%
7128 out of 20064%
6107 out of 20053.5%
587 out of 20043.5%
467 out of 20033.5%
357 out of 20028.5%

Source: AQA, GCSE grade boundaries June 2026. Boundaries change slightly every year.

Your target score in practice papers

Sit a full set of past papers under timed conditions every few weeks. Work out the percentage for each set, ignore your single worst result (everyone has an off day) and average the rest. Aim for:

84%

to secure a grade 9

76%

to secure a grade 8

69%

to secure a grade 7

We add 5 percentage points to last year's boundary, because boundaries move a little each year and exam nerves cost marks.

Past paper mock builder

Pick an exam series and we'll set out the full AQA Higher mock: which papers to sit, how long to allow and where to download them. Then type in your marks to see the grade they would have earned.

  1. Paper 1, June 2026 · Energy, electricity, particles, atoms · 1 hour 45 minutes

  2. Paper 2, June 2026 · Forces, waves, magnetism, space · 1 hour 45 minutes

Download the papers and mark schemes: AQA official past papers or Save My Exams past papers. Exam boards keep the most recent series for schools only for a while, so if the newest one isn't there, take the one before.

Enter your marks for each paper to see the grade they would have earned.

What Physics is really about

Where the word comes from

"Physics" comes from the Greek ta physika, "natural things", from physis, "nature". For Aristotle it meant the study of the natural world.

Where it comes from

Isaac Newton set out his laws of motion and gravity in 1687, and they are still at the heart of GCSE forces. At the Royal Institution in London in 1831, Michael Faraday showed that moving a magnet near a wire makes electricity, the idea behind every power station generator.

Why it's still taught

GCSE Physics explains how things move, how energy and electricity work and how the universe fits together. A strong grade leads to A-Level Physics and on to engineering, architecture, computing, medicine and many technical apprenticeships.

How to do well in GCSE Physics

Learn the equations

Some equations are given on an equation sheet and some must be learned. Check your board's list and learn the ones that are not given.

Show every step

Write the equation, substitute the numbers, then give the answer with units. Method marks can be earned even if the final answer is wrong.

Watch the units

Converting grams to kilograms or minutes to seconds before calculating avoids one of the most common mistakes.

Learn the required practicals

Questions ask about methods, variables, errors and results. Make a one-page summary of each.

Practise graphs

Reading and drawing graphs, including gradients, comes up often. Practise plotting accurately with a sharp pencil.

Explain in steps

Many questions ask "explain why" with no numbers. Practise short, logical explanations using key physics terms.

The three best places to revise

Our teachers' picks. We have no connection with these sites.

Freesciencelessons on YouTube

Free videos for every topic and required practical, especially strong for AQA.

Isaac Physics

Free problem-solving practice from the University of Cambridge, with GCSE-level questions.

Physics & Maths Tutor

Free past papers, mark schemes and topic questions for each board.

Questions parents ask

Not sure where your child stands?

Our free 45-minute assessment often uses a real past paperA real exam from a previous year, used for practice., so you'll know their likely grade and exactly what to work on. Lessons online across the UK, or at our seven London hubs.

Sources