A-LEVEL Physics

PHYSICS - A LEVEL

ü	INDUCTION
	Students are advised of suitable text books, stationery, working procedures and introduced to the basic skills required, all during the first week of the course. Staff will explain how the course will be run, and build upon GCSE skills of note taking, problem solving, experimental skills and the use of physics equipment including safety procedures.

SYLLABUS

The syllabus covers the familiar areas of; mechanics, heat, electricity, properties of matter, gases, nuclear physics, gravitational fields, electric fields, electromagnetism, electromagnetic induction, mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves. We then study three topics, two in normal laboratory time and one as a project from the following: materials, energy sources, medical physics, electronics, astronomy and particle physics; out of these, two will be examined at the end of the course.

SKILLS REQUIRED

Students should have a Dual Certificate Science pass at levels BB or higher; a Single Certificate pass at B or A would be acceptable if it is in GCSE Physics. We at Chatham House undertake the London Board GCE for A Level, but GCSE passes can be with any of the five GCSE boards.

Other skills include a GCSE grade C in Mathematics. Physics uses Mathematics throughout the course and although students need not study A Level Mathematics nor another science subject, Physics does share some coursework with A Levels taken in: Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Technology including the use of IT for nearly 25% of our experiments. Help will be given to all students to enable them to obtain the Mathematical skills required and therefore no one should be dissuaded on the grounds that the Mathematics might become too difficult.

METHODS OF ASSESSMENT

Students will be assessed internally by the application of written tests half way through and at the end of every module at about eight week intervals. Students will then be advised as to their progress with help and assistance offered where it is needed. Staff are generally around at lunchtimes for consultation and would be only too pleased to offer guidance on a one to one basis at this time should anyone need it. The course is taught as four modules spread over two years, but public examinations will only take place in the first summer (module 1); the following January (module 2) and the summer after that (modules 3, 4 and practical examination). Students accumulate marks for each module which are ‘cashed in’ at the end of the course to provide them with a grade.

CAREER IMPLICATIONS

Students who successfully gain an A Level pass in Physics can look forward to a wide choice of careers. Many industries and universities actually require Physics before admitting students on such courses as: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Medicine, Engineering, Telecommunications, Electronics, TV, Radio, Filming, Architecture and Music (Recording or Engineering). As such, over recent years, A Level Physics has become an increasingly popular subject both with students and employers or Universities who demand it.