WJECGCSE57 resourcesFoundation & Higher

WJEC GCSE Physics Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Download free WJEC GCSE Physics past papers, mark schemes & examiner reports. Foundation & Higher tiers. Electricity, waves, forces and space. 57 resources.

Papers Overview Paper Structure Key Info Key Topics Command Words Grade Boundaries Revision Tips Try AI Tutor ✦

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Year

57 of 57 resources — page 1 of 3

Summer 2023

14 files

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Foundation – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 1 Higher: Written: Electricity, Energy and Waves Higher – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Higher – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Higher [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Higher [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Electricity, Energy and Waves Foundation – Past Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Electricity, Energy and Waves Foundation – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Foundation – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 1 Higher: Written: Electricity, Energy and Waves Higher – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Higher – Mark Scheme – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Electricity, Energy and Waves Foundation [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Electricity, Energy and Waves Foundation [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Foundation [Paper size: A3 Font size: 36] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Foundation [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2023

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Summer 2022

11 files

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GCSE Physics – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Electricity, Energy and Waves Foundation – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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GCSE Physics – Unit 1 Higher: Written: Electricity, Energy and Waves Higher – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Foundation – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Higher – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Fcont: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Foundation – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Hcont: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Higher – Past Paper – Summer 2022

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Higher: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Higher – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Hcont: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Higher – Mark Scheme – Summer 2022

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GCSE Physics – Unit 1 Foundation: Written: Electricity, Energy and Waves Foundation [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2022

Modified Paper

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GCSE Physics – Unit 1 Higher: Written: Electricity, Energy and Waves Higher [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2022

Modified Paper

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GCSE Physics – Unit 2 Foundation: Written: Forces, Space and Radioactivity Foundation [Paper size: A4 Font size: 18] – Modified Paper – Summer 2022

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Forces, Radiation and the Physics of Space in the Welsh Science Curriculum

WJEC GCSE Physics is the single-award option for students taking separate sciences in Wales. The qualification is assessed through two tiered written papers: Unit 1 (Electricity, Energy and Waves, 1 hour 45 minutes, 50%) and Unit 2 (Forces, Space and Radioactivity, 1 hour 45 minutes, 50%). Both are available at Foundation (grades G–D) and Higher (grades D–A*) tiers. Unit 1 covers electrical circuits (series and parallel, V=IR, power equations), energy transfers and conservation, work done and efficiency, wave properties (electromagnetic spectrum, reflection, refraction, diffraction), sound and light. Unit 2 covers forces and motion (speed, velocity, acceleration, Newton's laws, momentum), gravity, space physics (the solar system, stellar evolution, the Big Bang), radioactivity (types of radiation, half-life, uses and dangers), and nuclear energy. Mathematical demand is high — at least 30% of Physics marks test mathematical skills including rearranging equations, substituting values with correct units, interpreting and drawing graphs, and calculations involving standard form and significant figures. Students are expected to recall and apply a specified list of equations; unlike some English boards, WJEC provides only a limited equation sheet. Specified practical activities (investigating resistance, specific heat capacity, waves in a ripple tank) are assessed through questions in the written papers. This archive contains 57 resources from Summer 2017 to Summer 2023.

Exam Paper Structure

Unit 1Calculator ✓

Electricity, Energy and Waves

⏱ 1 hour 45 minutes🎯 marks📊 50% of grade

Electrical circuits and componentsEnergy transfers and efficiencyWave properties and the electromagnetic spectrumSound and light

Unit 2Calculator ✓

Forces, Space and Radioactivity

⏱ 1 hour 45 minutes🎯 marks📊 50% of grade

Forces and motionNewton's laws and momentumSpace physicsRadioactivity and nuclear energy

Key Information

Exam Board	WJEC
Qualification	GCSE
Grading Scale	A*–G
Assessment Type	2 written papers
Tiers	Foundation (G–D) and Higher (D–A*)
Unit 1	1 hr 45 min — Electricity, Energy and Waves (50%)
Unit 2	1 hr 45 min — Forces, Space and Radioactivity (50%)
Maths Requirement	Minimum 30% of marks test mathematical skills
Available Sessions	Summer 2017 – Summer 2023
Total Resources	57

Key Topics in Physics

Topics you need to know

Electrical circuits and Ohm's lawEnergy transfers and conservationWave properties and electromagnetic spectrumForces, motion and Newton's lawsMomentum and collisionsSpace and stellar evolutionRadioactivity, half-life and nuclear physics

Exam Command Words

Command word	What the examiner expects
Calculate	Use a physics equation to find the answer — show the equation, substitution, and answer with correct units
Explain	Give reasons using physics principles — connect observations to underlying physical laws
Describe	Give an account of what happens in a physical process, in the correct sequence
Determine	Find the value by calculation, measurement, or interpretation of data from a graph or table
Sketch	Draw an approximate graph or diagram showing the correct shape, trend, and key features
State	Give a short, factual answer — no explanation or working is needed

Typical Grade Boundaries

Grade	Approximate mark needed
Grade A*	72–82%
Grade A	58–71%
Grade B	46–57%
Grade C	34–45%
Grade D	23–33%

⚠️ Typical Higher tier boundaries. Physics boundaries tend to be lower than other sciences. Actual boundaries vary by series.

Equation Recall, Unit Consistency, and Graph Interpretation for Physics Success

Equation recall is the foundation of WJEC Physics success. Make a list of every required equation, categorise them by topic, and test yourself daily. For each equation, practise: (1) writing it from memory, (2) rearranging it for each variable, and (3) substituting values with correct units. The most commonly tested equations are V = IR, P = IV, E = mc∆θ, v = fλ, and F = ma. Unit consistency is where many marks are silently lost. WJEC papers frequently give values in non-standard units — time in minutes instead of seconds, distance in kilometres instead of metres, mass in grams instead of kilograms. Before substituting any values into an equation, convert all quantities to SI base units. Write the conversion explicitly in your working: '5 minutes = 300 s'. This shows the examiner you have considered units and earns method marks even if your arithmetic goes wrong. Graph skills appear throughout both units. Practise plotting data points accurately (to within half a small square), drawing lines or curves of best fit that balance the points, identifying anomalous results, and calculating gradients including units. For distance-time and velocity-time graphs, know what the gradient and area under the curve represent — these are examined repeatedly. For six-mark extended response questions, WJEC uses banded marking. Plan your answer to cover three or four key physics points, use the correct scientific terminology for each, and present them in a logical sequence. An answer about how a power station works, for example, should follow the energy transfer pathway from fuel to generator to transmission.

More WJEC GCSE Subjects

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WJEC GCSE Physics Past Papers & Mark Schemes

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Summer 2023

Summer 2022

Forces, Radiation and the Physics of Space in the Welsh Science Curriculum

Exam Paper Structure

Key Information

Key Topics in Physics

Exam Command Words

Typical Grade Boundaries

Equation Recall, Unit Consistency, and Graph Interpretation for Physics Success

More WJEC GCSE Subjects

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Applied Science (Single Award)

Art and Design

Biology

Built Environment

Business

Chemistry

Computer Science

Design and Technology

Digital Technology

Drama

Electronics

English Language

English Literature

Film Studies

Food and Nutrition

French

Geography

Geology

German

History

Latin

Mathematics-Numeracy

Mathematics

Media Studies

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Physical Education (Short Course)

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Religious Studies

Science (Double Award)

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Welsh Language (Cymraeg Iaith)

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