Paper 3
Physics A Paper 3
- Electricity
- Forces
- Magnetism and Magnetic Fields
- Matter
1 hour 45 minutes90 marks50%
OCR GCSE Physics A, memorised fast.
Long notes are boring. Brain-hack the whole J249 specification with active recall and actually remember it.
- Spec J249
- 8 topics
- 94 subtopics
OCR GCSE Physics A J249
Electricity
Topic overviewCharge, and producing static electricityTransfer of electrons, and electric fieldsCurrent 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 force as a change in momentumWork 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 strengthTurning forces and the moment of a forceLevers and gearsPressure in fluids, and the force on a surface
Global Challenges
Topic overviewTypical speeds and everyday accelerationsReaction time, stopping distance and the dangers of large decelerationsEstimating stopping distances and the forces in a collisionEnergy resources, and trends in their useThe national grid, and step-up and step-down transformersWhy the national grid is efficient, and the transformer equationMains electricity: a.c., d.c. and the domestic supplyLive, neutral and earth wires, and electrical dangerRed-shift and the Big BangThe formation of the Sun, and radiation from bodiesThe solar systemCircular orbits and stable orbitsRadiation and the temperature of a body, and seismic waves and sonar
Magnetism and Magnetic Fields
Topic overviewPermanent and induced magnets, and magnetic polesMagnetic fields, and the dipping compassThe magnetic effect of a current, and solenoidsThe motor effect and Fleming's left-hand ruleThe force on a conductor, and how a motor turnsInduced potential, alternators and dynamosTransformers and the turns ratioThe microphone
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 pressureCompressing a gas, and changing its volumeDoing work on a gasAtmospheric pressure and why it varies with heightFloating, sinking and pressure in a liquid
Radioactivity
Topic overviewProtons, neutrons and isotopesUnstable nuclei and the emissions they give outBalancing nuclear equationsElectron energy levels, and radiation from atomsHalf-life and the randomness of decayPenetration of alpha, beta and gammaContamination and irradiation, and half-life as a hazardUses of nuclear radiationNuclear fission and fusion
Waves in Matter
Topic overviewAmplitude, wavelength, frequency and periodThe wave equationTransverse and longitudinal wavesSound crossing a boundary; reflection, transmission and absorptionConverting sound to vibrations, and the range of hearingModelling 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 raysExploring structures with waves, and producing radio wavesAbsorption, transmission, refraction and reflectionRay diagrams for reflection and refractionHow colour arises
What OCR GCSE Physics A covers
OCR GCSE Physics A (Gateway Science, specification J249) is one of the three separate sciences and is examined by two written papers of 1 hour 45 minutes and 90 marks each, worth 50% apiece. Paper 3 covers the first half of the topics and the practical skills of Topic P9, and Paper 4 the second half, with the first half and the practical skills assumed. This is the Higher tier: it carries everything on the Foundation papers plus the higher-tier content, and grades 9 to 4 are available, with an allowed grade 3 for a student who just misses grade 4.
OCR GCSE Physics A (Gateway Science) J249, version 5.0, July 2026. Read the OCR specification ↗
How it is assessed
Paper 4
Physics A Paper 4
- Energy
- Global Challenges
- Radioactivity
- Waves in Matter
1 hour 45 minutes90 marks50%
The full specification
8 topics, 94 subtopics. Open any topic to see what is inside it.
01Electricity10 subtopicsOpen topic
- Charge, and producing static electricity
- Transfer of electrons, and electric fields
- 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
03Forces22 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 force as a change in momentum
- 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
- Turning forces and the moment of a force
- Levers and gears
- Pressure in fluids, and the force on a surface
04Global Challenges13 subtopicsOpen topic
- Typical speeds and everyday accelerations
- Reaction time, stopping distance and the dangers of large decelerations
- Estimating stopping distances and the forces in a collision
- Energy resources, and trends in their use
- The national grid, and step-up and step-down transformers
- Why the national grid is efficient, and the transformer equation
- Mains electricity: a.c., d.c. and the domestic supply
- Live, neutral and earth wires, and electrical danger
- Red-shift and the Big Bang
- The formation of the Sun, and radiation from bodies
- The solar system
- Circular orbits and stable orbits
- Radiation and the temperature of a body, and seismic waves and sonar
05Magnetism and Magnetic Fields8 subtopicsOpen topic
- Permanent and induced magnets, and magnetic poles
- Magnetic fields, and the dipping compass
- The magnetic effect of a current, and solenoids
- The motor effect and Fleming's left-hand rule
- The force on a conductor, and how a motor turns
- Induced potential, alternators and dynamos
- Transformers and the turns ratio
- The microphone
06Matter11 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
- Compressing a gas, and changing its volume
- Doing work on a gas
- Atmospheric pressure and why it varies with height
- Floating, sinking and pressure in a liquid
07Radioactivity9 subtopicsOpen topic
- Protons, neutrons and isotopes
- Unstable nuclei and the emissions they give out
- Balancing nuclear equations
- Electron energy levels, and radiation from atoms
- Half-life and the randomness of decay
- Penetration of alpha, beta and gamma
- Contamination and irradiation, and half-life as a hazard
- Uses of nuclear radiation
- Nuclear fission and fusion
08Waves in Matter15 subtopicsOpen topic
- Amplitude, wavelength, frequency and period
- The wave equation
- Transverse and longitudinal waves
- Sound crossing a boundary; reflection, transmission and absorption
- Converting sound to vibrations, and the range of hearing
- 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
- Exploring structures with waves, and producing radio waves
- Absorption, transmission, refraction and reflection
- Ray diagrams for reflection and refraction
- How colour arises
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
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What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material
Physics A revision questions
Common questions about revising OCR GCSE Physics A. Tap any to open it.
How do you memorise OCR GCSE Physics A?
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 Physics A topics and brings each one back on a spaced schedule so it stays memorised.
What is the fastest way to revise Physics A for OCR?
Skip the long notes and go straight to retrieval. Levo turns the J249 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 Physics A (J249)?
There are 8 topics, split across 94 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 Physics A?
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 Physics A?
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 Physics A specification?
Every topic on the J249 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 Physics A 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 Physics A, 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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