GCSE Physics 

Why Study Physics? 

This specification aims to encourage you to: 

• develop your knowledge and understanding of physics; 

• develop your understanding of the effects of physics on society; 

• develop an understanding of the importance of scale in physics; 

• develop and apply your knowledge and understanding of the nature of physics and of the scientific process; 

• develop your understanding of the relationships between hypotheses, evidence, theories and explanations; 

• develop your awareness of risk and the ability to assess potential risk in the context of potential benefits; 

• develop and apply your observational, practical, modelling, enquiry and problem-solving skills; 

• develop your ability to evaluate claims based on science through critical analysis of the methodology, evidence and conclusions both qualitatively and quantitatively; and 

• develop your skills in communication, mathematics and the use of technology in scientific contexts.

This specification is designed to promote continuity, coherence and progression within the study of Science.

It builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed within the KS3 programme.

Students who take this course should find that it helps to facilitate the study of Science and Physics to AS and Advanced level.

For entry into the Triple Award Science course, students must have an excellent record in both Science and Maths by the end of

Year 10. You must study all three strands of Science and so GCSE Biology and Chemistry must also be taken alongside this course.

Students may occasionally be selected to study Triple Award Science which follows a similar but more in depth specification to Double Award and is aimed at students that would be committed to continuing with A-Level Sciences.

Triple Award Science will lead to three separate GCSE grades.

Unit 1: External written examination Students answer compulsory structured questions that include short responses, extended writing and calculations. 

Foundation Tier: 1 hour 15 mins Higher Tier: 1 hour 30 mins 

Unit 2: External written examination Students answer compulsory structured questions that include short responses, extended writing and calculations. 

Foundation Tier: 1 hour 15 mins Higher Tier: 1 hour 30 mins 

Unit 3: Booklet A Externally marked Students carry out two pre-release practicals in their final year of study. 

Foundation and Higher Tiers: 2 hours

Booklet B External written examination Students answer compulsory structured questions that include short responses, extended writing and calculations, all set in a practical context. 

Foundation Tier: 1 hour 

Higher Tier: 1 hour 15 mins

The specification provides a thorough preparation for the study of physics and related courses at GCE Advanced level and Advanced Subsidiary level. It also allows you to develop transferable skills that will benefit you in vocational training and employment. 

Physics is crucial to understanding the world around us, the world inside us, and the world beyond us. It is the most basic and fundamental science. Physics challenges our imaginations with concepts like relativity and string theory, and it leads to great discoveries, such as computers and lasers, and technologies that change our lives – from healing joints to curing cancer and developing sustainable energy solutions.

If you choose physics, you may have the opportunity to take part in the following activities;

• NI Science Festival activities

• Chemistry at Work workshop at Queen's University Belfast

• Tyndall Physics Lecture at Queens

• STEM bus - Forensic Science

• STEM bus - Biology workshop

• CREST awards

• Experiments

• Field Trips