Work in progress — new pages are added every week

The whole OCR A Level course is mapped out below. Greyed-out pages are being written right now and go live one by one, so check back often. The past papers are ready now.

OCR A Level Physics A (H556) AS (H156) & A Level Free — no sign-up Work in progress

OCR A Level Physics revision notes

Q: Which specification do these cover?

These pages follow OCR A Level Physics A (H556). Modules 1 to 4 are also the AS course (H156). Edexcel A Level pages are on the Edexcel A Level hub, and AQA will follow.

Notes for every section of the OCR Physics A specification, written the way the examiner wants to read it. Each module ends with definitions to learn word for word, calculation practice, 6-mark prose answers and a module test, and the past papers are right here too.

Exam boards: OCR (A) and Edexcel now. AQA to follow.

Browse the modules Past papers A Level tutoring

How each module works

Learn it section by section, then revise the whole module in four ways.

1 · Section pagesAn animation, the notes, free workbook pages and a video for each part of the spec.

2 · DefinitionsThe definitions the mark scheme wants, with a checker that tells you what you missed.

3 · CalculationsEvery equation in the module, rearranged and practised with units.

4 · 6-mark prose + past papersExtended answers with model responses, then the real papers with mark schemes.

Choose your module

Six modules, in the OCR specification order. Numbers in gold are the spec sections. Greyed-out pages are being written.

Development of Practical Skills

Module 1 · Assessed in every paper

Runs through every module and every paper: not taught on its own

Examined in Paper 1 Paper 2 Paper 3

1.1 Practical skills in the written exams

1.1.1–1.1.2 Planning and implementing an experiment 1.1.3–1.1.4 Analysis and evaluation: graphs, gradients and uncertainties

1.2 The practical endorsement

1.2.1–1.2.2 Practical skills and the 12 PAGs

Module 1 revision

DefinitionsLearn them word for word CalculationsEvery equation, practised 6-mark proseExtended answers, marked Module testThe whole module, timed

Foundations of Physics

Module 2 · Year 12 · All papers

Examined in Paper 1 Paper 2 Paper 3

2.1 Physical quantities and units

2.1.1–2.1.2 Physical quantities, S.I. base units, prefixes and estimation

2.2 Making measurements and analysing data

2.2.1 Measurements, errors and uncertainties

2.3 Nature of quantities

2.3.1 Scalars and vectors: adding and resolving vectors

Module 2 revision

DefinitionsLearn them word for word CalculationsEvery equation, practised 6-mark proseExtended answers, marked Module testThe whole module, timed

Forces and Motion

Module 3 · Year 12 · Papers 1 and 3

Examined in Paper 1 Paper 3

3.1 Motion

3.1.1 Kinematics: displacement, velocity, acceleration and motion graphs 3.1.2 Linear motion: SUVAT and measuring g 3.1.3 Projectile motion

3.2 Forces in action

3.2.1 Dynamics: F = ma, weight and free-body diagrams 3.2.2 Drag and terminal velocity 3.2.3 Equilibrium: moments, couples and triangles of forces 3.2.4 Density, pressure and upthrust

3.3 Work, energy and power

3.3.1–3.3.2 Work done, kinetic and gravitational potential energy 3.3.3 Power and efficiency

3.4 Materials

3.4.1 Springs: Hooke’s law and elastic potential energy 3.4.2 Stress, strain and the Young modulus

3.5 Newton’s laws of motion and momentum

3.5.1 Newton’s three laws of motion 3.5.2 Momentum, impulse and collisions

Module 3 revision

Definitions17 to learn · wall poster CalculationsEvery equation, practised 6-mark proseNewton’s laws · worked answer Module testThe whole module, timed

Electrons, Waves and Photons

Module 4 · Year 12 · Papers 2 and 3

Examined in Paper 2 Paper 3

4.1 Charge and current

4.1.1 Charge, current and Kirchhoff’s first law 4.1.2 Mean drift velocity: I = Anev

4.2 Energy, power and resistance

4.2.1–4.2.2 Circuit symbols, e.m.f. and potential difference 4.2.3 Resistance, Ohm’s law and I–V characteristics 4.2.4 Resistivity, thermistors and LDRs 4.2.5 Electrical power and the kilowatt-hour

4.3 Electrical circuits

4.3.1 Series and parallel circuits and Kirchhoff’s second law 4.3.2 Internal resistance 4.3.3 Potential dividers

4.4 Waves

4.4.1 Progressive waves, wave properties and intensity 4.4.2 Electromagnetic waves, polarisation, refraction and TIR 4.4.3 Superposition, interference and the double slit 4.4.4 Stationary waves: how they form, nodes and antinodes

4.5 Quantum physics

4.5.1 Photons, the electronvolt and Planck’s constant from LEDs 4.5.2 The photoelectric effect 4.5.3 Wave–particle duality and the de Broglie wavelength

4.1–4.3 Electricity revision

DefinitionsLearn them word for word CalculationsEvery equation, practised 6-mark proseExtended answers, marked Topic testThe whole topic, timed

4.4–4.5 Waves and quantum revision

Definitions34 to learn · 2 wall posters CalculationsEvery equation, practised 6-mark proseStanding waves · interference Topic testThe whole topic, timed

Newtonian World and Astrophysics

Module 5 · Year 13 · Papers 1 and 3

Examined in Paper 1 Paper 3

5.1 Thermal physics

5.1.1–5.1.2 Temperature, thermal equilibrium and internal energy 5.1.3 Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat 5.1.4 Ideal gases and kinetic theory

5.2 Circular motion

5.2.1 Radians and angular velocity 5.2.2 Centripetal acceleration and force

5.3 Oscillations

5.3.1 Simple harmonic motion 5.3.2 Energy of a simple harmonic oscillator 5.3.3 Damping, forced oscillations and resonance

5.4 Gravitational fields

5.4.1–5.4.2 Gravitational field strength and Newton’s law of gravitation 5.4.3 Kepler’s laws, orbits and geostationary satellites 5.4.4 Gravitational potential and escape velocity

5.5 Astrophysics and cosmology

5.5.1 Stars: formation, evolution and the HR diagram 5.5.2 Energy levels, line spectra, Wien’s law and Stefan’s law 5.5.3 Cosmology: Hubble’s law and the Big Bang

Module 5 revision

DefinitionsLearn them word for word CalculationsEvery equation, practised 6-mark proseExtended answers, marked Module testThe whole module, timed

Particles and Medical Physics

Module 6 · Year 13 · Papers 2 and 3

Examined in Paper 2 Paper 3

6.1 Capacitors

6.1.1–6.1.2 Capacitance, capacitors in series and parallel, and energy stored 6.1.3 Charging and discharging: the time constant

6.2 Electric fields

6.2.1–6.2.2 Point charges and Coulomb’s law 6.2.3 Uniform electric fields and charged particles 6.2.4 Electric potential and energy

6.3 Electromagnetism

6.3.1 Magnetic fields and F = BIL sin θ 6.3.2 Charged particles in magnetic fields 6.3.3 Electromagnetic induction and transformers

6.4 Nuclear and particle physics

6.4.1 The nuclear atom: alpha scattering and nuclear radius 6.4.2 Fundamental particles: quarks, leptons and antiparticles 6.4.3 Radioactivity, decay constant and half-life 6.4.4 Binding energy, fission and fusion

6.5 Medical imaging

6.5.1 X-rays: attenuation and CAT scans 6.5.2 Medical tracers, the gamma camera and PET 6.5.3 Ultrasound, acoustic impedance and the Doppler effect

Module 6 revision

DefinitionsLearn them word for word CalculationsEvery equation, practised 6-mark proseExtended answers, marked Module testThe whole module, timed

OCR A Level Physics past papers

Every paper with its mark scheme. Finished a module? Do the paper that tests it.

H556/01Paper 1 · Modelling physicsModules 1, 2, 3 and 5100 marks · 2 h 15 min · 37%

H556/02Paper 2 · Exploring physicsModules 1, 2, 4 and 6100 marks · 2 h 15 min · 37%

H556/03Paper 3 · Unified physicsAll six modules70 marks · 1 h 30 min · 26%

Series	Paper 1	Paper 2	Paper 3
June 2023	QP MS	QP MS	QP MS
June 2022	QP MS	QP MS	QP MS
Nov 2021	QP MS	QP MS	QP MS
Nov 2020	QP MS	QP MS	QP MS
June 2019	QP MS	QP MS	QP MS
June 2018	QP MS	QP MS	QP MS

H156/01Breadth in physicsModules 1, 2, 3 and 470 marks · 1 h 30 min · 50%

H156/02Depth in physicsModules 1, 2, 3 and 470 marks · 1 h 30 min · 50%

Series	Breadth	Depth
June 2023	QP MS	QP MS
June 2022	QP MS	QP MS
Nov 2021	QP MS	QP MS
Nov 2020	QP MS	QP MS
June 2019	QP MS	QP MS
June 2018	QP MS	QP MS
June 2017	QP MS	QP MS

Year 12?The AS papers only test Modules 1 to 4, so they are perfect practice before Year 13.

Mark it properlyUse the mark scheme straight after, in a different colour pen. Every lost mark is a note to add.

Practise the 6-markersThe questions marked * are the 6-mark ones. Use the 6-mark prose pages above first.

QP = question paper · MS = mark scheme. Topic questions and older papers are on the OCR (A) past papers page.

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Common questions

Which specification do these cover?

These pages follow OCR A Level Physics A (H556). Modules 1 to 4 are also the AS course (H156). Edexcel A Level pages are here, and AQA will follow.

Which past paper tests which module?

Paper 1 (Modelling physics) tests Modules 1, 2, 3 and 5. Paper 2 (Exploring physics) tests Modules 1, 2, 4 and 6. Paper 3 (Unified physics) tests all six. Every module card above says which papers it appears in, and the past papers are on this page.

Why are most of the pages greyed out?

The course is a work in progress. Every module is mapped out so you can see what’s coming, and each page goes live as soon as it’s written.

Are these revision notes free?

Yes. Every page is free to read with no sign-up, no email and no paywall.

What are the 6-mark prose questions?

OCR papers include 6-mark extended-answer questions, marked with an asterisk (*). They are marked on how complete and well linked your explanation is, not just on the right facts. Each module has practice questions with model answers so you can see how a full-mark answer is put together.