9630 · Oxford AQA International AS Level
9630/21
Paper 2
Physics · Winter 2025 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Oxford AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
240
360 min
Refraction at a plane surface
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
240
Duration
360 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
A highly comprehensive evaluation of the January 2025 Oxford AQA International AS and A-Level Physics papers (Units 1, 2, and 3), covering core mechanics, wave and atomic physics, field interactions, and practical skills.
The series presented a balanced mix of fundamental calculations and rigorous qualitative explanations.
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%Vector Representation
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. 80% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 70% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 60% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 50% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 40% 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 “Determine” questions.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “Show” questions.
Identify similarities and differences explicitly — paired sentences or a table helps.
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
Capacitor charge and discharge
11 marks this session
Simple harmonic motion
11 marks this session
Radioactivity
11 marks this session
Refraction at a plane surface
11 marks this session
Electric field strength
10 marks this session
Limitation of physical measurements
10 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
Simple harmonic motion
Motion along a straight line
Simple harmonic motion (Circular and periodic motion)
Radioactivity
Electric field strength
Limitation of physical measurements
Limitation of physical measurements (Measurements and their errors)
Moving charges in a magnetic field (Magnetic fields)
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Unit 1: Mechanics, materials and atoms: Unit 2: Electricity, waves and particles: Unit 3: Fields and their consequences:
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
Capacitor charge and discharge
11 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSimple harmonic motion
11 marks this session
Practise in RevuiRadioactivity
11 marks this session
Practise in RevuiRefraction at a plane surface
11 marks this session
Practise in RevuiElectric field strength
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiLimitation of physical measurements
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
A highly comprehensive evaluation of the January 2025 Oxford AQA International AS and A-Level Physics papers (Units 1, 2, and 3), covering core mechanics, wave and atomic physics, field interactions, and practical skills.
- 2Message
The series presented a balanced mix of fundamental calculations and rigorous qualitative explanations.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
Winter 2025 2025
Physics
A highly comprehensive evaluation of the January 2025 Oxford AQA International AS and A-Level Physics papers (Units 1, 2, and 3), covering core mechanics, wave and atomic physics, field interactions, and practical skills. The series presented a balanced mix of fundamental calcula
A highly comprehensive evaluation of the January 2025 Oxford AQA International AS and A-Level Physics papers (Units 1, 2, and 3), covering core mechanics, wave and atomic physics, field interactions, and practical skills.
The series presented a balanced mix of fundamental calculations and rigorous qualitative explanations.
- Total marks
- 240
- Duration
- 360 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
A highly comprehensive evaluation of the January 2025 Oxford AQA International AS and A-Level Physics papers (Units 1, 2, and 3), covering core mechanics, wave and atomic physics, field interactions, and practical skills. The series presented a balanced mix of fundamental calculations and rigorous qualitative explanations.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Unit 1: Mechanics, materials and atoms: Unit 2: Electricity, waves and particles: Unit 3: Fields and their consequences:
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.
75% 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 Questions
197·29·82%
Multiple Choice Questions
43·43·18%
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.
Nuclear Fusion and Fission Safety
90%90%
Ideal Gases and Thermal Physics
88%88%
Electromagnetic Induction and Transformers
85%85%
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.