Edexcel International A Level (IAL) Physics (WPH11–WPH16) Past Papers 2026

Mechanics and Materials (WPH11)

Duration: 1h 30m

Waves and Electricity (WPH12)

Duration: 1h 30m

Practical Skills in Physics I (WPH13)

Duration: 1h 20m

Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles (WPH14)

Duration: 1h 45m

Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology (WPH15)

Duration: 1h 45m

Practical Skills in Physics II (WPH16)

Duration: 1h 20m

Stokes' law conditions and laminar flow

'Most were able to score this mark. A description of the flow was required, so simply stating "laminar" was not sufficient.' Candidates also confused conditions for Stokes' law with the question being asked about terminal velocity.

Unit 1

Newton's three laws applied to a specific scenario

'Candidates were generally able to score marks on this question, but very few were able to give a complete explanation… Quoting the three laws and nothing else.' Many candidates could state the laws but not link them to the balloon-rocket / collision context.

Unit 1

Yield point definition (must include both 'large strain' and 'plastic')

'It seemed that very few candidates had learned this definition which needed to include two elements to score the mark, the idea of a large increase in strain and that the strain must be plastic.'

Unit 1

Floating condition (weight = upthrust, not 'weight < upthrust')

'There was a clear misconception demonstrated by many candidates that the iceberg would float if weight is less than upthrust, rather than floating when weight is equal to upthrust.'

Unit 1

Linac operation — accelerating field is in the GAPS, not in the tubes

'Candidates did not always state that the acceleration of the particles takes place in the gaps between the tubes, and some even said they accelerate between the gaps, i.e. in the tubes.'

Unit 4

Cloud chamber tracks — separating thickness (ionising power) from straightness (mass/momentum)

'Differentiating correctly between the effects of the two properties was rarely seen, even when candidates had learnt the physics.' Many attributed both thickness and straightness to a single cause.

Unit 5

Ideal gas: temperature must be in kelvin, and Δn vs n confusion

'12(a) was generally well answered, although a few candidates did not convert the temperature to kelvin… In 12(b) most candidates knew how to calculate the new number of molecules, but some candidates omitted to calculate the difference and so left the calculation incomplete.'

Unit 5

Percentage uncertainty for single readings (use HALF the device resolution)

'Q01(a)(ii) requires candidates to recall that the resolution of a micrometer screw gauge is 0.01 mm and that to calculate the percentage uncertainty of a single measurement they should use half the device resolution in their calculation.' Final percentage uncertainty must be given to 1 or 2 sf only.

Unit 3, Unit 6