AQA
Level 3
QN: 601/4747/7
Curriculum Active
AQA Level 3 Advanced GCE in Physics
Official qualification regulated by Ofqual, awarded by AQA. Classified as a GCE A Level.
Qualification Level
Level 3
Awarding Body
AQA
Syllabus Units
7 Units
Guided Hours
Flexible
Instant access to interactive lessons, quizzes, and spaced revision.
Course Syllabus & Study Modules
Complete breakdown of verified curriculum topics and learning objectives.
1
Astrophysics (optional)
Cosmology
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Explain Hubble's law and expansion of universe
- Understand cosmic microwave background
2
Astrophysics (optional)
Stellar evolution
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Classify stars using HR diagram
- Describe life cycle of stars
3
Electricity
Current electricity
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Apply Ohm's law and Kirchhoff's laws
- Calculate resistance in series and parallel
4
Fields and their consequences
Electric fields
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Apply Coulomb's law
- Understand electric potential and field strength
5
Fields and their consequences
Gravitational fields
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Describe Newton's law of gravitation
- Calculate gravitational potential and field strength
6
Fields and their consequences
Magnetic fields
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Describe magnetic flux and flux density
- Apply Faraday's and Lenz's laws
7
Further mechanics and thermal physics
Circular motion and simple harmonic motion
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Describe angular velocity and centripetal force
- Analyse simple harmonic motion
8
Further mechanics and thermal physics
Thermal physics
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Apply the ideal gas law
- Understand internal energy and specific heat capacity
9
Measurements and their errors
Estimation of physical quantities
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Estimate orders of magnitude
- Use significant figures appropriately
10
Measurements and their errors
Limitations of physical measurements
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Identify random and systematic errors
- Calculate uncertainty and percentage uncertainty
11
Measurements and their errors
Use of SI units and their prefixes
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand SI base units and derived units
- Use prefixes for powers of 10
12
Mechanics and materials
Force, energy and momentum
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Apply Newton's laws of motion
- Calculate work, energy and power
13
Mechanics and materials
Materials
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Understand stress, strain and Young modulus
- Interpret stress-strain graphs
14
Nuclear physics
Nuclear energy
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Calculate mass defect from nuclear masses and convert to binding energy using E=mc^2.
- Interpret the binding energy per nucleon curve to predict nuclear stability and energy release.
- Describe the processes of induced nuclear fission and critical mass for chain reactions.
- Explain the conditions of high temperature and pressure required for nuclear fusion.
- Compare the energy released per nucleon in fission versus fusion reactions.
- Evaluate the advantages and challenges of using fusion as a practical energy source on Earth.
15
Nuclear physics
Radioactivity
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Describe alpha, beta and gamma decay
- Use exponential decay and half-life
16
Particles and radiation
Electromagnetic radiation and quantum phenomena
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Explain the photoelectric effect
- Understand wave-particle duality
17
Particles and radiation
Particle physics
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Describe the standard model of particle physics
- Understand the properties of quarks and leptons
18
Waves
Progressive and stationary waves
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Describe wave properties including amplitude, frequency, wavelength
- Explain the formation of stationary waves
19
Waves
Refraction, diffraction and interference
Verified
Key Learning Objectives:
- Apply Snell's law
- Describe interference patterns from double slits
Regulatory & Verification Details
- Qualification Number (QN)
- 601/4747/7
- Regulated Status
- Available to learners
- Awarding Body
- AQA
- Qualification Type
- GCE A Level
- Operational Start
- Sept 2015