PHYSICS-A-H156 · Cambridge OCR AS Level
PHYSICS-A-H156/21
Paper 2
Physics A - H156 · 2023 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: OCR
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.7 / 5
140
180 min
The Photoelectric Effect and Wave Superposition
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
140
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.7 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
This sitting is classified as moderate-to-hard.
While Section A's multiple-choice questions offered a straightforward test of core definitions, Section B ramped up in difficulty with demanding multi-step calculation pathways and rigorous practical planning.
Students who struggled with experimental analysis and absolute/percentage uncertainties found this paper particularly challenging.
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: 6100%Experimental
Weight: 583%Graphical Analysis
Weight: 467%Conceptual Explanation
Weight: 233%
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
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.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Show” questions.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
The photoelectric effect (Quantum physics)
21 marks this session
Kinematics (Motion)
16 marks this session
Measurements and uncertainties (Making measurements and analysing data)
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
Measurements and uncertainties (Making measurements and analysing data)
Wave motion (Waves)
Equilibrium (Forces in action)
The photoelectric effect (Quantum physics)
Kinematics (Motion)
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
H156/01 Breadth in physics: H156/02 Depth 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
The photoelectric effect (Quantum physics)
21 marks this session
Practise in RevuiKinematics (Motion)
16 marks this session
Practise in RevuiMeasurements and uncertainties (Making measurements and analysing data)
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 sitting is classified as moderate-to-hard.
- 2Message
While Section A's multiple-choice questions offered a straightforward test of core definitions, Section B ramped up in difficulty with demanding multi-step calculation pathways and rigorous practical planning.
- 3Message
Students who struggled with experimental analysis and absolute/percentage uncertainties found this paper particularly challenging.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2023 2023
Physics A - H156
This sitting is classified as moderate-to-hard. While Section A's multiple-choice questions offered a straightforward test of core definitions, Section B ramped up in difficulty with demanding multi-step calculation pathways and rigorous practical planning. Students who struggled
This sitting is classified as moderate-to-hard.
While Section A's multiple-choice questions offered a straightforward test of core definitions, Section B ramped up in difficulty with demanding multi-step calculation pathways and rigorous practical planning.
Students who struggled with experimental analysis and absolute/percentage uncertainties found this paper particularly challenging.
- Total marks
- 140
- Duration
- 180 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.7 / 5
Session analysis
This sitting is classified as moderate-to-hard. While Section A's multiple-choice questions offered a straightforward test of core definitions, Section B ramped up in difficulty with demanding multi-step calculation pathways and rigorous practical planning. Students who struggled with experimental analysis and absolute/percentage uncertainties found this paper particularly challenging.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
H156/01 Breadth in physics: H156/02 Depth 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/Calculation Questions
80·22·57%
Short Answer Questions
28·18·20%
Multiple Choice Questions
(MCQ)
20·20·14%
Level of Response (LoR) Questions
12·2·9%
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 Section A (
0.80 m/minPaper 1 Section B (
0.77 m/minTotal marks
70
Total time
90 min
Avg pace
0.78
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Potential Dividers (Electrical circuits)
85%85%
Diffraction Gratings and Double-Slit Superposition
80%80%
De Broglie Wavelength & Wave-particle duality
75%75%
Difficulty Verdict
This sitting is classified as moderate-to-hard. While Section A's multiple-choice questions offered a straightforward test of core definitions, Section B ramped up in difficulty with demanding multi-step calculation pathways and rigorous practical planning. Students who struggled with experimental analysis and absolute/percentage uncertainties found this paper particularly challenging.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- The Node-Distance Trap: In wave questions, many students treated the distance between adjacent nodes as a full wavelength λ \lambda λ instead of a half-wavelength λ/2 \lambda/2 λ/2, halving their calculated speed of sound.
- Angle from the Vertical: Resolving projectile velocity with a given angle of 84∘ 84^{\circ} 84∘ *to the vertical* caught out students who instinctively resolved with cosine for horizontal or sine for vertical without drawing a vector triangle.
- Stationary Wave Nodes: Students frequently failed to explain why practical node amplitudes are not exactly zero, missing the concept of incomplete destructive interference due to the reflected wave's amplitude decaying with distance.
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.