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CCEA A-Level Physics: complete guide to the AS and A2 units, the exams and how to study each module

A complete guide to CCEA A-Level Physics (specification 2016). Covers the forces and electricity, waves and medical physics, deformation, thermal, circular motion and gravity, and fields, capacitors, particles and astronomy modules, the practical and mathematical skills, how the AS and A2 exams are structured and marked, and how to study each unit for top grades.

Browse guides β†’Syllabus dot points (23)

CCEA A-Level Physics (specification first taught 2016) is a two-year course split into AS and A2, set and marked by CCEA in Northern Ireland. This page is the index: below is a map of the four examined modules, the practical and mathematical skills, the assessment structure, and how to study each unit.

The CCEA Physics modules

The specification groups the subject content across four examined units, studied through the AS and A2 years.

AS 1 Forces, Energy and Electricity
The mechanics and electricity foundation. It covers physical quantities and units, scalars and vectors, forces and equilibrium, dynamics and Newton's laws, work, energy and power, electric charge, current and resistance, and DC circuits. The unifying idea is that conservation laws and Newton's laws describe how objects move and how energy and charge flow.
AS 2 Waves, Photons and Medical Physics
The waves and modern physics module. It covers waves and their properties, superposition and stationary waves, refraction and lenses, quantum physics and the photoelectric effect, wave-particle duality, and medical physics. The unifying ideas are wave behaviour and the quantum nature of light and matter.
A2 1 Deformation, Thermal Physics, Circular Motion, SHM and Gravity
The first A2 module. It covers deformation of solids, thermal physics and ideal gases, circular motion, simple harmonic motion, and gravitational fields. The unifying ideas are the response of matter to forces and energy, and the mathematics of motion and fields.
A2 2 Fields, Capacitors, Particles and Astronomy
The synoptic A2 module. It covers electric fields, capacitors, magnetic fields and electromagnetic induction, particle physics and the standard model, and astronomy and cosmology. The unifying ideas are the field concept, the fundamental constituents of matter, and the structure and history of the universe.

Practical and mathematical skills

Practical skills are compulsory and assessed in dedicated units (AS 3 and A2 3), which include a practical examination and, at A2, an investigative skills assignment rather than a separately graded report. Mathematical skills are embedded throughout: working in SI units and standard form, rearranging and combining equations, plotting and interpreting linear and logarithmic graphs, finding gradients and intercepts, and handling uncertainties and significant figures. These skills are examined across the written papers as well as in the practical units.

Assessment structure

CCEA A-Level Physics is split between AS (40 percent) and A2 (60 percent), with both written papers and assessed practical units. A data and formula sheet is provided in the written papers.

  • AS 1 Forces, Energy and Electricity - a written paper on mechanics, energy and DC electricity.
  • AS 2 Waves, Photons and Medical Physics - a written paper on waves, the photoelectric effect, wave-particle duality and medical physics.
  • AS 3 Practical Skills in Physics - assessment of practical and investigative skills through a practical examination.
  • A2 1 Deformation, Thermal Physics, Circular Motion, SHM and Gravity - a written paper extending into materials, gases, rotation, oscillations and gravity.
  • A2 2 Fields, Capacitors, Particles and Astronomy - a written paper on electric and magnetic fields, capacitance, particle physics and cosmology.
  • A2 3 Practical Skills in Physics - a practical examination and an investigative skills assignment.

How to study CCEA Physics

Physics rewards precise definitions, confident equation work, and clear graph interpretation.

  1. Work from the specification statements. Each numbered point is a checklist; questions are written from them.
  2. Learn definitions and conditions exactly. State each law and the conditions for every equation, including which quantities must be constant.
  3. Master the equations and units. Rearrange fluently, carry SI units through calculations, and know which equations are on the data sheet and which you must recall.
  4. Draw and read the standard graphs. Force-extension, stress-strain, the photoelectric stopping-voltage line, capacitor discharge and decay curves recur and are tested by interpretation.
  5. Drill calculations and practicals. Practise data-response and extended-answer questions under timed conditions, and prepare thoroughly for the practical examinations and the A2 investigative task.

The modules, dot point by dot point

Each module has a specification-level overview with worked questions and cross-links, plus dot-point pages and a quiz. Browse the full set at /ccea-a-level/physics/syllabus.

For the official specification

CCEA publishes the full specification, past papers and mark schemes at ccea.org.uk. Always revise from the current CCEA specification and CCEA's own past papers, because question style and practical expectations are board-specific.

Physics guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

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Physics practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The CCEA-A-LEVEL system, explained

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Common questions about Physics

How is CCEA A-Level Physics structured?
CCEA A-Level Physics is a two-year course split into AS and A2. AS has two written units, AS 1 Forces, Energy and Electricity and AS 2 Waves, Photons and Medical Physics, plus AS 3 which assesses practical skills, and the AS counts for 40 percent of the full A-Level. A2 has A2 1 Deformation of Solids, Thermal Physics, Circular Motion, Oscillations and Atomic and Nuclear Physics and A2 2 Fields, Capacitors and Particle Physics, plus A2 3 which assesses practical skills, and the A2 counts for 60 percent. Practical and mathematical skills are embedded throughout.
What are the CCEA A-Level Physics exam papers?
At AS, AS 1 and AS 2 are each a written paper, and AS 3 assesses practical skills through a practical examination. At A2, A2 1 and A2 2 are written papers, and A2 3 assesses practical skills, including a practical examination and an investigative skills task. Papers use structured short-answer questions, data and calculation questions, graph work and some extended writing, with a formula and data sheet provided.
What topics are in CCEA A-Level Physics?
The content is grouped across four examined units. AS 1 covers physical quantities and units, scalars and vectors, forces and equilibrium, dynamics, work, energy and power, and electricity and DC circuits. AS 2 covers waves, superposition and stationary waves, refraction and lenses, the quantum nature of light and the photoelectric effect, wave-particle duality and medical physics. A2 1 covers deformation of solids, thermal physics and ideal gases, circular motion, simple harmonic motion and gravitational fields. A2 2 covers electric fields, capacitors, magnetic fields and electromagnetic induction, particle physics and the standard model, and astronomy and cosmology.
How much practical and maths work is in CCEA A-Level Physics?
Practical skills are compulsory and assessed in dedicated units (AS 3 and A2 3), which include a practical examination and, at A2, an investigative skills assignment rather than a separately graded coursework report. Mathematical skills run throughout: students rearrange and use equations, work in standard form and SI units, plot and interpret linear and logarithmic graphs, find gradients and intercepts, and handle uncertainties and significant figures. A calculator and a data and formula sheet are provided in the written papers.
How should I revise CCEA A-Level Physics?
Work unit by unit against the specification statements, because questions are written from them. Learn each definition and the conditions attached to every equation, and know what each symbol and its SI unit mean. Practise rearranging equations and carrying units through calculations, draw and interpret the standard graphs (such as force-extension, stress-strain and the photoelectric stopping voltage line), and rehearse derivations and definitions you can be asked to state. Drill past-paper calculations and data-response questions under timed conditions, and prepare thoroughly for the practical units.
How does CCEA A-Level Physics compare to other exam boards?
All A-Level Physics specifications cover the same regulated core, so mechanics, waves, electricity, fields, particles and nuclear physics appear everywhere. CCEA's distinctive features are its AS and A2 unit structure, its dedicated practical-skills units (AS 3 and A2 3) with a practical examination and investigative task, and its particular inclusion of medical physics at AS and astronomy and cosmology at A2. Always revise from the current CCEA specification and CCEA past papers, because question style and practical expectations are board-specific.
How do I approach projectile motion problems?
Split the motion into horizontal (constant velocity) and vertical (constant acceleration due to gravity). Use t as the shared variable across both axes.
What's the difference between work and power?
Work (J) is energy transferred by a force over a distance. Power (W) is the rate of doing work β€” work divided by time.
When is momentum conserved?
In any collision (elastic or inelastic) where no external net force acts on the system. Kinetic energy is only conserved in elastic collisions.
What's the photoelectric effect?
Light shone on a metal can eject electrons, but only if the photon energy (hf) exceeds the work function. The kinetic energy of the ejected electron is hf - W. Evidence that light behaves as discrete quanta (photons).
How do magnetic forces on current-carrying wires work?
F = BIL sin ΞΈ for a wire in a uniform field B with current I and length L. Direction comes from the right-hand rule. Underpins motors, generators, and ammeters.