The arithmetic
| Paper | Marks | Notional A* (June 2026) | Courselo target (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 85 | 64 | 68 |
| Paper 2 | 85 | 64 | 68 |
| Paper 3 | 80 | 34 of 45 in Section A | 64 (36 + 28) |
| Total | 250 | 186–191 | 200 |
Only the total counts. The notional paper boundaries are guidance, so a weak Paper 2 can be rescued by a strong Paper 3. Other boards set their own totals and boundaries (see Grade Boundaries and How Physics Is Scored), but 80% on timed papers is a safe A* standard for all of them.
Where A-grade candidates lose the marks A* candidates keep
| Loss pattern | What it looks like | Typical cost over 3 papers |
|---|---|---|
| Loose definitions | “Work function is the energy to remove an electron”, missing minimum and from the surface | 3–5 marks |
| Calculation hygiene | mm² not converted to m², eV mixed with J, a missing unit, a skipped step in a show-that | 5–8 marks |
| Graphs and uncertainties | A small gradient triangle, a gradient read from data points instead of the line, percentage uncertainties combined wrongly | 4–6 marks |
| 6-mark answers | One strand missing, or correct facts listed instead of linked | 3–5 marks |
| Multiple choice | Powers of ten, rushed ratios, answering the reverse of the question | 3–5 marks |
| The option | Learned last and thinly, though it is worth 35 marks | 4–8 marks |
Fix all six and a 70% candidate becomes an 80% candidate. None of them needs new physics.
Seven habits of A* physicists
- Learn definitions word-perfectly. Mark schemes credit specific words. Keep a deck of about 80 definitions and laws (the Courselo flashcards cover them) and recite them until the key terms are automatic. Coherent means the same frequency with a constant phase difference. The gravitational potential at a point is the work done per unit mass to bring a small mass from infinity to that point.
- Lay out every calculation the same way. Write the equation, substitute values in SI units, then give the answer with a unit and sensible significant figures. Examiners award method marks for a correct substitution even when the arithmetic slips, and error carried forward (ecf) protects later parts, but only if they can see your working. Keep full calculator values and round only on the last line.
- Know what the booklet doesn’t give you. The data and formulae booklet lists equations, not definitions, conditions or derivations. Practise the derivations examiners like: orbital speed and from , the radius of a charged particle’s path, , and the kinetic-theory result .
A 12-week route to 200/250
| Weeks | Focus | Checkpoint |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Diagnostic; definitions deck; measurements, uncertainties and mechanics | Mechanics banks at 75%+ |
| 3–4 | Materials, electricity, waves, particles and quantum; one timed 25-question MCQ set a week | MCQ sets at 20/25+ |
| 5–6 | Periodic motion, thermal physics, gravitational and electric fields; one timed Paper 1 | Paper 1 at 64/85+ |
| 7–8 | Capacitors, magnetic fields, induction, nuclear physics; two 6-mark answers a week | Paper 2 at 64/85+ |
| 9–10 | All 12 required practicals, graphs and uncertainties; finish the option; one timed Paper 3 | Section A 36/45, option 28/35 |
| 11–12 | Full Mock 1 under exam conditions; clear the error log; a second full set of three papers | Two consecutive totals of 200+ |
If the diagnostic predicts a B or below, allow 16–20 weeks and work through weeks 1–8 more slowly. The revision-plan guide has the full day-by-day version.
Common traps
Quick recap
- A* was about 75% in June 2026 (186–191/250). Train to 80% (200/250).
- Most lost marks come from definitions, calculation layout, graphs and uncertainties, 6-mark structure, MCQ slips and a thin option.
- Equation, substitution, answer with unit, every time. Round only at the end.
- Plan 6-mark answers as three linked strands.
- Log every lost mark by cause and redo it cold.