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A Level Physics
Course Codes
OSC1291 / OSC1311 / OSC1312
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Study this A Level Physics course from home and earn up to 56 UCAS points. We have a 94% pass rate** with our A Levels!
- Gain an official A Level Physics qualification from AQA.
- Achieve up to 56 UCAS points to help you land your dream place at university.
- Nationally recognised A Level qualification that is the same course offered in schools and colleges.
- No waiting around for term to start, you can enrol today and start studying as soon as you are ready.
- Study from home at your own pace.
- Benefit from the full support of your personal tutor via email.
- Choose to include exams and practical assessments and save up to £770*
Course overview
When you study A Level Physics, you’ll delve into the fundamental theories in physics such as particle interactions, progressive waves, Newton’s law of motion, and the doppler effect to name a few.
Depending on the degree you wish to study or the career you aspire to, the A Levels we recommend that you study alongside this course are A Level Maths, A Level Chemistry, and A Level Biology.
Degrees this subject could lead to
The skills and knowledge gained during your A Level Physics studies are ideal for students looking to pursue a degree in engineering, science, computing, geography, and maths.
Future career options
Beyond university, you could consider careers in mechanical, aerodynamic, or civil engineering, energy, and information technology.
A Level physics via distance learning
This A Level Physics course is exactly the same as an A Level you would study at school or college, meaning you will take the same exams and get the same qualification. The only difference is that our courses are designed to be studied from home at your own pace, and you will receive full tutor support via email.
Course Duration
Up to two years
Course Outcome
A Level Physics qualification from AQA.
Entry Requirements
We recommend that you have at least a grade 4/C in GCSE Physics and Maths.
Assessment
Three written exams and twelve practical assessments.
Course content
AQA qualification code: 7408
- Fundamental (base) units
- Mass, length, time, quantity of matter, and temperature
- Electric current
- SI units
- SI prefixes, values and standard
- Light intensity
- Prefixes
- Unit converting
- Random and systematic errors
- Uncertainty
- Graph using error bars
- Gradient uncertainties
- Straight-line graph
- Magnitude
- Values of physical quantities
- Constituents of the atom
- Stable and unstable nuclei
- Particles, antiparticles and photons
- Particle interactions
- Classification of particles
- Quarks and antiquarks
- Applications of conservation laws
- The photoelectric effect
- Collisions of electrons with atoms
- Energy levels and photon emission
- Wave-particle duality
- Progressive waves
- Longitudinal and transverse waves
- Formation of stationary waves
- Interference
- Diffraction
- Refraction at a plane surface
- Scalars and vectors
- Moments
- Motion along a straight line
- Projectile motion
- Newton’s laws of motion
- Momentum
- Work, energy and power
- Conservation of energy
- Bulk properties of solids
- The Young modulus
- Basics of electricity
- Current–voltage characteristics
- Resistivity
- Circuits
- Potential divider
- Electromotive force and internal resistance
- Circular motion
- Simple harmonic motion (SHM)
- Simple harmonic systems
- Forced vibrations and resonance
- Thermal energy transfer
- Ideal gases
- Molecular kinetic theory model
- Fields
- Newton's law
- Gravitational field strength
- Gravitational potential
- Orbits of planets and satellites
- Electric fields
- Electric field strength
- Electric potential
- Capacitance
- Parallel plate capacitor
- Energy stored by a capacitor
- Capacitor charge and discharge
- Magnetic flux density
- Moving charges in a magnetic field
- Magnetic flux and flux linkage
- Electromagnetic induction
- Alternating currents
- The operation of a transformer
- α, β and γ radiation
- Radioactive decay
- Nuclear instability
- Nuclear radius
- Mass and energy
- Induced fission
- Safety aspects
- Astronomical telescope consisting of two converging lenses
- Reflecting telescopes
- Single dish radio telescopes, I-R, U-V and X-ray telescopes
- Advantages of large diameter telescopes
- Classification by luminosity
- Absolute magnitude, M
- Classification by temperature, black-body radiation
- Principles of the use of stellar spectral classes
- The Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram
- Supernovae, neutron stars and black holes
- Doppler effect
- Hubble's law
- Quasars
- Detection of exoplanets
Extra info
Course duration
You will have two years to complete your A Level Physics course.
The only deadlines involved in studying this course are concerning the A Level exam timetables. Please see the exams and assessments section for more information on this.
Exams and assessments
To achieve your A Level Physics qualification, you must complete the exams. There are three written exams and twelve practical assessments for this course which will cover the topics studied on this course. A breakdown of the exam papers and assessments can be found in the following section.
When you enrol on your course, you will have the option to add your exams and practical assessments to your enrolment, or you can select the course-only option.
Please note: your exams and practical assessments must be completed during the same year.
Choosing to add the exams and practicals packages
If you choose to add your exams and practical assessments to your enrolment, all you need to do is contact us when you are ready to sit your exams and practicals, and we will book and pay for them on your behalf.
Please note that if you book your exams with us, but do not add the practical option to your enrolment, you will be responsible for sourcing a centre and booking your practical assessments directly with the centre.
Please note, our A Level exam centre locations for this course are as follows:
- Birmingham
- Coventry
- Doncaster
- Bolton
- Wimbledon
- Taunton
- St Neots, Cambridgeshire
- High Wycombe
- Romford
Please note, if you choose to add your practical sessions to your enrolment, you will need to complete both your practicals and written exams at our Birmingham centre.
The course-only option
The A Level exam timetable typically takes place during May and June each year. You are advised to contact us well in advance of when you intend to sit your exams so that we can confirm your place with the exam board – cut-off dates apply.
If you do not add your exams and practicals to your enrolment, you will be responsible for booking and paying for your exams and practical assessments yourself. If you select this option, you must source and liaise with your chosen exam centre in order to book your exams, Open Study College will not be able to book your exams or practicals for you.
Study method
This course will be studied entirely via distance learning, meaning you will complete your learning either from home or a place that suits you. Full tutor support will be available via email, so if you have any questions or need some guidance, your tutor will be here to help. Your course materials will include a series of self-assessment exercises and tutor-marked questions to allow both yourself and your tutor to monitor your progress.
The study method you choose depends on your personal learning style. Your options are:
- Study pack: if you choose the study pack option, you will be sent a set of printed course materials.
- Study online: if you choose this option, you will be sent your login details to our online portal through which you will access your course materials digitally. You can access your course via a desktop/laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Course outcome
Upon successful completion of your exams, you will be awarded an A Level Physics qualification issued by AQA. You will also receive UCAS points relevant to the grade you achieved to support your university application.
UCAS
The final grade you achieve in your A Level will be translated into UCAS points. Based on your grade, you will be awarded up to 56 points per A Level which can then be added together to reach the UCAS points you need to be accepted by your chosen university.
To help you achieve the best possible grade from home, we recommend that you complete the tutor-marked assessments included in your course materials. These are designed to provide you with detailed feedback to help you fine-tune your technique before you sit your exam. Completing your tutor-marked assessments will also help your tutor to provide you with a predicted grade if this is required for your UCAS application.
Download our A Level prospectus
To find out more about Open Study College, the A Levels we offer and how they work, download our A Level prospectus.
Exam details
Paper 1
- Type: written examination
- Duration: two hours
- Weighting: 34% of A Level
- Total marks: 85
- Assessment format: a mixture of short and long answer questions and multiple-choice questions
Paper 2
- Type: written examination
- Duration: two hours
- Weighting: 34% of A Level
- Total marks: 85
- Assessment format: a mixture of short and long answer questions and multiple-choice questions
Paper 3
- Type: written examination
- Duration: two hours
- Weighting: 32% of A Level
- Total marks: 80
- Assessment format: a mixture of short and long answer questions
Practical assessments
Twelve practical assessments – these will take place at our Birmingham centre, and will take place over the course of one weekend. Sessions will run in October, February, March, April, and May. These must be attended prior to sitting your examinations however they must be attended in the same year as your examination.
Q&As
Yes, you will study the same course, take the same exams and get the same qualification. The only difference is that our courses are designed to be studied from home at your own pace, and you will receive full tutor support via email.
We recommend that you have a minimum of GCSE grade 4/C or above in biology. We also recommend that you have a grade 4/C or above in GCSE mathematics as up to 10% of the marks awarded in this course will be related to mathematical principles.
When you enrol on an A Level course with OSC, you will receive:
- Dedicated personal tutor support with unlimited email access.
- Dedicated learner services from our learner services team.
- Course materials with learning activities.
- Assignment marking and feedback from your personal tutor.
- A predicted grade on completion of your tutor-marked assignments, if required for your university application.
- A free CV critique service and employability guide if you’re focusing on career advancement.
- A free Student Discounts membership to save you money on your favourite brands.
- A study pack including a pen, study planner, and notebook*.
- If you choose to add exams to your enrolment with an A Level package, then your exam fees will be included. We will also handle the booking on your behalf. Otherwise, we can refer you to one of our partner exam centres located throughout the UK so you can book your exam yourself.
- You can also opt to add your practical assessments to your enrolment. If you choose this option, we will book and pay for your practical assessments for you.
* Not included with the online study option
There is no required reading for this A Level, however, you will need to conduct your own research using the internet during your studies.
You can choose to add your exams to your enrolment with us, in which case we will book and pay for your exams for you when you are ready. Alternatively, if you choose the course only option, you will be responsible for booking and paying for your exams which can be done directly with your local exam centre.
Please note, if you add on exams you will need to sit these exams in either the Birmingham, Coventry, Doncaster, Bolton, Wimbledon, Taunton, or St Neots (Cambridgeshire) examination centre.
Please note, if you choose to add your practical sessions to your enrolment, you will need to complete both your practicals and written exams at our Birmingham centre. These must take place in the same academic year as your exams.
If you select the course-only option when enrolling on your A Level, you will need to book your exams and practical assessments directly with the exam centre and pay for them yourself. We highly recommend researching your options before enrolling as costs can vary between centres. However, if you choose to add your exams and practical assessments to your enrolment, we will take care of booking and paying for your exams for you when you are ready.
You are still able to study our A Level courses abroad, however, you must sit your exams and practical assessments within the UK at an official exam centre.
It's not a problem. We offer a course replacement service, so if you get into trouble and your course pack is lost or damaged, our Student Support Team can provide you with a new set of materials for a one-time additional fee.
That's not a problem. We want to make sure you're 100% confident about enrolling on the course and starting your study. So, just give our team of education specialists a call on 03300 563 100 and they'll do their best to help.