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Marlbridge

AQA · GCSE

AQA GCSE Physics

Physics for AQA GCSE (syllabus 8463) — what the qualification covers, and the study material Marlbridge publishes for it.

Syllabus
8463
Board
AQA
Qualification
GCSE

At a glance

Qualification
AQA GCSE Physics
Spec code
8463
Does Marlbridge teach it?
Yes
Are resources available?
Yes — 8 published
Is enrolment open?
Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
Where was this verified?
2026-08-19, official AQA specification

Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official AQA specification on 2026-08-19.

Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.

The qualification

AQA GCSE Physics (8463)

This specification gives students the opportunity to study the more theoretical aspects of physics, such as astrophysics and particle physics, and covers the essential knowledge and skills for progression to further study. — AQA, official syllabus page

Untiered as a standalone Physics GCSE (Foundation/Higher content is flagged within each topic via "HT only", not via separate specifications). Eight topics: Energy, Electricity, Particle model of matter, Atomic structure, Forces, Waves, Magnetism and electromagnetism, and Space physics. Most content is co-teachable with GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464); content marked "(physics only)" in the official specification is Physics-only. First teaching September 2016. Assessed across two written papers (Paper 1: Energy, Electricity, Particle model of matter, Atomic structure; Paper 2: Forces, Waves, Magnetism and electromagnetism, Space physics), each 1 hour 45 minutes.

Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the AQA syllabus page for your examination year.

Assessment structure

Linear qualification

Assessment components for AQA Physics 8463
Component Duration Marks Weighting Type
8463/1F: Paper 1 (Foundation): Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure (Foundation) 1h 45m 100 50% Written exam
8463/1H: Paper 1 (Higher): Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure (Higher) 1h 45m 100 50% Written exam
8463/2F: Paper 2 (Foundation): Forces; Waves; Magnetism and electromagnetism; and Space physics (Foundation) 1h 45m 100 50% Written exam
8463/2H: Paper 2 (Higher): Forces; Waves; Magnetism and electromagnetism; and Space physics (Higher) 1h 45m 100 50% Written exam

Source: official AQA specification, verified 2026-08-28. Directly confirmed against the official AQA specification-at-a-glance page: the third of AQA's three separate GCSE sciences sharing this exact structure, independently re-confirmed from Physics's own page against sibling Biology 8461 and Chemistry 8462 -- linear, tiered Foundation/Higher, each tier sits its own Paper 1 and Paper 2, each 1h45/100marks/50% of GCSE. Paper 1 covers Topics 1-4 (Energy, Electricity, Particle model of matter, Atomic structure); Paper 2 covers Topics 5-8 (Forces, Waves, Magnetism and electromagnetism, Space physics -- physics-only content, distinguishing this from the Combined Science: Trilogy 8464 route, not modeled here). First teaching September 2016, first examination May/June 2018.

Assessment FAQs

How is AQA Physics (8463) assessed?

AQA Physics (8463) is assessed through: 8463/1F (Paper 1 (Foundation): Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure) — 1h 45m, 100 marks, 50% of the qualification; 8463/1H (Paper 1 (Higher): Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure) — 1h 45m, 100 marks, 50% of the qualification; 8463/2F (Paper 2 (Foundation): Forces; Waves; Magnetism and electromagnetism; and Space physics) — 1h 45m, 100 marks, 50% of the qualification; 8463/2H (Paper 2 (Higher): Forces; Waves; Magnetism and electromagnetism; and Space physics) — 1h 45m, 100 marks, 50% of the qualification. It is a linear qualification. Source: official AQA specification, verified 2026-08-28.

The subject

Physics teaching and study resources, organised by level and topic.

All Physics at Marlbridge

Syllabus topics

The 8 topics below are the official subject content of AQA GCSE Physics (8463), for the For first teaching 2016 examination series, reproduced from the AQA syllabus document.

A topic listed here is part of the syllabus. It does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it — topics with resources are marked. Marlbridge currently has resources for 1 of 8 topics.

  1. 1 Energy

    8 Marlbridge resources

    Energy changes in a system · Conservation and dissipation of energy · National and global energy resources

  2. 2 Electricity

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet

    Current, potential difference and resistance · Series and parallel circuits · Domestic uses and safety · Energy transfers · Static electricity

  3. 3 Particle model of matter

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet

    Changes of state and the particle model · Internal energy and energy transfers · Particle model and pressure

  4. 4 Atomic structure

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet

    Atoms and isotopes · Atoms and nuclear radiation · Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and background radiation · Nuclear fission and fusion

  5. 5 Forces

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet

    Forces and their interactions · Work done and energy transfer · Forces and elasticity · Moments, levers and gears · Pressure and pressure differences in fluids · Forces and motion · Momentum

  6. 6 Waves

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet

    Waves in air, fluids and solids · Electromagnetic waves · Black body radiation

  7. 7 Magnetism and electromagnetism

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet

    Permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields · The motor effect · Induced potential, transformers and the National Grid

  8. 8 Space physics

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet

    Solar system; stability of orbital motions; satellites · Red-shift

Source: AQA -- official GCSE Physics (8463) specification, live subject-content pages — For first teaching 2016 series. Verified 2026-08-19. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.

Study resources

Revision material

Exam preparation

Physics at other qualifications

These are separate qualifications with different syllabuses and assessments — not different names for the same course. Check which one your school enters you for.

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