CCEA GCSE physics (575) Past Papers 2026

Motion, Force, Density and Kinetic Theory, Energy, and Atomic and Nuclear Physics — Foundation and Higher Tier

Duration: 1h 15m Tier-F / 1h 30m Tier-H

Waves, Light, Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetism and Space Physics — Foundation and Higher Tier

Duration: 1h 15m Tier-F / 1h 30m Tier-H

Booklet A (30 marks, supervised practical) + Booklet B (70 marks, data analysis)

Duration: Booklet A: 2h supervised; Booklet B: 1h Tier-F / 1h 15m Tier-H

Kinetic theory of matter — properties of solids, liquids and gases

Flagged as a weakness in every report across all three years. Responses were described as 'vague and inaccurate and not mark worthy' in 2023. In 2025, candidates who discussed forces between molecules instead of particle spacing scored zero on density questions.

Unit 1 Foundation, Unit 1 Higher

Electromagnetic induction — changing magnetic field, ammeter deflection, iron core function

The QWC question on electromagnetic induction was 'poorly answered by most candidates' in 2023 Foundation. Key omissions every year: 'changing' magnetic field, momentary deflection returning to zero, and the iron core being a magnetic (not electrical) conductor.

Unit 2 Foundation, Unit 2 Higher

Distance and velocity from v-t and d-t graphs — gradient and area

Multiple errors flagged across all three years: using s = d/t to find distance from a v-t graph (wrong physics), not knowing that gradient of d-t graph gives speed, not using area under a v-t graph for distance. Foundation candidates in 2024 'did not know the formula and unit for acceleration'.

Unit 1 Foundation, Unit 1 Higher

Ray diagram errors — missing arrows, incorrect refraction direction, virtual image position

Every year in Unit 2, examiners flagged missing or incorrect arrows on rays, refraction in the wrong direction (towards the normal when leaving glass), and virtual image construction errors. In 2025, the mark for arrows was lost due to 'arrows in the wrong direction, arrows on virtual rays or no arrows at all'.

Unit 2 Foundation, Unit 2 Higher

Unit conversion — grams to kilograms, millimetres to metres, mass to weight

Explicitly flagged in 2024 and 2025 in both theory and practical units. Candidates failed to convert 300 g to 0.3 kg before using the potential energy formula, and could not convert millimetres to metres in practical analysis. In Unit 3 2024, many candidates 'were unable to convert millimetres to metres and kilograms to newtons'.

Unit 1 Foundation, Unit 1 Higher, Unit 3 Foundation, Unit 3 Higher

Efficiency and energy calculations — identifying input and output energies correctly

In 2023 and 2024 Higher, candidates lost marks by failing to recognise that gravitational potential energy at the top of a slope was the input energy. In 2024, a few candidates lost all marks by starting efficiency calculations with an incorrect equation. Partial credit required showing the correct equation clearly.

Unit 1 Foundation, Unit 1 Higher

Nuclear physics — isotopes, background radiation correction, nuclear equations

Foundation candidates in 2024 found isotopes 'poorly answered'. Background radiation correction (subtracting background from measured count) was not clearly stated by many Foundation candidates in all three years. In 2024, the most common error in nuclear equations was writing atomic number of magnesium as 10 instead of 12.

Unit 1 Foundation, Unit 1 Higher

Domestic electricity — earth wire and fuse protection mechanism

In both 2025 Foundation and Higher QWC questions on domestic electricity safety, 'candidates struggled to give a correct account of how the earth wire and the fuse protected the user' and 'few mentioned that the earth wire provided a low resistance path'. Many could name the wires but not explain the mechanism.

Unit 2 Foundation, Unit 2 Higher