Back to subject papers

7408 · AQA A Level

7408/21

Paper 2

Physics · June 2023 · Variant 1

Relative difficulty

Demanding · 4.2/5

Analysis source: AQA

Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.

Relative difficulty

4.2 / 5

Total marks

215

Duration

310 min

Most tested topic

Limitation of physical measurements (Measurements and their errors)

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

Total marks

215

Duration

310 min

Session difficulty

4.2 / 5

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

The June 2023 AQA A-level Physics series set a formidable standard, pushing candidates to integrate complex mechanics, design fault-tolerant electrical models, and perform meticulous experimental calculations.

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

Mathematical Calculation4
Conceptual Explanation3
Experimental Analysis2
Knowledge Recall1

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Mathematical CalculationMathematicalCalculationConceptual ExplanationConceptualExplanationExperimental AnalysisExperimentalAnalysisKnowledge RecallKnowledge Recall
SkillWeightShare
  • Mathematical Calculation

    Weight: 4100%
  • Conceptual Explanation

    Weight: 375%
  • Experimental Analysis

    Weight: 250%
  • Knowledge Recall

    Weight: 125%

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. 66% of maximum mark

Level A

Approx. 52% of maximum mark

Level B

Approx. 43% of maximum mark

Level C

Approx. 34% of maximum mark

Level D

Approx. 25% 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

CalculateFrequency: 14

Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.

explainFrequency: 12

Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.

ProveFrequency: 10

Match the expected response style for “Prove” questions.

DetermineFrequency: 15

Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.

DrawFrequency: 7

Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

Paper 3 Section A (70m / 45 marks

Min per mark: 1.6

Paper 1 Section A (85m / 60 marks

Min per mark: 1.4

Paper 1 Section B (35m / 25 marks

Min per mark: 1.4

Paper 2 Section A (85m / 60 marks

Min per mark: 1.4

Paper 2 Section B (35m / 25 marks

Min per mark: 1.4

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

Limitation of physical measurements

45 marks this session

Radioactivity

28 marks this session

Force, energy and momentum

17 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

LowHigh
Topic
2022
2023
2024
Σ

Limitation of physical measurements

32
45
45
122

Radioactivity

19
28
27
74

Force, energy and momentum

17
20
37

Thermal physics

22
22

Electric fields

17
17

Particles

16
16

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

Paper 1:

85 marks120 min

Paper 2:

85 marks120 min

Paper 3 Section A:

45 marks70 min

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

Self-diagnostic checklist

Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise

  • 1Message

    The June 2023 AQA A-level Physics series set a formidable standard, pushing candidates to integrate complex mechanics, design fault-tolerant electrical models, and perform meticulous experimental calculations.

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2023 2023

Physics

The June 2023 AQA A-level Physics series set a formidable standard, pushing candidates to integrate complex mechanics, design fault-tolerant electrical models, and perform meticulous experimental calculations.

  • The June 2023 AQA A-level Physics series set a formidable standard, pushing candidates to integrate complex mechanics, design fault-tolerant electrical models, and perform meticulous experimental calculations.

Total marks
215
Duration
310 min
Session difficulty
4.2 / 5

Session analysis

The June 2023 AQA A-level Physics series set a formidable standard, pushing candidates to integrate complex mechanics, design fault-tolerant electrical models, and perform meticulous experimental calculations.

Updated Jun 14, 2026

Paper breakdown

Paper 1:

85 marks120 min

Paper 2:

85 marks120 min

Paper 3 Section A:

45 marks70 min

Top chapters

Limitation of physical measurements45 marks
Radioactivity28 marks
Force, energy and momentum17 marks

Exam structure insights

Marks by chapter

See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.

Particles9 marks
Force, energy and momentum17 marks
Current electricity14 marks
Refraction, diffraction and int16 marks
Materials11 marks
Periodic motion12 marks
Use of SI units and their prefi1 marks
Estimation of physical quantiti1 marks

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

72% within easy or medium reach

50
105
60
Easy: 50 marksMedium: 105 marksHard: 60 marks

Command word frequency

Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.

Calculate14 times
explain12 times
Prove10 times
Determine15 times
Draw7 times

Question type mix

Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.

215Marks
  • structured

    165·73·77%

  • multipleChoice

    50·50·23%

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

DifficultyRecurrence %RadioactivityLimitation of phys…Force, energy and …Current electricity

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

4.220224.22023

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

MarksMinutesMarks / min

Paper 1 Section A (

0.71 m/min
60
85

Paper 1 Section B (

0.71 m/min
25
35

Paper 2 Section A (

0.71 m/min
60
85

Paper 2 Section B (

0.71 m/min
25
35

Paper 3 Section A (

0.64 m/min
45
70

Total marks

215

Total time

310 min

Avg pace

0.69

Cumulative marks ladder

The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.

054108161215A* estimatedA estimatedB estimatedC estimatedD estimatedE estimatedU estimated2565115165215

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Electromagnetic radiation and quantum phenomena

85%

85%

Wave-particle duality

80%

80%

Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.

7408/21 — AQA A Level Physics (June 2023) | Revui