Paper 5
Physics 1
- Key Concepts of Physics
- Motion and Forces
- Conservation of Energy
- Waves
- Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Radioactivity
1 hour 10 minutes60 marks16.67%
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics, memorised fast.
Long notes are boring. Brain-hack the whole 1SC0 specification with active recall and actually remember it.
- Spec 1SC0
- 13 topics
- 108 subtopics
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics 1SC0
Key Concepts of Physics
Motion and Forces
Topic overviewScalar and vector quantitiesExamples of vectors and scalars, and velocitySpeed, distance, time and distance-time graphsAcceleration and the equation v squared minus u squaredVelocity-time graphs and free fallMeasuring speed in the laboratory, and typical everyday speedsNewton's first law, and investigating force, mass and accelerationNewton's second and third lawsWeight, mass and gravitational field strengthCircular motion and centripetal forceInertial mass and momentumCollisions, and force as the rate of change of momentumReaction time, stopping distance and large decelerationsFactors affecting stopping distance and reaction time
Conservation of Energy
Waves
Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
Topic overviewProperties of electromagnetic wavesInvestigating refraction in glass blocksThe groups of the electromagnetic spectrumThe continuous spectrum, and what our eyes can detectAbsorption, transmission and the velocity of electromagnetic wavesHow radiation is generated, and why danger rises with frequencyHarmful effects of excessive exposure to radiationUses of electromagnetic radiation
Radioactivity
Topic overviewThe atom and the size of atomsIsotopes, atomic number and mass numberRelative masses and charges of subatomic particlesElectron orbits and energy levelsForming ions, and how the atomic model changedTypes of ionising radiationBackground radiation and detecting radioactivityAlpha, beta and gamma, and their penetrating powerBeta-minus and beta-plus decayEffects of decay on atomic number and mass numberBalancing nuclear equationsActivity and the becquerelHalf-life and the randomness of decayHalf-life calculationsThe dangers of ionising radiationSafety precautions, contamination and irradiation
Energy – Forces Doing Work
Topic overviewEnergy stores and energy transfer diagramsChanging a system's energy, and measuring work doneWork done and the energy changes it causesGravitational potential and kinetic energy calculationsDissipation and wasted energyPower as the rate of energy transferThe watt, and calculating efficiency
Forces and Their Effects
Electricity and Circuits
Topic overviewThe atom, and drawing circuit diagramsSeries and parallel circuitsPotential difference and the voltmeterEnergy transferred by moving chargeCurrent, charge and measuring currentResistance and the equation V = IRResistors in series and in parallelDesigning circuits to test componentsInvestigating resistance in circuitsCurrent-potential difference graphs for componentsLight-dependent resistors and thermistorsThe heating effect of an electric currentUses of the heating effect, and the equation E = IVtPower as energy transferred per secondCalculating electrical powerEnergy transfer in domestic devices, and power ratingsDirect and alternating currentAlternating current and the UK mains supplyLive and neutral wires, earthing and fusesFuses in the live wire, mains voltages and electrical dangers
Magnetism and the Motor Effect
Topic overviewMagnetic poles, permanent and induced magnetsUses of magnetic materialsThe magnetic field around a bar magnetPlotting compasses and the Earth's magnetic fieldThe magnetic effect of an electric currentSolenoids and electromagnetsThe motor effect and Fleming's left-hand ruleThe force on a conductor in a magnetic field
Electromagnetic Induction
Particle Model
Topic overviewKinetic theory and differences in densityCalculating density, and investigating itChanges of state and internal energySpecific heat capacitySpecific latent heat and thermal insulationInvestigating the specific heat capacity of waterGas pressure and the motion of particlesAbsolute zero and the kelvin scale
What Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics covers
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (specification 1SC0) is worth two GCSEs and is examined by six papers, two for each science. The physics content is sat as Paper 5, Physics 1, and Paper 6, Physics 2, each 1 hour 10 minutes and 60 marks, together a third of the qualification. This is the Higher tier: it carries everything on the Foundation papers plus the higher-tier content, and grades 4–4 to 9–9 are available on the 17-grade double-award scale from 9–9 to 1–1, with a grade 4–3 allowed for a mark just below the 4–4 boundary.
Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) in Combined Science 1SC0, issue 6, March 2024. Read the Pearson specification ↗
How it is assessed
Paper 6
Physics 2
- Key Concepts of Physics
- Energy – Forces Doing Work
- Forces and Their Effects
- Electricity and Circuits
- Magnetism and the Motor Effect
- Electromagnetic Induction
- Particle Model
- Forces and Matter
1 hour 10 minutes60 marks16.67%
The full specification
13 topics, 108 subtopics. Open any topic to see what is inside it.
01Key Concepts of Physics3 subtopicsOpen topic
02Motion and Forces14 subtopicsOpen topic
- Scalar and vector quantities
- Examples of vectors and scalars, and velocity
- Speed, distance, time and distance-time graphs
- Acceleration and the equation v squared minus u squared
- Velocity-time graphs and free fall
- Measuring speed in the laboratory, and typical everyday speeds
- Newton's first law, and investigating force, mass and acceleration
- Newton's second and third laws
- Weight, mass and gravitational field strength
- Circular motion and centripetal force
- Inertial mass and momentum
- Collisions, and force as the rate of change of momentum
- Reaction time, stopping distance and large decelerations
- Factors affecting stopping distance and reaction time
03Conservation of Energy7 subtopicsOpen topic
04Waves6 subtopicsOpen topic
05Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Properties of electromagnetic waves
- Investigating refraction in glass blocks
- The groups of the electromagnetic spectrum
- The continuous spectrum, and what our eyes can detect
- Absorption, transmission and the velocity of electromagnetic waves
- How radiation is generated, and why danger rises with frequency
- Harmful effects of excessive exposure to radiation
- Uses of electromagnetic radiation
06Radioactivity16 subtopicsOpen topic
- The atom and the size of atoms
- Isotopes, atomic number and mass number
- Relative masses and charges of subatomic particles
- Electron orbits and energy levels
- Forming ions, and how the atomic model changed
- Types of ionising radiation
- Background radiation and detecting radioactivity
- Alpha, beta and gamma, and their penetrating power
- Beta-minus and beta-plus decay
- Effects of decay on atomic number and mass number
- Balancing nuclear equations
- Activity and the becquerel
- Half-life and the randomness of decay
- Half-life calculations
- The dangers of ionising radiation
- Safety precautions, contamination and irradiation
07Energy – Forces Doing Work7 subtopicsOpen topic
08Forces and Their Effects4 subtopicsOpen topic
09Electricity and Circuits20 subtopicsOpen topic
- The atom, and drawing circuit diagrams
- Series and parallel circuits
- Potential difference and the voltmeter
- Energy transferred by moving charge
- Current, charge and measuring current
- Resistance and the equation V = IR
- Resistors in series and in parallel
- Designing circuits to test components
- Investigating resistance in circuits
- Current-potential difference graphs for components
- Light-dependent resistors and thermistors
- The heating effect of an electric current
- Uses of the heating effect, and the equation E = IVt
- Power as energy transferred per second
- Calculating electrical power
- Energy transfer in domestic devices, and power ratings
- Direct and alternating current
- Alternating current and the UK mains supply
- Live and neutral wires, earthing and fuses
- Fuses in the live wire, mains voltages and electrical dangers
10Magnetism and the Motor Effect8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Magnetic poles, permanent and induced magnets
- Uses of magnetic materials
- The magnetic field around a bar magnet
- Plotting compasses and the Earth's magnetic field
- The magnetic effect of an electric current
- Solenoids and electromagnets
- The motor effect and Fleming's left-hand rule
- The force on a conductor in a magnetic field
11Electromagnetic Induction4 subtopicsOpen topic
12Particle Model8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Kinetic theory and differences in density
- Calculating density, and investigating it
- Changes of state and internal energy
- Specific heat capacity
- Specific latent heat and thermal insulation
- Investigating the specific heat capacity of water
- Gas pressure and the motion of particles
- Absolute zero and the kelvin scale
How you work through it
Pick the mode that fits the time you have.
Try three questions
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Key term
State the SI units and symbols for length, mass, time, force and energy.
Key term
Which units are used for temperature, electric current, potential difference, resistance, power and frequency?
Key term
What do the prefixes kilo, mega, giga, centi, milli, micro and nano stand for?
Spaced Repetition Schedule
How reviews are timed
Levo will automatically distribute all of your progress into a spaced repetition calendar. Once you’ve answered, it’s scheduled for you on the next day in the spaced repetition schedule. Over time, the gaps between your recall get bigger, from a day to three years, reinforcing memorisation over a long period of time.
Interval sequence
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What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material
Combined Science Physics revision questions
Common questions about revising Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics. Tap any to open it.
How do you memorise Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics?
By testing yourself, not rereading. Active recall, pulling each answer from memory then checking it, builds far stronger memory than highlighting notes. Levo runs the method for you across all 13 Combined Science Physics topics and brings each one back on a spaced schedule so it stays memorised.
What is the fastest way to revise Combined Science Physics for Edexcel?
Skip the long notes and go straight to retrieval. Levo turns the 1SC0 specification into short questions you drill with rapid recall, cram whole papers in one sitting, and a readiness score tells you exactly what is left to learn.
What topics are on Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics (1SC0)?
There are 13 topics, split across 108 subtopics, from Key Concepts of Physics, Motion and Forces, Conservation of Energy and more. Every topic is listed above, and each one opens to the subtopics inside it.
What do you get inside Levo for Combined Science Physics?
Six ways to work the same material. The 3-step method for learning a set, Cram for sorting a whole paper into what you know and what you do not, Blank Blitz for making key facts automatic, Build It for assembling full-mark answers, Test It for catching misconceptions, and Brain Breaks between sessions. A readiness score tracks how much of the subject you have memorised.
Is active recall better than rereading your notes for Combined Science Physics?
Consistently, yes. Rereading feels productive but fades quickly. Retrieving an answer from memory, the way Levo tests you, is what actually forms durable memory, and it shows you honestly what you do and do not know.
Does Levo cover the whole Edexcel Combined Science Physics specification?
Every topic on the 1SC0 specification is covered, written from the published subject content. The full list is above, and each topic opens to its subtopics so you can see exactly what is there before you subscribe.
How can you encourage your teenager to revise?
Make it short, structured and low-pressure. Levo gives a clear daily plan, quick sessions rather than marathon ones, streaks that reward showing up, and an honest readiness score, so revision feels like progress instead of a chore. Parents can add an account and follow along.
Can you revise Combined Science Physics the night before an exam?
Yes. Cram mode is built for exactly that: fly through a whole paper, sort every topic into red, amber and green, then drill just the reds and ambers you do not know yet. It is the honest version of a last-minute session.
Every question in Combined Science Physics, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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