Welcome to our predictions post for the 2026 AQA GCSE Physics Paper 2 .
We know that exam season can feel incredibly overwhelming. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, so please remember to look after yourselves. 💙 Positive mental health is just as important as knowing your equations. Make sure your revision timetable includes plenty of breaks, fresh air, and things that make you happy. Balance is key! 🧘♀️🌳
Before we dive into what we think might come up, we need to start with a very important reminder:
⚠️ Crucial Disclaimer: These predictions are based on our analysis of past trends and paper patterns. However, we have not seen the 2026 exams. You must review the entire AQA Physics specification. Do not rely solely on these predictions for your revision; use them to focus your final prep, not solely define it.
Why do we make predictions? 🤔
We spend a lot of time analysing past papers to see which topics appear frequently, which haven't come up in a while, and how different areas of the specification are weighted. It helps give structure to that final revision push.
If you’re interested in the science behind our guessing game, check out our blog post on How do we write our Predicted Papers. You might also be wondering if it works—have a read of our analysis on How Accurate Are Predicted Papers?.
Separate Science. 2026 AQA Physics Paper 2 (Higher) Revision Guide 📘
Based on our analysis, here are the topics we think have a high chance of appearing on this year's Higher Tier Paper 2. We’ve put together a brief revision guide for each one to jog your memory!
1. Work Done 💪
Work is done whenever a force causes an object to move. Remember the equation: Work Done (J) = Force (N) x Distance moved along the line of action of the force (m)
Key Point: Doing work always involves an energy transfer. For example, lifting an object transfers chemical energy from your muscles into gravitational potential energy in the object.
2. Spring Constant and Elasticity 🌀
You need to be comfortable with Hooke’s Law: F = ke, where k is the spring constant (how stiff the spring is).
Key Point: On a Force-Extension graph, the gradient represents the spring constant. The area under that graph represents the elastic potential energy stored. Watch out for the 'limit of proportionality'—the point where the spring stops obeying Hooke's law and won't return to its original shape.
3. Speed-Time Graphs 📈
These are crucial for Higher Tier.
Key Points:
The gradient of a speed-time graph tells you the acceleration.
The area under a speed-time graph tells you the total distance travelled. You often need to split the area into rectangles and triangles to calculate this.
4. Waves 🌊
You need to know the difference between transverse waves (oscillations perpendicular to energy transfer, e.g., light) and longitudinal waves (oscillations parallel to energy transfer, e.g., sound).
Key Point: Master the wave equation: Wave speed (v) = Frequency (f) x Wavelength. Be prepared to describe ripple tank experiments to measure these properties.
5. EM Waves 📡
Remember the spectrum order (Raw Meat Is Very Unhealthy eXcept Giraffe?): Radio, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible light, Ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma rays.
Key Point: They all travel at the same speed in a vacuum (the speed of light). You need to know the uses and dangers of each type. Energy increases as you move from radio towards gamma.
6. Moments and Gears ⚙️
A moment is the turning effect of a force. Moment (Nm) = Force (N) x perpendicular distance from the pivot (m)
Key Point (Higher Tier): For an object to be balanced (in equilibrium), total clockwise moments must equal total anticlockwise moments. You also need to understand how gears transmit rotational effects; a smaller gear turning a larger gear will increase the moment but decrease the speed.
7. Orbits 🛰️
Gravity is the force that keeps planets, moons, and satellites in orbit.
Key Point (Higher Tier): For objects in circular orbit, the speed may be constant, but the velocity is constantly changing because the direction is always changing. This means the object is constantly accelerating toward the centre of the circle.
8. Life Cycle of the Sun ☀️
You need to know the story of stars similar to our Sun.
Key Point: It starts as a Nebula (cloud of dust/gas) -> Protostar (gravity pulls it together, gets hot) -> Main Sequence Star (hydrogen fusion starts; gravity and radiation pressure are balanced). Eventually, it runs out of hydrogen, expands into a Red Giant, and finally collapses into a White Dwarf, cooling to a Black Dwarf. You should also know the different path taken by stars much more massive than the Sun (Supernova, Neutron Star/Black Hole).
9. Electromagnetism 🧲
This is a big topic for Paper 2.
Key Points:
Motor Effect: A current-carrying wire in a magnetic field experiences a force (use Fleming's Left-Hand Rule).
Generator Effect: Moving a wire through a magnetic field induces a potential difference (and current if the circuit is complete). This is how microphones work.
Transformers (Higher Tier): You must be able to use the transformer equations linking potential difference to the number of turns on the coils and linking power input/output
Next Steps: Boost Your Revision 🚀
Knowing the topics is step one. Practising how to answer exam questions on them is step two!
We highly recommend you download our 2026 Predicted Papers. They are designed to mimic the real exam experience based on these predictions.
👉 Download the 2026 Predicted Papers here
👉 Use our unlimited free revision notes and test yourself with our retrieval quizzes on the website.
Don't just take our word for it! Our revision resources have over 1,000 5-star reviews from students just like you. See what they have to say on our Happy Customers page. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Exam Structure Snapshot 📝
AQA GCSE Physics Paper 2 (Higher Tier)
Time allowed: 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Marks: 100 marks
Weighting: 50% of your GCSE Physics grade
Topics covered: Forces, Waves, Magnetism and Electromagnetism, and Space Physics.
Question types: A mix of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open extended response questions.
Keep working hard, keep balancing that revision with self-care, and go smash it! You've got this. ✨
Combined Science. 2026 AQA Physics Paper 2 (Higher) Revision Guide 📘
1. Work Done 💪
Work is done when a force causes an object to move through a distance.
The Equation: You need to know and be able to rearrange W = F s
Energy Transfer: Remember, "Work Done" is just another way of saying "Energy Transferred". If you push a box, you are transferring chemical energy from your muscles into kinetic energy (and heat due to friction) in the box.
Units: Work is measured in Joules (J), Force in Newtons (N), and distance in metres (m).
2. Spring Constant & Elasticity 🌀
This relates to stretching and compressing objects.
Hooke’s Law: F = k e (Force = Spring Constant x extension). The spring constant tells you how "stiff" the spring is.
The Graph: On a Force-Extension graph, a straight line through the origin means the spring obeys Hooke's Law. The gradient of this line is the spring constant (k).
Stored Energy: As you stretch a spring, you are doing work on it, storing Elastic Potential Energy. you are given this on the equation sheet, but you must know how to use it!
3. Speed-Time Graphs 📈
Don't confuse these with Distance-Time graphs!
Gradient: The gradient (slope) of a speed-time graph represents acceleration. Steeper slope = higher acceleration. Horizontal line = constant speed.
Area Under the Graph: The area underneath the line represents the distance travelled. You will often need to split the area into rectangles and triangles to calculate the total distance.
4. Waves 🌊
You need to be confident with the properties of waves.
Types: Know the difference between Transverse waves (oscillations are perpendicular to energy transfer, e.g., light) and Longitudinal waves (oscillations are parallel to energy transfer, e.g., sound).
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The Wave Equation: (Wave speed = frequency x wavelength). This is a vital equation!
5. Electromagnetic (EM) Waves 📡
The EM spectrum is a continuous spectrum of waves.
The Order: You must know the order by heart (Low energy/Long wavelength $\rightarrow$ High energy/Short wavelength): Radio, Microwaves, Infrared, Visible Light, Ultraviolet, X-rays, Gamma rays.
Properties: They all travel at the same speed in a vacuum (the speed of light).
Interactions: Know that higher frequency waves (UV, X-rays, Gamma) are ionising and can be hazardous to human tissue.
6. Electromagnetism 🧲
For Higher Tier, you need to understand the link between electricity and magnetism.
Solenoids: A coil of wire with a current flowing through it creates a strong magnetic field (like a bar magnet). Adding an iron core increases the strength (an electromagnet).
The Motor Effect: When a current-carrying wire is placed in a magnetic field, the magnet and the wire exert a force on each other.
Fleming's Left-Hand Rule: Use this to find the direction of the force (Thumb = Motion/Force, First Finger = Field N-S, Second Finger = Current + to -).
The Equation: (Force = Magnetic Flux Density x Current x Length). This allows you to calculate the size of the force.
Get Exam Ready! 🚀
Knowing the content is half the battle; knowing how to answer the questions is the other half!
To give yourself the best chance of success, we recommend you:
📥 Download our 2026 Predicted Papers: These are written to mimic the style and difficulty of the real exam.
🧠 Use our Free Resources: We have unlimited free revision notes and retrieval quizzes on our website to keep your brain active.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Join thousands of happy students! Our resources have over 1,000 5-star reviews. Check out what other students are saying on our Happy Customers page.
Exam Structure: AQA Combined Science Physics Paper 2 📝
Here is the breakdown for the exam day so you know exactly what to expect:
Exam: AQA Combined Science: Trilogy - Physics Paper 2 (Higher Tier)
Time Allowed: 1 hour 15 minutes ⏳
Marks: 70 Marks
Weighting: 16.7% of your GCSE
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Topics Covered:
Forces 🚗
Waves 🌊
Magnetism and Electromagnetism 🧲
Question Types: A mixture of multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response questions.
You have done the hard work, now just trust in your preparation. Breathe, stay calm, and go show that paper what you're made of! 💪
Good luck! 🍀
The Primrose Kitten Team 🐱