Planning and teaching

• Specification clarification summary Following the ongoing review of our qualifications and feedback from teachers about the depth and breadth of some of the specification statements in GCSE Physics A, we have added the following clarifications to particular specification statements, as detailed in this resource. Please use this resource in conjunction with the specification. PDF 97KB
• Support highlights A comprehensive collection of resources to help you quickly get up to speed in the classroom and support your students in preparing for exams. These materials will focus your teaching on individual abilities of students, help determine their capabilities and above all save you time. PDF 853KB
• Annual planning for Gateway Sciences This resource provides suggested models for teaching single sciences and combined sciences over 2, 2½ and 3 years. A tool is included to modify these models to fit your centre's curriculum plan. XLSX 329KB
• P1: outline scheme of work This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 482KB
• P2: outline scheme of work This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 459KB
• P3: CUP Elevate video - Static electricity MP4 13MB
• P3: outline scheme of work This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 472KB
• P4: CUP Elevate resource - Electric motors ZIP 1MB
• P4: CUP Elevate video - Iron filings in a magnetic field MP4 26MB
• P4: outline scheme of work This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 473KB
• P5: outline scheme of work This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 481KB
• P6: outline scheme of work This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 470KB
• P7: outline scheme of work This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 444KB
• P8: outline scheme of work This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 150KB

Delivery guides (PDF)

Delivery guides (online)

Multiple choice topic quizzes

• Alphabet of physics This shows all standard abbreviations and all symbols for the specification tabulated in alphabetical order. This is intended to help students to avoid confusion by highlighting where it might most easily occur. DOCX 563KB 24 days ago
• Building a topic test using ExamBuilder Instructions on how to create your own practice test DOCX 354KB
• Exambuilder exemplar Instructions on how to create your own practice paper, with a Foundation example. - interchange login required
• Quizzes (ZIP) interchange login required
• Language of measurement in context - Physics

  The purpose of this exemplar investigation is to illustrate the use of the language of measurement terms in the context. DOCX 864KB

• P5 Waves in matter - end of topic quiz Topic quiz built using the ExamBuilder bank of questions - interchange login required
• How to answer 6 mark LOR activities J247-J250 J257-J260 - Designed to show how to tackle six mark LOR questions. ZIP 5MB
• Colour This teaching activity focuses on the topic of colour. These activities are designed to be used to demonstrate the behaviour of light, colour and how coloured filters work. DOC 4MB
• Electromagnetic spectrum Electromagnetic spectrum is a teaching activity that will help teachers plan for, and teach about, the topic by providing a range resources to enthuse students throughout their study. DOC 794KB
• Electromagnetic spectrum - phone app This presentation forms part of the electromagnetic spectrum teaching activity. PPTX 123KB
• Electromagnetic spectrum presentation This presentation should be used in conjunction with the electromagnetic spectrum teaching activity. PPTX 381KB
• Forces and motion This teaching activity focuses on the topic of forces and motion and assesses student understanding of the topic. DOC 695KB
• Forces and motion presentation This presentation should be used in conjunction with the forces and motion teaching activity. PPTX 10MB
• Looking back in time to the Big Bang Students may have already studied red-shift and evidence for the Big Bang theory. This activity can be used as part of teaching this topic or as a consolidation.  DOC 2MB
• Modelling nuclear equations A selection of teaching activities focusing on the topic of modelling nuclear equations. DOC 7MB
• P- and S-waves These teaching activities are designed to be used after the content relating to P- and S-waves has been taught. DOC 524KB

• Global challenges 1 Students take their prior knowledge of forces, accelerations and decelerations and apply it to real life daily situations of vehicles on roads. The activities in this pack support this learning. DOCX 867KB
• Global challenges 2 Students get to experience and look in-depth at how electricity has transformed our lives. The activities in this pack support this learning. DOCX 1MB
• Global challenges 3 Students take their prior knowledge of stars, planets and satellites and apply it to how the galaxy remains in perfect order. The activities in this pack support this learning. DOCX 1MB
• Pressure This resource focuses on how the motion of the molecules in a gas is related to both its temperature and pressure, the relationship between the temperature, pressure and volume and the effect of doing work on a gas. DOC 2MB
• Pressure student activity This activity sheet should be used with the topic exploration pack on pressure. DOC 2MB

• Glossary of terms Glossary of terms relating to practicals. DOC 183KB
• Exambuilder – using past papers to make new papers A short video showing you how to use the Exambuilder tool
• Level of response questions This guide helps teachers understand how a mark scheme is applied to exam questions, with particular focus on level of response questions. PDF 673KB
• Working scientifically A selection of lesson ideas to help you incorporate 'working scientifically' themes into your teaching of the specification topics. DOCX 458KB

• Electricity Focusing on the topic of electricity, this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 603KB
• Electricity checkpoint This checkpoint task is designed to be used with the KS3-KS4 transition guide on electricity. DOC 197KB
• Energy Focusing on the topic of energy this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 477KB
• Energy checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the Energy transition guide. DOC 187KB
• Forces Focusing on the topic of forces, this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 1MB
• Forces checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the Forces transition guide. DOC 389KB
• Forces student activity This KS4 extension activity should be used alongside the transition guide on forces. DOCX 672KB
• Magnetism Focusing on the topic of magnetism, this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 1MB
• Magnetism checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the Magnetism transition guide. DOC 178KB
• Matter Focusing on the topic of matter, this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 761KB
• Matter checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the Matter transition guide. DOC 3MB
• Matter student activity 1: solids, liquids, gases This student resource focusing on solids, liquids and gases should be used in conjunction with the Matter transition guide. DOC 151KB
• Matter student activity 2: ingredients This student resource focusing on 'ingredients' should be used in conjunction with the Matter transition guide. DOC 2MB
• Wave behaviour and interactions Focusing on the topic of wave behaviour and interactions, this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 3MB
• Wave behaviour and interactions checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the Wave behaviour and interactions transition guide. DOC 3MB
• Wave behaviour and interactions checkpoint teacher instructions This document gives teachers additional background information for the wave behaviour and interactions checkpoint. PDF 1MB
• Waves in matter Focusing on the topic of waves in matter, this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 456KB
• Waves in matter checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the Waves in matter transition guide. DOC 856KB

• Practical support guide A list of practical activities and resources suitable for each PAG. Very helpful for revision work and where practical activities are not possible.  DOCX 158KB
• Practical skills booklets A set of booklets containing activities covering the combined and separate science practical skills criteria. ZIP 9MB
• Example set of practicals
• GCSE Physics - Learner record sheet A method of tracking a learner's progress through the practical part of the course. DOC 855KB
• GCSE Physics - Practical tracker Manage your learners’ progress in their practical work and mapping of the required skills and techniques with this tracker. ZIP 1MB
• Magnetic linear accelerator A simple, low-cost practical activity DOCX 436KB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Circuits - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 6 and Combined Science PAG P6 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 3MB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Circuits - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 6 and Combined Science PAG P6 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 3MB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Energy - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 5 and Combined Science PAG P5 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 3MB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Energy - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 5 and Combined Science PAG P5 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 990KB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Forces - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 2 and Combined Science PAG P2 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 5MB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Forces - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 2 and Combined Science PAG P2 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 2MB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Interaction of waves - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 8. This also supports Combined Science P4 Waves as suggestion 2. DOCX 1MB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Interaction of waves - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 8. This also supports Combined Science P4 Waves as suggestion 4. DOCX 2MB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Materials - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 1 and Combined Science PAG P1 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 1MB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Measuring waves - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 4 and Combined Science PAG P4 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 1MB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Measuring waves - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 4 and Combined Science PAG P4 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 884KB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Motion - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 3 and Combined Science PAG P3 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 2MB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Motion - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 3 and Combined Science PAG P3 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 936KB
• PAG Activity - Physics - Series and parallel circuits - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Physics PAG 7 and Combined Science PAG P6 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 1MB

• Mathematical skills This mathematical skills handbook is designed to accompany the GCSE (9-1) Gateway and Twenty First Century Science specifications for teaching from September 2016. PDF 2MB
• Mathematical skills Check In This student resource should be used in conjunction with the mathematical skills handbook for the GCSE (9-1) Gateway and Twenty First Century Science specifications. DOCX 2MB

• Periodic table of the elements poster This poster of the periodic table of the elements can be printed to create an A1 poster for your classroom. PDF 1MB

• Women in science A3 posters and desktop wallpapers, presenting the work of prominent female scientists and how this work links to the content in our specifications. You and your students can relate the achievements of these scientists to the work you do in the classroom. ZIP 9MB

• How much should I write in a science exam?
• Practical science at home
• Resources to support the progress of physics students