Belfast Royal Academy - founded 1785
   

Physics

Curriculum

Key Stage 3

All junior pupils are taught Physics as a separate science by a specialist teacher.

GCSE

Pupils study the CCEA GCSE Specification:

Form 4 – Revised Specification

  • Unit 1: Motion, Force, Moments, Energy, Density, Kinetic Theory, Radioactivity, Nuclear Fission and Fusion. Written examination in the summer of Form 5. (37.5%)
  • Unit 2: Waves, Light, Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetism and Space Physics. Written examination in the summer of Form 5. (37.5%)
  • Unit 3: Practical Skills. Practical examination (7.5%) during Term 2 of Form 5 and written examination (17.5%) in the summer of Form 5.

Form 5 – Legacy Specification

  • Unit 1: Motion, Force, Density and Kinetic Theory, Energy, and Atomic and Nuclear Physics. Written examination in the summer of Form 5. (35%)
  • Unit 2: Waves, Light, Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetism and Space Physics. Written examination in the summer of Form 5. (40%)
  • Unit 3: Practical Skills. Examined through a controlled assessment task, which is completed at the beginning of Form 5.

AS/A2

A Level pupils follow the CCEA specification:

  • AS 1: Forces, Energy and Electricity. Externally assessed written paper. (40% of AS and 16% of A level)
  • AS 2: Waves, Photons and Astronomy. Externally assessed written paper. (40% of AS and 16% of A level)
  • AS 3: Practical Techniques and Data Analysis. Students complete an externally assessed test of practical skills consisting of short tasks, and a separate paper requiring the analysis of experimental results. (20% of AS 8% of A level)
  • A2 1: Deformation of Solids, Thermal Physics, Circular Motion, Oscillations and Atomic and Nuclear Physics. Externally assessed written paper. (24% of A level)
  • A2 2: Fields, Capacitors and Particle Physics. Externally assessed written paper. (24% of A level)
  • A2 3: Practical Techniques and Data Analysis. Students take an externally assessed test of practical skills, consisting of two experimental tests, and a separate paper requiring the analysis of experimental results. (12% of A level)