Paper 11 (Physics)
Paper 11 (Physics)
- Electricity
- Forces
- Magnetism and Magnetic Fields
- Matter
- Practical skills (PAGs P1–P6)
1 hour 10 minutes60 marks16.7%
OCR GCSE Combined Science Physics, memorised fast.
Long notes are boring. Brain-hack the whole J250 specification with active recall and actually remember it.
- Spec J250
- 8 topics
- 74 subtopics
OCR GCSE Combined Science Physics J250
Electricity
Topic overviewCharge, and producing static electricityTransfer of electrons in charging and dischargingCurrent as a rate of flow of chargeCharge, current and timeSeries and parallel circuits, and circuit symbolsCurrent, potential difference and resistanceResistors whose resistance changes, and investigating themLinear and non-linear circuit elements from graphsNet resistance in series and parallelCircuits for measurement, and electrical power
Energy
Topic overviewConservation of energy, and energy storesEnergy changes on heating, and calculating themEnergy of a moving body, a spring and a raised objectDissipation, and energy transfer in domestic devicesPower ratings, efficiency, and increasing itReducing unwanted energy transfer, and the rate of cooling
Forces
Topic overviewMeasuring distance and time, and calculating speedConverting units, and ratesVectors and scalars in motionDistance-time and velocity-time graphsAverage speed, and the equations of uniform motionHow objects interact, and forces as vectorsNewton's first lawResolving forces, and free body diagramsResultant forces, and balanced forcesNewton's second law, and inertiaMomentum and its conservationWork done, and stored energyPower, and Newton's third lawCircular motion and changing velocityStretching, bending and compressing; elastic and plasticForce and extension, linear and non-linearThe spring constant, and work done in stretchingGravitational fields, weight and free fallCalculations with weight and gravitational field strength
Global Challenges
Topic overviewTypical speeds and everyday accelerationsReaction time, stopping distance and the dangers of large decelerationsStopping distance, acceleration and collision force calculationsEnergy resources, and trends in their useThe national grid, and step-up and step-down transformersWhy the national grid is efficient, and power in a transformerMains electricity: a.c., d.c. and the domestic supplyLive, neutral and earth wires, and electrical danger
Magnetism and Magnetic Fields
Matter
Topic overviewHow the atomic model changed, and the structure of the atomThe size of atoms, and defining densityDensity of the states of matter, and density calculationsConservation of mass in changes of stateHeating a system, and specific heat capacityCalculations with specific heat capacity and latent heatGas molecules, temperature and pressure
Radioactivity
Waves in Matter
Topic overviewAmplitude, wavelength, frequency and periodThe wave equationTransverse and longitudinal wavesModelling waves with ripples and soundElectromagnetic waves as transverse, and energy transferFrequency and wavelength across the spectrumWhat our eyes detect, and light as an electromagnetic waveUses of electromagnetic wavesHazards of ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma raysProducing and receiving radio wavesAbsorption, transmission, refraction and reflectionInvestigating reflection and refraction of light
What OCR GCSE Combined Science Physics covers
OCR GCSE Combined Science A (Gateway Science, specification J250) is worth two GCSEs and is examined by six papers, two for each science, each 1 hour 10 minutes and 60 marks. The physics content is sat as Paper 11 (Physics) and Paper 12 (Physics), together a third of the qualification, and both papers also assess the practical skills of Topic CS7. This is the Higher tier: it carries everything on the Foundation papers plus the higher-tier content, and as a double award it is graded 9–9 to 4–4, with an allowed grade 4–3 for a student who just misses 4–4.
OCR GCSE Combined Science A (Gateway Science) J250, version 5.0, May 2026. Read the OCR specification ↗
How it is assessed
Paper 12 (Physics)
Paper 12 (Physics)
- Energy
- Global Challenges
- Radioactivity
- Waves in Matter
- Practical skills (PAGs P1–P6)
- Assumes knowledge of the Paper 11 topics
1 hour 10 minutes60 marks16.7%
The full specification
8 topics, 74 subtopics. Open any topic to see what is inside it.
01Electricity10 subtopicsOpen topic
- Charge, and producing static electricity
- Transfer of electrons in charging and discharging
- Current as a rate of flow of charge
- Charge, current and time
- Series and parallel circuits, and circuit symbols
- Current, potential difference and resistance
- Resistors whose resistance changes, and investigating them
- Linear and non-linear circuit elements from graphs
- Net resistance in series and parallel
- Circuits for measurement, and electrical power
02Energy6 subtopicsOpen topic
03Forces19 subtopicsOpen topic
- Measuring distance and time, and calculating speed
- Converting units, and rates
- Vectors and scalars in motion
- Distance-time and velocity-time graphs
- Average speed, and the equations of uniform motion
- How objects interact, and forces as vectors
- Newton's first law
- Resolving forces, and free body diagrams
- Resultant forces, and balanced forces
- Newton's second law, and inertia
- Momentum and its conservation
- Work done, and stored energy
- Power, and Newton's third law
- Circular motion and changing velocity
- Stretching, bending and compressing; elastic and plastic
- Force and extension, linear and non-linear
- The spring constant, and work done in stretching
- Gravitational fields, weight and free fall
- Calculations with weight and gravitational field strength
04Global Challenges8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Typical speeds and everyday accelerations
- Reaction time, stopping distance and the dangers of large decelerations
- Stopping distance, acceleration and collision force calculations
- Energy resources, and trends in their use
- The national grid, and step-up and step-down transformers
- Why the national grid is efficient, and power in a transformer
- Mains electricity: a.c., d.c. and the domestic supply
- Live, neutral and earth wires, and electrical danger
05Magnetism and Magnetic Fields5 subtopicsOpen topic
06Matter7 subtopicsOpen topic
- How the atomic model changed, and the structure of the atom
- The size of atoms, and defining density
- Density of the states of matter, and density calculations
- Conservation of mass in changes of state
- Heating a system, and specific heat capacity
- Calculations with specific heat capacity and latent heat
- Gas molecules, temperature and pressure
07Radioactivity7 subtopicsOpen topic
08Waves in Matter12 subtopicsOpen topic
- Amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period
- The wave equation
- Transverse and longitudinal waves
- Modelling waves with ripples and sound
- Electromagnetic waves as transverse, and energy transfer
- Frequency and wavelength across the spectrum
- What our eyes detect, and light as an electromagnetic wave
- Uses of electromagnetic waves
- Hazards of ultraviolet, X-rays and gamma rays
- Producing and receiving radio waves
- Absorption, transmission, refraction and reflection
- Investigating reflection and refraction of light
How you work through it
Pick the mode that fits the time you have.
Try three questions
No account needed. Answer from memory first.
Your recallNot started
Key term
Which particles carry charge, why does all matter contain charge, and what is meant by an object having zero net charge?
Key term
Compare the current against potential difference graphs of a fixed resistor and a filament lamp, and explain their shapes.
Key term
Why is the current the same all round a single loop, and what happens to it when a bigger resistor is fitted?
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
- 1 day
- 3 days
- 7 days
- 14 days
- 30 days
- 60 days
- 4 months
- 8 months
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material
Combined Science Physics revision questions
Common questions about revising OCR GCSE Combined Science Physics. Tap any to open it.
How do you memorise OCR 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 8 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 OCR?
Skip the long notes and go straight to retrieval. Levo turns the J250 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 OCR GCSE Combined Science Physics (J250)?
There are 8 topics, split across 74 subtopics, from Electricity, Energy, Forces 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 OCR Combined Science Physics specification?
Every topic on the J250 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.
Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.