PHYSICS-9PH0 · Pearson Edexcel A Level
PHYSICS-9PH0/31
General and Practical Principles (9PH0/03)
Physics · 2022 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Pearson Edexcel
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
300
360 min
Experimental design, data analysis, and uncertainty calculation
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
300
Duration
360 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The most lucrative questions were multi-step calculations, which rewarded structured working and unit conversions.
For example, in Mechanics and Thermodynamics, many candidates successfully calculated the energy required to heat and melt metals but lost marks on final comparisons.
In Working as a Physicist, marks were lost due to poor handling of uncertainties—particularly failing to double the percentage uncertainty of a diameter when squaring it to calculate a cross-sectional area (A=πd24 A = \pi \frac{d^2}{4} A=π4d2).
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: 3100%Conceptual Explanation
Weight: 267%Experimental Analysis
Weight: 133%
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. 70% of maximum mark
Level A
Approx. 58% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 48% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 37% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 27% 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.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “Deduce” questions.
Match the expected response style for “that” questions.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 0.2
Min per mark: 0
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Working as a Physicist (Concept-led)
58 marks this session
Waves and Particle Nature of Light
34 marks this session
Nuclear Radiation
30 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
Working as a Physicist (Concept-led approach)
Waves and Particle Nature of Light (Concept-led approach)
Working as a Physicist (Concept-led)
Electric and Magnetic Fields (Concept-led approach)
Oscillations (Concept-led approach)
Electric Circuits (Concept-led approach)
Waves and Particle Nature of Light
Nuclear Radiation
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
9PH0/01: Advanced Physics I: 9PH0/02: Advanced Physics II: 9PH0/03: General and Practical Principles:
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
Working as a Physicist (Concept-led)
58 marks this session
Practise in RevuiWaves and Particle Nature of Light
34 marks this session
Practise in RevuiNuclear Radiation
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The most lucrative questions were multi-step calculations, which rewarded structured working and unit conversions.
- 2Message
For example, in Mechanics and Thermodynamics, many candidates successfully calculated the energy required to heat and melt metals but lost marks on final comparisons.
- 3Message
In Working as a Physicist, marks were lost due to poor handling of uncertainties—particularly failing to double the percentage uncertainty of a diameter when squaring it to calculate a cross-sectional area (A=πd24 A = \pi \frac{d^2}{4} A=π4d2).
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2022 2022
Physics
The most lucrative questions were multi-step calculations, which rewarded structured working and unit conversions. For example, in Mechanics and Thermodynamics, many candidates successfully calculated the energy required to heat and melt metals but lost marks on final comparisons
The most lucrative questions were multi-step calculations, which rewarded structured working and unit conversions.
For example, in Mechanics and Thermodynamics, many candidates successfully calculated the energy required to heat and melt metals but lost marks on final comparisons.
In Working as a Physicist, marks were lost due to poor handling of uncertainties—particularly failing to double the percentage uncertainty of a diameter when squaring it to calculate a cross-sectional area (A=πd24 A = \pi \frac{d^2}{4} A=π4d2).
- Total marks
- 300
- Duration
- 360 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
The most lucrative questions were multi-step calculations, which rewarded structured working and unit conversions. For example, in Mechanics and Thermodynamics, many candidates successfully calculated the energy required to heat and melt metals but lost marks on final comparisons. In Working as a Physicist, marks were lost due to poor handling of uncertainties—particularly failing to double the percentage uncertainty of a diameter when squaring it to calculate a cross-sectional area (A=πd24 A = \pi \frac{d^2}{4} A=π4d2).
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
9PH0/01: Advanced Physics I: 9PH0/02: Advanced Physics II: 9PH0/03: General and Practical Principles:
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.
73% 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/Short Answer
164·48·55%
Long Answer & Practical
116·16·39%
Multiple Choice
20·20·7%
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 (9PH0/01)
180.20 m/minPaper 2 (9PH0/02)1
4.02 m/minTotal marks
1102
Total time
55 min
Avg pace
20.04
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Gravitational Fields (Satellite Orbits & Kepler)
90%90%
Space & Stellar Evolution (HR Diagrams)
85%85%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Algebraic Derivations: Students often struggled to mathematically show that the gradient of a sonometer graph equals T4μ \frac{T}{4\mu} 4μT. Be meticulous in substituting wave speed into the frequency equation.
- Precise Terminology: In explanation questions, examiners looked for precise terms. For example, simply saying 'magnetic field changes' was rarely enough; the phrase 'rate of change of magnetic flux linkage' was needed to secure full marks.
- Graph Skills: Drawing tangents is a perennial weakness. In Paper 1 (Q18biv), the tangent needed a large triangle base (at least 0.06 s 0.06\text{ s} 0.06 s) to ensure accuracy.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 2h 30min
- Total marks
- 120
- Weighting
- 30%
- Question types
- Structured/Practical
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.