How to get a grade A* in A-Level Physics
A* A-Level Physics is won on problem-solving under time pressure — deriving, rearranging and combining equations, and explaining the physics precisely.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
What a grade A* answer does
- Practise multi-step problems that combine several equations.
- Be fluent with logarithms, exponentials and graph linearisation.
- Explain concepts (fields, quantum, thermodynamics) in precise written answers.
- Master the practical-skills and uncertainty/error analysis questions.
Why students miss the top grade
- Running out of time on long calculation questions.
- Weak uncertainty/error and graph-analysis skills.
- Vague written explanations that miss the key physics.
The method that actually works
- Practise past-paper-style questions, then mark your answer against the mark scheme — the fastest way to find the marks you drop.
- Act on the feedback: for every mark lost, write the exact phrase that would have earned it.
- Space it out and retrieve from memory rather than re-reading notes.
- Target your weakest topics, not the ones you already enjoy.
GradeNine marks your own written Physics answers against the mark scheme in seconds and tells you exactly which marks you missed and why — the feedback loop that moves you toward a grade A*. Try it free →
Grade boundaries change every year and are set by the exam board after each session — always check your board's published grade boundaries for the exact marks needed.