AQA GCSE Physics (8463) Higher & Foundation Free — no sign-up

AQA GCSE Physics revision notes

Q: Which exam board and specification do these cover?

These pages follow AQA GCSE Physics (8463). Most of the content is shared with AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy, so they work for Combined students too — the sections marked physics only are the ones Combined students can skip.

Notes for every point on the AQA GCSE Physics specification, written the way the examiner wants to read it. Each page has the physics explained plainly, the exact sentences that earn the marks, worked examples, and an interactive animation where it helps. Everything here is free and there's nothing to sign up for.

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Eight topics, following the AQA specification order. Greyed-out pages are being written.

Energy

Specification 4.1

4.1.1 Energy changes in a system

4.1.1.1 Energy stores and systems 4.1.1.2 Changes in energy 4.1.1.3 Energy changes in systems 4.1.1.4 Power

4.1.2 Conservation and dissipation of energy

4.1.2.1 Energy transfers in a system 4.1.2.2 Efficiency

4.1.3 National and global energy resources

4.1.3 Energy resources

Electricity

Specification 4.2

4.2.1 Current, potential difference & resistance

4.2.1 Standard circuit symbols and electrical charge

4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits

4.2.3 Domestic uses and safety

4.2.3 Mains electricity and the National Grid

4.2.4 Energy transfers

4.2.4 Power, energy transfer and the National Grid

4.2.5 Static electricity physics only

4.2.5 Static charge and electric fields

Particle model of matter

Specification 4.3

4.3.1 Changes of state and the particle model

4.3.1 Density and changes of state

4.3.2 Internal energy and energy transfers

4.3.2 Internal energy, specific heat capacity and latent heat

4.3.3 Particle model and pressure physics only

4.3.3 Particle motion in gases

Atomic structure

Specification 4.4

4.4.1 Atoms and isotopes

4.4.1.1 The structure of an atom 4.4.1.2 Mass number, atomic number and isotopes 4.4.1.3 The development of the model of the atom

4.4.2 Atoms and nuclear radiation

4.4.2.1 Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation 4.4.2.2 Nuclear equations 4.4.2.3 Half-lives and the random nature of decay 4.4.2.4 Radioactive contamination

4.4.3 – 4.4.4 physics only

4.4.3 Hazards, uses and background radiation 4.4.4 Nuclear fission and fusion

Forces

Specification 4.5

4.5.1 – 4.5.3 Forces, work and elasticity

4.5.1 Forces and their interactions 4.5.2 Work done and energy transfer 4.5.3 Forces and elasticity

4.5.4 – 4.5.5 physics only

4.5.4 Moments, levers and gears 4.5.5 Pressure in fluids

4.5.6 – 4.5.7 Motion and momentum

4.5.6 Forces and Motion 4.5.6 Forces and Motion Practical 4.5.7 Momentum physics only

Waves

Specification 4.6

4.6.1 Waves in air, fluids and solids

4.6.1 Transverse and longitudinal waves

4.6.2 Electromagnetic waves

4.6.2 The electromagnetic spectrum 4.6.2 Lenses and visible light physics only

4.6.3 Black body radiation physics only

4.6.3 Emission and absorption of radiation

Magnetism & electromagnetism

Specification 4.7

4.7.1 Permanent and induced magnetism

4.7.1 Magnetic forces and fields

4.7.2 The motor effect

4.7.2 The motor effect and electric motors

4.7.3 Induced potential physics only

4.7.3 Transformers and the National Grid

Space physics physics only

Specification 4.8

4.8.1 Solar system and orbital motion

4.8.1 The solar system, life cycle of a star and orbits

4.8.2 Red-shift

4.8.2 Red-shift and the Big Bang

📘 Practise it in the workbook

The notes teach it. The workbook makes it stick — exam-style questions for every spec point, with full worked answers so you can mark your own work.

⬇ Free sample pages Energy workbook on Amazon

Common questions

Are these revision notes really free?

Yes — every notes page is free to read with no sign-up, no email and no paywall. The workbooks are paid, and one-to-one tutoring is paid, but the notes themselves are open to anyone.

Which exam board and specification do these cover?

These pages follow AQA GCSE Physics (8463). Most of the content is shared with AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy, so they work for Combined students too — the sections marked physics only are the ones Combined students can skip.

Are they for Higher or Foundation tier?

Both. The notes cover the full specification, and anything that only appears on the Higher paper is flagged on the page so Foundation students don't waste time on it.

How should I use these alongside past papers?

Read the notes first, then do the questions in the workbook for that spec point, and only move to full past papers once a whole topic is covered. Past papers are for testing recall, not learning something the first time — you'll find them on the revision resources page.

Do you teach these lessons as well?

Yes — I'm a specialist physics tutor and I teach GCSE and A Level one to one and in small groups. You can read about tutoring here.