Physics

Year 10

Fleckney, Lennox, Miller, Mitchell, Sutherland, Willis

Course & Exam Information

Structure of Year 10

Year 10 is broadly split into two phases. All students study the same Physics content from the start of the year until the mid-year exam in January. After this point, students are placed into new teaching sets and follow either the Separate (Triple) Science or Combined Science route.

Topics studied before the mid-year exam (January)

From the start of Year 10, all students study the following topics:

  • Domestic Electricity & Energy Resources
  • Atomic Structure

Domestic Electricity & Energy Resources is normally introduced towards the end of Year 9 and then completed at the start of Year 10.

Mid-year exam and re-setting

A mid-year exam takes place in January. Following this exam, students are placed into new teaching sets based on their average performance across Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

  • Sets 1–3: Students continue on the Separate (Triple) Science route, earning three separate GCSE grades by the end of Year 11.
  • Sets 4–5: Students move onto the Combined Science route, where they continue to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics but with reduced content, earning two GCSE grades by the end of Year 11. These grades are based on their combined performance across all three sciences.

Topics studied after re-setting

After students are re-set at the start of Term 3, all Year 10 students study:

  • Wave Properties

Following this:

  • Separate (Triple) Science students study Waves & Their Uses
  • Combined Science students study Forces & Their Effects

End of topic tests

Each topic has an end of topic test. The format is the same as in Year 9:

  • 20% multiple choice questions (covering all content covered since the start of Year 9)
  • 80% GCSE-style exam questions

These assessments are designed to develop exam technique and prepare students for the demands of GCSE examinations.

How to revise

Effective revision combines strong subject knowledge with regular exam practice:

  • Use class notes and GCSE Physics textbooks to review key ideas
  • Practise GCSE-style exam questions, including calculations
  • Use quizzes and revision resources to identify gaps in understanding
  • Seek support from your teacher if you are unsure about any topic

Key links

If you are unsure how to prepare for an assessment, start with the Learning Resources page for your current topic, then use the Revision Resources page to consolidate your knowledge and improve exam technique.