PHYSICS-B-ADVANCING-PHYSICS-H557 · Cambridge OCR A Level
PHYSICS-B-ADVANCING-PHYSICS-H557/11
Paper 1
Physics B Advancing Physics · June 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
4.1 / 5
100
135 min
Wave-particle models and wave diagnostics
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
100
Duration
135 min
Session difficulty
4.1 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The June 2023 H557/02 paper is a robust assessment with a difficulty index of 4.1 out of 5 stars.
The inclusion of two highly demanding 6-mark Level of Response (LOR) questions—one requiring a convoluted radiotherapy effective dose calculation (Q5) and another involving wind speed scaling via power laws (Q8)—pushed the cognitive demand significantly higher than in previous series.
High mathematical literacy and a strong conceptual grasp are indispensable for this paper.
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%Conceptual Explanation
Weight: 583%Experimental Multi-Perspective-Perspective-Perspective-step Synthesis
Weight: 350%
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. 63% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 52% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 42% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 31% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 21% 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 “Show” questions.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
No data available in official reports
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Waves and quantum behaviour
15 marks this session
Imaging and signalling
15 marks this session
Ionising radiation and risk
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
Out into space
Electromagnetism
Ionising radiation and risk
Waves and quantum behaviour
Probing deep into matter
Imaging and signalling
Creating models
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
H557/02 Scientific literacy in 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
Waves and quantum behaviour
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiImaging and signalling
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiIonising radiation and risk
14 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The June 2023 H557/02 paper is a robust assessment with a difficulty index of 4.1 out of 5 stars.
- 2Message
The inclusion of two highly demanding 6-mark Level of Response (LOR) questions—one requiring a convoluted radiotherapy effective dose calculation (Q5) and another involving wind speed scaling via power laws (Q8)—pushed the cognitive demand significantly higher than in previous series.
- 3Message
High mathematical literacy and a strong conceptual grasp are indispensable for this paper.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2023 2023
Physics B Advancing Physics
The June 2023 H557/02 paper is a robust assessment with a difficulty index of 4.1 out of 5 stars. The inclusion of two highly demanding 6-mark Level of Response (LOR) questions—one requiring a convoluted radiotherapy effective dose calculation (Q5) and another involving wind spee
The June 2023 H557/02 paper is a robust assessment with a difficulty index of 4.1 out of 5 stars.
The inclusion of two highly demanding 6-mark Level of Response (LOR) questions—one requiring a convoluted radiotherapy effective dose calculation (Q5) and another involving wind speed scaling via power laws (Q8)—pushed the cognitive demand significantly higher than in previous series.
High mathematical literacy and a strong conceptual grasp are indispensable for this paper.
- Total marks
- 100
- Duration
- 135 min
- Session difficulty
- 4.1 / 5
Session analysis
The June 2023 H557/02 paper is a robust assessment with a difficulty index of 4.1 out of 5 stars. The inclusion of two highly demanding 6-mark Level of Response (LOR) questions—one requiring a convoluted radiotherapy effective dose calculation (Q5) and another involving wind speed scaling via power laws (Q8)—pushed the cognitive demand significantly higher than in previous series. High mathematical literacy and a strong conceptual grasp are indispensable for this paper.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
H557/02 Scientific literacy in 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.
70% 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
43·18·43%
Structured Explanation
30·12·30%
Short Answer / Diagram
15·10·15%
Level of Response
(Extended)
12·2·12%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Probing deep into matter (Fundamental particles)
85%85%
Sensing (Physics in action)
78%78%
Difficulty Verdict
The June 2023 H557/02 paper is a robust assessment with a difficulty index of 4.1 out of 5 stars. The inclusion of two highly demanding 6-mark Level of Response (LOR) questions—one requiring a convoluted radiotherapy effective dose calculation (Q5) and another involving wind speed scaling via power laws (Q8)—pushed the cognitive demand significantly higher than in previous series. High mathematical literacy and a strong conceptual grasp are indispensable for this paper.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Enzyme mechanisms vs. thermodynamic states: In Q1(b)(i), many students lost marks by describing how enzymes physically bind substrates, instead of focusing on how the Boltzmann factor dictates the probability of a particle crossing the energy threshold E E E.
- Piston collision relativity: In Q3(c)(i), explaining elastic collisions with a moving boundary was done poorly. Candidates failed to translate to the piston's reference frame where the incident speed is 431.5 m s−1 431.5\text{ m s}^{-1} 431.5 m s−1 relative to the piston.
- Bound state signs: In Q4(c)(iii), potential energy must carry a negative sign. Failing to represent this meant missing subsequent marks in Q4(c)(iv) for explaining why a negative total energy indicates a bound state.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.