PHYSICS-XPH11 · Pearson Edexcel International AS Level
PHYSICS-XPH11/21
Paper 2
Physics · 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: Pearson Edexcel
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.8 / 5
210
260 min
Mechanics and Newton's Laws of Motion
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
210
Duration
260 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
High-scoring candidates secured their marks by displaying clear, structured working in multi-step calculation zones, such as the Young Modulus and internal resistance questions.
Conversely, many marks were dropped on Quality of Written Communication (QWC) questions.
For instance, in Unit 1's balloon propulsion question, students frequently failed to systematically apply and name all three of Newton's laws.
In Unit 2, explaining the power dissipation of LDR circuits proved challenging for those who did not step-by-step connect light intensity, charge carrier density, resistance, total current, and power equations.
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: 7100%Conceptual Explanation
Weight: 686%Practical
Weight: 457%Design
Weight: 343%Graphical Interpretation
Weight: 229%
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
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.
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 “Deduce” questions.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
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
Mechanics (Mechanics and Materials)
59 marks this session
Waves and Particle Nature of Light (Waves and Electricity)
50 marks this session
Electric Circuits (Waves and Electricity)
30 marks this session
Materials (Mechanics and Materials)
21 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
Waves and Particle Nature of Light
Mechanics
Materials
Electric Circuits
Mechanics (Mechanics and Materials)
Waves and Particle Nature of Light (Waves and Electricity)
Electric Circuits (Waves and Electricity)
Materials (Mechanics and Materials)
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Unit 1: Mechanics and Materials (WPH11/01): Unit 2: Waves and Electricity (WPH12/01): Unit 3: Practical Skills in Physics I (WPH13/01):
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
Mechanics (Mechanics and Materials)
59 marks this session
Practise in RevuiWaves and Particle Nature of Light (Waves and Electricity)
50 marks this session
Practise in RevuiElectric Circuits (Waves and Electricity)
30 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMaterials (Mechanics and Materials)
21 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 secured their marks by displaying clear, structured working in multi-step calculation zones, such as the Young Modulus and internal resistance questions.
- 2Message
Conversely, many marks were dropped on Quality of Written Communication (QWC) questions.
- 3Message
For instance, in Unit 1's balloon propulsion question, students frequently failed to systematically apply and name all three of Newton's laws.
- 4Message
In Unit 2, explaining the power dissipation of LDR circuits proved challenging for those who did not step-by-step connect light intensity, charge carrier density, resistance, total current, and power equations.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2023 2023
Physics
High-scoring candidates secured their marks by displaying clear, structured working in multi-step calculation zones, such as the Young Modulus and internal resistance questions. Conversely, many marks were dropped on Quality of Written Communication (QWC) questions. For instance,
High-scoring candidates secured their marks by displaying clear, structured working in multi-step calculation zones, such as the Young Modulus and internal resistance questions.
Conversely, many marks were dropped on Quality of Written Communication (QWC) questions.
For instance, in Unit 1's balloon propulsion question, students frequently failed to systematically apply and name all three of Newton's laws.
- Total marks
- 210
- Duration
- 260 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.8 / 5
Session analysis
High-scoring candidates secured their marks by displaying clear, structured working in multi-step calculation zones, such as the Young Modulus and internal resistance questions. Conversely, many marks were dropped on Quality of Written Communication (QWC) questions. For instance, in Unit 1's balloon propulsion question, students frequently failed to systematically apply and name all three of Newton's laws. In Unit 2, explaining the power dissipation of LDR circuits proved challenging for those who did not step-by-step connect light intensity, charge carrier density, resistance, total current, and power equations.
Updated Jun 12, 2026
Paper breakdown
Unit 1: Mechanics and Materials (WPH11/01): Unit 2: Waves and Electricity (WPH12/01): Unit 3: Practical Skills in Physics I (WPH13/01):
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.
81% 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 Mathematical Calculation
105·32·50%
Descriptive & Explanation
55·20·26%
Practical & Graph Plotting
30·6·14%
Multiple Choice
20·20·10%
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.
Projectile Motion with Drag
85%85%
Internal Resistance with Complex Parallel Cells
80%80%
Viscosity and Stokes' Law Variations
75%75%
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Unit and Prefix Conversions: A persistent source of dropped marks was the failure to convert millimeters to meters, or megahertz to hertz, when performing calculations under stress.
- Incomplete Force Diagrams: In fluid and resolution questions (like the buoy task), many students neglected the vertical component of the anchor tension, incorrectly assuming upthrust simply equated to weight.
- Graphical Inaccuracy: In Unit 3, failing to show calculations for the processed data column (e.g., 1/Δx 1/\Delta x 1/Δx) or drawing forced lines of best fit that ignored the scattering of data points cost significant marks.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.