Physics is one of my least favourite subjects, and I’m sure a lot of people would agree with me. It can be super difficult and the topics are often really complicated. At the beginning of year 10, I felt like that, too, but by GCSEs, I scored over 90%. Here’s how I got a 9 on the physics GCSE, despite it being my least favourite subject.
Understand everything
On physics exams, you’ll often be asked to explain why things happen. That’s why it’s so important to understand things – so you can actually answer the questions! As a bonus, fully understanding a concept also makes you more likely to remember it! If you don’t understand something, get your teacher to explain it to you, or find an explanation here.
Use Quizlet + Anki
I say this for pretty much every subject, but that’s because it works so well! Physics is very content-heavy, so memorising everything can be really difficult. Using flashcards is a great method of incorporating active recall into your revision to help you remember more in a shorter period of time. You can find pre-made sets on Quizlet and export them to Anki!
Focus on the mark scheme
The mark scheme for most GCSE physics questions is really, really specific. That means that you can lose lots of marks, even if you know the content fully! Answering lots of practice questions can help you figure out what words you need to use,
Do lots of past papers
The GCSE physics specification isn’t that long, so the questions they can ask you are limited. That means that examiners often repeat questions year after year, or at least write very similar ones! Doing as many practice papers as you will help you be prepared for any question.
Focus on the maths questions
Many of the marks on the exam come from maths-oriented questions. These are often pretty simple, so make sure you don’t lose these easy marks! Revise by answering tons of maths questions, and check your work during the exam carefully!
