8463 · AQA GCSE
8463/21
(Foundation)
Physics · June 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: AQA
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
2.6 / 5
200
210 min
Electromagnetic waves and their properties, featuring heavily in Paper 2 through refraction investigations and light interaction scenarios.
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
200
Duration
210 min
Session difficulty
2.6 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
A significant portion of marks was allocated to straightforward recall and direct substitution calculations.
However, many candidates dropped marks on intermediate mathematical processing.
Converting grams to kilograms in the latent heat calculation and converting centimeters to meters in the moments question proved to be major stumbling blocks.
Furthermore, in the extended 6-mark experimental method questions (RPA3 on wire resistance and RPA9 on refraction), students frequently omitted critical control variables or failed to specify the precise measuring instruments required, limiting their scores to the lower mark bands.
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.
Recall & Understanding
Weight: 5100%Mathematical
Weight: 480%Experimental
Weight: 360%Graphical
Weight: 240%Analysis
Weight: 120%
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 9
Approx. 76% of maximum mark
Level 8
Approx. 68% of maximum mark
Level 7
Approx. 61% of maximum mark
Level 6
Approx. 52% of maximum mark
Level 5
Approx. 43% of maximum mark
Level 4
Approx. 34% of maximum mark
Level 3
Approx. 29% 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
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “Complete” questions.
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.2
Min per mark: 1.1
Min per mark: 1
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Electromagnetic waves
23 marks this session
Forces and motion
22 marks this session
Current, potential difference and resistance
18 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
Electromagnetic waves (Waves)
Electromagnetic waves
Forces and motion
Forces and motion (Forces)
Particle model and pressure (Particle model of matter)
Current, potential difference and resistance
Changes of state and the particle model (Particle model of matter)
Energy changes in a system... (Energy)
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 Foundation Tier:
Paper 2 Foundation Tier:
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
Electromagnetic waves
23 marks this session
Practise in RevuiForces and motion
22 marks this session
Practise in RevuiCurrent, potential difference and resistance
18 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
A significant portion of marks was allocated to straightforward recall and direct substitution calculations.
- 2Message
However, many candidates dropped marks on intermediate mathematical processing.
- 3Message
Converting grams to kilograms in the latent heat calculation and converting centimeters to meters in the moments question proved to be major stumbling blocks.
- 4Message
Furthermore, in the extended 6-mark experimental method questions (RPA3 on wire resistance and RPA9 on refraction), students frequently omitted critical control variables or failed to specify the precise measuring instruments required, limiting their scores to the lower mark bands.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2024 2024
Physics
A significant portion of marks was allocated to straightforward recall and direct substitution calculations. However, many candidates dropped marks on intermediate mathematical processing. Converting grams to kilograms in the latent heat calculation and converting centimeters to
A significant portion of marks was allocated to straightforward recall and direct substitution calculations.
However, many candidates dropped marks on intermediate mathematical processing.
Converting grams to kilograms in the latent heat calculation and converting centimeters to meters in the moments question proved to be major stumbling blocks.
- Total marks
- 200
- Duration
- 210 min
- Session difficulty
- 2.6 / 5
Session analysis
A significant portion of marks was allocated to straightforward recall and direct substitution calculations. However, many candidates dropped marks on intermediate mathematical processing. Converting grams to kilograms in the latent heat calculation and converting centimeters to meters in the moments question proved to be major stumbling blocks. Furthermore, in the extended 6-mark experimental method questions (RPA3 on wire resistance and RPA9 on refraction), students frequently omitted critical control variables or failed to specify the precise measuring instruments required, limiting their scores to the lower mark bands.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 Foundation Tier:
Paper 2 Foundation Tier:
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.
86% 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.
Short Answer & Labelling
72·32·36%
Calculations
(Numerical)
56·22·28%
Multiple Choice / Tick-box
48·41·24%
Extended Response / Experimental Describe
24·4·12%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 (Qs 1-6: St
0.94 m/minPaper 1 (Qs 7-11: P
0.85 m/minPaper 2 (Qs 1-5: Ba
0.96 m/minTotal marks
142
Total time
155 min
Avg pace
0.92
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.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Atoms and Isotopes (Atomic Structure)
5%5%
Series and parallel circuits
4%4%
Induced potential, transformers and National Grid
4%4%
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 45min
- Total marks
- 100
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- Multiple choice & matching lines, Short structured response / vector direction, Multi-step mathematical applications, Detailed calculation (e.g., 2as) with 2 s.f. rounding, Extended response experimental description (Level-marked)
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.