PHYSICS-A-H556 · Cambridge OCR A Level
PHYSICS-A-H556/11
Modelling Physics
Physics A - H556 · 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
270
360 min
Practical Skills and Uncertainty Analysis
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-scoring candidates distinguished themselves in the Level of Response (LoR) questions.
Key successes were found in the 6-mark practical descriptions of radioactive half-life determination and diffraction grating experiments.
Conversely, marks were heavily lost on:
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
Weight: 6100%Experimental
Weight: 583%Conceptual Explanation
Weight: 467%Graphical
Weight: 233%Analysis
Weight: 117%
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. 77% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 65% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 54% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 43% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 33% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 22% 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.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “that” questions.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.7
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
Measurements and uncertainties
24 marks this session
Radioactivity
16 marks this session
Electromagnetism
16 marks this session
Ideal gases
15 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
H556/01 Modelling physics: H556/02 Exploring physics: H556/03 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
Measurements and uncertainties
24 marks this session
Practise in RevuiRadioactivity
16 marks this session
Practise in RevuiElectromagnetism
16 marks this session
Practise in RevuiIdeal gases
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
High-scoring candidates distinguished themselves in the Level of Response (LoR) questions.
- 2Message
Key successes were found in the 6-mark practical descriptions of radioactive half-life determination and diffraction grating experiments.
- 3Message
Conversely, marks were heavily lost on:
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2024 2024
Physics A - H556
High-scoring candidates distinguished themselves in the Level of Response (LoR) questions. Key successes were found in the 6-mark practical descriptions of radioactive half-life determination and diffraction grating experiments. Conversely, marks were heavily lost on:
High-scoring candidates distinguished themselves in the Level of Response (LoR) questions.
Key successes were found in the 6-mark practical descriptions of radioactive half-life determination and diffraction grating experiments.
Conversely, marks were heavily lost on:
- Total marks
- 270
- Duration
- 360 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
High-scoring candidates distinguished themselves in the Level of Response (LoR) questions. Key successes were found in the 6-mark practical descriptions of radioactive half-life determination and diffraction grating experiments. Conversely, marks were heavily lost on:
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
H556/01 Modelling physics: H556/02 Exploring physics: H556/03 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.
Short Answer / Calculation
180·52·67%
Level of Response
(LoR)
60·10·22%
Multiple Choice
(MCQ)
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 (…
85.10 m/minPaper 1 Section B (…
0.60 m/minPaper 2 Section A (…
85.10 m/minPaper 2 Section B (…
0.78 m/minTotal marks
1787
Total time
135 min
Avg pace
13.24
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Electromagnetic waves
90%90%
Using ultrasound
85%85%
Using X-rays
80%80%
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.