Core Practicals: Exam Question Types

This lesson focuses on how the 8 core practicals from the Edexcel GCSE Physics (1PH0) specification are tested in the exam. You will learn the types of questions examiners ask, the key terminology you must use correctly, and how to structure answers about experimental methods.

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How Core Practicals Are Tested

Core practical questions in the exam typically fall into six categories:

graph TD
    A["Core Practical<br/>Exam Questions"] --> B["Describe the method"]
    A --> C["Identify variables"]
    A --> D["Evaluate the method"]
    A --> E["Suggest improvements"]
    A --> F["Analyse data"]
    A --> G["Draw conclusions"]

    style A fill:#2c3e50,color:#fff
    style B fill:#2980b9,color:#fff
    style C fill:#27ae60,color:#fff
    style D fill:#e67e22,color:#fff
    style E fill:#c0392b,color:#fff
    style F fill:#8e44ad,color:#fff
    style G fill:#16a085,color:#fff

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Type 1: Describe the Method

These questions ask you to outline how to carry out an experiment. Your answer must be detailed enough that someone could follow your instructions.

How to Structure a Method Answer