“AIMS

These are not listed in order of priority.

The aims are to:
1. provide, through well-designed studies of experimental and practical physics, a worthwhile educational experience for all students, whether or not they go on to study science beyond this level and, in particular, to enable them to acquire sufficient understanding and knowledge to
1.1 become confident citizens in a technological world, able to take or develop an informed interest in matters of scientific importance
1.2 recognise the usefulness, and limitations, of scientific method and to appreciate its applicability in other disciplines and in everyday life
1.3 be suitably prepared for studies beyond Ordinary Level in physics, in applied sciences or in science-related courses.

2. develop abilities and skills that
2.1 are relevant to the study and practice of science
2.2 are useful in everyday life
2.3 encourage efficient and safe practice
2.4 encourage effective communication.

3. develop attitudes relevant to science such as
3.1 concern for accuracy and precision
3.2 objectivity
3.3 integrity
3.4 inquiry
3.5 initiative
3.6 inventiveness.

4. stimulate interest in and care for the local and global environment.

5. promote an awareness that
5.1 the study and practice of science are co-operative and cumulative activities, and are subject to social, economic, technological, ethical and cultural influences and limitations
5.2 the applications of science may be both beneficial and detrimental to the individual, the community and the environment
5.3 science transcends national boundaries and that the language of science, correctly and rigorously applied, is universal
5.4 the use of information technology is important for communications, as an aid to experiments and as a tool for the interpretation of experimental and theoretical results.

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES

A Knowledge with Understanding
Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding in relation to:
1. scientific phenomena, facts, laws, definitions, concepts, theories
2. scientific vocabulary, terminology, conventions (including symbols, quantities and units contained in ‘Signs, Symbols and Systematics 16–19’, Association for Science Education, 2000)
3. scientific instruments and apparatus, including techniques of operation and aspects of safety
4. scientific quantities and their determination
5. scientific and technological applications with their social, economic and environmental implications.

The subject content defines the factual knowledge that candidates may be required to recall and explain.

Questions testing these objectives will often begin with one of the following words: define, state, describe, explain or outline. 

B Handling Information and Solving Problems
Candidates should be able – in words or by using symbolic, graphical and numerical forms of presentation – to:
1. locate, select, organise and present information from a variety of sources
2. translate information from one form to another
3. manipulate numerical and other data
4. use information to identify patterns, report trends and draw inferences
5. present reasoned explanations for phenomena, patterns and relationships
6. make predictions and propose hypotheses
7. solve problems.

These assessment objectives cannot be precisely specified in the subject content because questions testing such skills may be based on information which is unfamiliar to the candidate. In answering such questions, candidates are required to use principles and concepts that are within the syllabus and apply them in a logical, reasoned or deductive manner to a novel situation. Questions testing these objectives will often begin with one of the following words: predict, suggest, calculate or determine.

C Experimental Skills and Investigations
Candidates should be able to:
1. follow a sequence of instructions
2. use techniques, apparatus and materials
3. make and record observations, measurements and estimates
4. interpret and evaluate observations and experimental results
5. plan investigations, select techniques, apparatus and materials
6. evaluate methods and suggest possible improvements.

Weighting of Assessment Objectives

Theory Papers (Papers 1 and 2)
A Knowledge with Understanding, approximately 45% of the marks with approximately 15% allocated to recall.
B Handling Information and Solving Problems, approximately 55% of the marks.

Practical Assessment (Paper 3)
Paper 3 will assess appropriate aspects of objectives C1 to C6 in the following skill areas:
• Planning (P)
• Manipulation, measurement and observation (MMO)
• Presentation of data and observations (PDO)
• Analysis, conclusions and evaluation (ACE)

The assessment of Planning (P) will have a weighting of 15%. The assessment of skill areas MMO, PDO and ACE will have a weighting of 85%.

SCHEME OF ASSESSMENT
Candidates are required to enter for Papers 1, 2 and 3.

Theory papers

Paper 1 (1 h, 40 marks)
This paper will consist of 40 compulsory multiple choice items of the direct choice type.

Paper 2 (1 h 45 min, 80 marks)
This paper will consist of 2 sections.
Section A will carry 50 marks and will consist of a variable number of compulsory structured questions.
Section B will carry 30 marks and will consist of three questions. The first two questions are compulsory questions, one of which will be a data-based question requiring candidates to interpret, evaluate or solve problems using a stem of information. This question will carry 8–12 marks. The last question will be presented in an either / or form and will carry 10 marks.

Practical assessment
Paper 3 (1 h 50 min, 40 marks)
This paper will consist of 2 sections.
Section A will carry 20 marks and will consist of 1–2 compulsory practical experiment questions with a total duration of 55 min.
Section B will carry 20 marks and will consist of one compulsory 55 min practical experiment question.

One or more of the questions may incorporate assessment of Planning (P) and require candidates to apply and integrate knowledge and understanding from different sections of the syllabus. The assessment of PDO and ACE may include questions on data-analysis which do not require practical equipment and apparatus.

Candidates would be allocated a specified time for access to apparatus and materials of specific questions.

Candidates are not allowed to refer to notebooks, textbooks or any other information during the assessment.