PHYSICS-A-H556 · Cambridge OCR A Level
PHYSICS-A-H556/11
Modelling Physics
Physics A - H556 · 2022 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
270
360 min
Oscillations, Waves, and Field Dynamics
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
270
Duration
360 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
High-yield mark areas were heavily concentrated in Oscillations, Superposition, and Uniform Electric Fields.
Simple harmonic motion was synoptically assessed in both mechanical (U-tube liquid oscillations) and electromagnetic contexts (microwave transmitter electron drift), carrying a total of 23 marks across the papers.
Superposition was another core focus, spanning 19 marks across double-slit interference experiments and microwave polarization trials.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Mathematical & Calculation
Weight: 6100%Experimental
Weight: 583%Conceptual Explanation
Weight: 467%Graphical Interpretation
Weight: 233%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
Examiner report — national grade boundaries and question-level commentary
Level A*
Approx. 78% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 67% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 54% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 42% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 30% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 17% of maximum mark
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Show” questions.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Sketch” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 2
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 0
Min per mark: 0
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Simple harmonic oscillations
23 marks this session
Superposition
19 marks this session
Uniform electric field
15 marks this session
Springs
14 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Measurements and uncertainties
Radioactivity
Simple harmonic oscillations
Superposition
Electromagnetism
Nuclear fission and fusion
Ideal gases
Uniform electric field
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1: Modelling physics:
Paper 2: Exploring physics:
Paper 3: Unified physics:
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Simple harmonic oscillations
23 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSuperposition
19 marks this session
Practise in RevuiUniform electric field
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSprings
14 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
High-yield mark areas were heavily concentrated in Oscillations, Superposition, and Uniform Electric Fields.
- 2Message
Simple harmonic motion was synoptically assessed in both mechanical (U-tube liquid oscillations) and electromagnetic contexts (microwave transmitter electron drift), carrying a total of 23 marks across the papers.
- 3Message
Superposition was another core focus, spanning 19 marks across double-slit interference experiments and microwave polarization trials.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2022 2022
Physics A - H556
High-yield mark areas were heavily concentrated in Oscillations, Superposition, and Uniform Electric Fields. Simple harmonic motion was synoptically assessed in both mechanical (U-tube liquid oscillations) and electromagnetic contexts (microwave transmitter electron drift), carry
High-yield mark areas were heavily concentrated in Oscillations, Superposition, and Uniform Electric Fields.
Simple harmonic motion was synoptically assessed in both mechanical (U-tube liquid oscillations) and electromagnetic contexts (microwave transmitter electron drift), carrying a total of 23 marks across the papers.
Superposition was another core focus, spanning 19 marks across double-slit interference experiments and microwave polarization trials.
- Total marks
- 270
- Duration
- 360 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
High-yield mark areas were heavily concentrated in Oscillations, Superposition, and Uniform Electric Fields. Simple harmonic motion was synoptically assessed in both mechanical (U-tube liquid oscillations) and electromagnetic contexts (microwave transmitter electron drift), carrying a total of 23 marks across the papers. Superposition was another core focus, spanning 19 marks across double-slit interference experiments and microwave polarization trials.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1: Modelling physics:
Paper 2: Exploring physics:
Paper 3: Unified physics:
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
74% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Structured Calculation
117·28·43%
Short Answer
75·35·28%
Extended Response
(Level of Response)
48·8·18%
Multiple Choice
30·30·11%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section A
170.20 m/minPaper 1 Section B
0.50 m/minPaper 2 Section A
170.20 m/minPaper 2 Section B
0.78 m/minTotal marks
1787
Total time
130 min
Avg pace
13.75
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Electromagnetic induction
5%5%
Electromagnetic waves
5%5%
Potential divider circuits
4%4%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Unit Conversion Errors: Many candidates failed to convert prefix units correctly, notably millimeters to meters in electric field spacing, and milliseconds to seconds when determining capacitor time constants.
- Neglecting Multi-State Calculations: In the nitrogen phase-change question, candidates frequently neglected the fact that energy transferred from the ice must account for *both* the latent heat of fusion and the latent heat of vaporization of water, resulting in incomplete energy equations.
- Graph-Reading Inaccuracies: Calculating experimental gradients requires choosing a large triangle (spanning at least half the plotted data range). Examiners noted several instances of tiny triangles, leading to significant rounding errors.
- Misunderstanding Resultant Forces: A common conceptual pitfall was treating centripetal force as a separate force on the Venus space probe rather than the resultant force of gravity and upthrust.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 2h 15min
- Total marks
- 100
- Weighting
- 37%
- Question types
- Multiple Choice (MCQ), Short Answer / Calculation, Level of Response (LoR)
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.