Required Practicals

AQA GCSE Physics has 10 required practicals that you must know in detail. You will be examined on these through questions about the method, equipment, variables, expected results, graphing, errors, and safety. You do not need to have performed every practical yourself, but you must be able to describe and explain each one as if you had. Required practical questions can appear on either Paper 1 or Paper 2, depending on the topic.

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Why Required Practicals Matter

• Approximately 15% of the marks across both papers are based on practical skills (assessed through written questions)
• Questions can ask you to describe the method, explain the choice of equipment, identify variables, plot or interpret graphs, evaluate the method, and suggest improvements
• You will often be given data from a practical you have not seen before and asked to apply the same skills

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Required Practical 1: Specific Heat Capacity

Topic: Energy (Paper 1)

Aim

To measure the specific heat capacity of a material (usually a metal block or water).