PHYSICS-B-ADVANCING-PHYSICS-H557 · Cambridge OCR A Level
PHYSICS-B-ADVANCING-PHYSICS-H557/11
Paper 1
Physics B Advancing Physics · June 2022 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
4.0 / 5
100
135 min
Electromagnetism and Orbits
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
100
Duration
135 min
Session difficulty
4.0 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
This paper represents a highly rigorous assessment, typical of the Advancing Physics linear A-Level.
With a heavy focus on unstructured derivations, multi-step modeling, and level-of-response (LoR) explanations, the difficulty index sits firmly at 4/5.
Section C, based on the Advance Notice article, tests both quantitative comprehension and conceptual depth in astrophysics and particle-field interactions.
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.
Mathematical
Weight: 8100%Trigonometry &
Weight: 788%Extended Scientific
Weight: 675%Formula Manipulation
Weight: 450%Data & Graphical Analysis
Weight: 225%Graphical
Weight: 113%
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. 53% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 43% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 33% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 23% of maximum mark
Level E
Approx. 14% 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
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.
Match the expected response style for “Show” questions.
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
Match the expected response style for “Draw” questions.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.4
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Electromagnetism
37 marks this session
Out into space
20 marks this session
Creating models
15 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
Out into space
Electromagnetism
Ionising radiation and risk
Waves and quantum behaviour
Probing deep into matter
Imaging and signalling
Creating models
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
H557/02 Scientific literacy in physics:
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
Electromagnetism
37 marks this session
Practise in RevuiOut into space
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiCreating models
15 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
This paper represents a highly rigorous assessment, typical of the Advancing Physics linear A-Level.
- 2Message
With a heavy focus on unstructured derivations, multi-step modeling, and level-of-response (LoR) explanations, the difficulty index sits firmly at 4/5.
- 3Message
Section C, based on the Advance Notice article, tests both quantitative comprehension and conceptual depth in astrophysics and particle-field interactions.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2022 2022
Physics B Advancing Physics
This paper represents a highly rigorous assessment, typical of the Advancing Physics linear A-Level. With a heavy focus on unstructured derivations, multi-step modeling, and level-of-response (LoR) explanations, the difficulty index sits firmly at 4/5. Section C, based on the Adv
This paper represents a highly rigorous assessment, typical of the Advancing Physics linear A-Level.
With a heavy focus on unstructured derivations, multi-step modeling, and level-of-response (LoR) explanations, the difficulty index sits firmly at 4/5.
Section C, based on the Advance Notice article, tests both quantitative comprehension and conceptual depth in astrophysics and particle-field interactions.
- Total marks
- 100
- Duration
- 135 min
- Session difficulty
- 4.0 / 5
Session analysis
This paper represents a highly rigorous assessment, typical of the Advancing Physics linear A-Level. With a heavy focus on unstructured derivations, multi-step modeling, and level-of-response (LoR) explanations, the difficulty index sits firmly at 4/5. Section C, based on the Advance Notice article, tests both quantitative comprehension and conceptual depth in astrophysics and particle-field interactions.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
H557/02 Scientific literacy in physics:
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.
75% 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.
Structured Explanations & Derivations
37·11·37%
Calculations
(Structured / Numerical)
36·14·36%
Short Answer
(Conceptual / Graph Drawing)
15·10·15%
Extended Response
(Level of Response)
12·2·12%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Section A
0.75 m/minSection C
0.71 m/minTotal marks
55
Total time
75 min
Avg pace
0.73
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.
X-ray Imaging & Signals
4%4%
Radioactive Decay & Risk
4%4%
Mechanical Properties of Materials
4%4%
Difficulty Verdict
This paper represents a highly rigorous assessment, typical of the Advancing Physics linear A-Level. With a heavy focus on unstructured derivations, multi-step modeling, and level-of-response (LoR) explanations, the difficulty index sits firmly at 4/5. Section C, based on the Advance Notice article, tests both quantitative comprehension and conceptual depth in astrophysics and particle-field interactions.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Dual Strain Gauges (Q3b): A major stumbling block where many candidates failed to correctly apply the volume conservation condition when computing the new cross-sectional area and resistance.
- Newton's Third Law (Q4ai): Some students struggled, failing to identify that the action-reaction forces must be of the exact same type and act on separate bodies.
- Helical Trajectories (Q8bii): Resolving components for helical particle trajectory led to trigonometry errors, with many candidates swapping the horizontal and vertical velocity components.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.