How many papers is AQA GCSE Physics?

AQA GCSE Physics (8463) has 2 exam papers: Paper 1 (1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50%); Paper 2 (1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50%). It's tiered, so you sit either Foundation or Higher.

How is AQA GCSE Physics assessed?

Entirely by written exams at the end of the course — Paper 1 (1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50%); Paper 2 (1 hour 45 minutes, 100 marks, 50%). There are 10 required practicals, assessed through questions in the written papers.

What do you study in AQA GCSE Physics?

The main topics are: Energy, Electricity, Particle model of matter, Atomic structure, Forces, Waves, Magnetism and electromagnetism, Space physics (physics only). These are set by the 8463 specification (current for exams from 2018).

AQA GCSE Physics: specification & assessment

AQA specification 8463 · Version 1.1, 30 September 2019 · for teaching from September 2016, exams 2018 onwards · checked July 2026

AQA GCSE Physics (8463) is assessed by 2 tiered exam papers (Foundation and Higher tier). Here's the exam structure, the assessment objectives and what you study — straight from AQA's specification.

Reform watch:England's 2025 Curriculum & Assessment Review doesn't change GCSE or A-level content until reformed specs are first taught (national curriculum September 2028; updated GCSEs from 2029). Your 2026–2028 exams use the current specification. What's changing →

Exam papers

Paper	Length	Marks	Weighting
Paper 1Topics 1-4: Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure.	1 hour 45 minutes	100	50%
Paper 2Topics 5-8: Forces; Waves; Magnetism and electromagnetism; and Space physics. Questions in paper 2 may draw on an understanding of energy changes and transfers due to heating, mechanical and electrical work and the concept of energy conservation from Energy and Electricity.	1 hour 45 minutes	100	50%

Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives (AOs) are set by Ofqual for Physics and describe the skills the exams reward. The weightings are for the whole GCSE.

AO	What it assesses	Weighting
AO1	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific techniques and procedures.	40% overall (approx); 37-43% in each of Paper 1 and Paper 2
AO2	Apply knowledge and understanding of: scientific ideas; scientific enquiry, techniques and procedures.	40% overall (approx); 37-43% in each of Paper 1 and Paper 2
AO3	Analyse information and ideas to: interpret and evaluate; make judgments and draw conclusions; develop and improve experimental procedures.	20% overall (approx); 17-23% in each of Paper 1 and Paper 2

Practical work

AQA GCSE Physics has 10 required practicals. Questions in the written exams draw on them — there is no separate coursework mark at GCSE.

GCSE-level practical assessment (no A-level-style endorsement). There is no separately graded, teacher-assessed practical endorsement at GCSE. Instead: (a) all students must carry out the ten required practical activities, and schools/colleges provide AQA a practical science statement confirming students undertook the work; and (b) practical skills are assessed only within the written exams — verbatim: 'Questions in the written exams will draw on the knowledge and understanding students have gained by carrying out the practical activities listed below. These questions will count for at least 15% of the overall marks for the qualification.' The count of 10 is for GCSE Physics specifically (8 required practicals are shared with Combined Science; practicals 2 (Thermal insulation) and 9 (Waves/ripple tank) are physics only) — Combined Science and the separate sciences differ, so this 10 must not be conflated with Combined Science counts.

What you study

The main topics in the 8463 specification:

Energy
Electricity
Particle model of matter
Atomic structure
Forces
Waves
Magnetism and electromagnetism
Space physics (physics only)

Your grades in Physics

See the real AQA Physics grade boundaries (2024 & 2025, with a "what grade is my mark" tool), and how GCSE grades work.

Where this comes from

Frequently asked questions

See all AQA GCSE subjects.