PHYSICS-B-ADVANCING-PHYSICS-H157 · Cambridge OCR AS Level
PHYSICS-B-ADVANCING-PHYSICS-H157/21
Physics in Depth (Paper 2)
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
140
180 min
Waves and Quantum Behaviour
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
140
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
4.0 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The June 2022 series represents a challenging but fair assessment.
While Paper 1 demands a swift pace to navigate through the 20 multiple-choice questions and foundational structured items, Paper 2 delves deep into multi-step calculations and comparative evaluations (such as the Mars Perseverance communication methods).
Overall, the examination places a premium on analytical reasoning, conceptual precision, and practical data analysis.
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: 7100%Explaining
Weight: 686%Physic
Weight: 571%Graphing &
Weight: 457%Practical Comparing Scientific
Weight: 343%
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. 65% of maximum mark
Level B
Approx. 56% of maximum mark
Level C
Approx. 46% of maximum mark
Level D
Approx. 37% of maximum mark
Level E
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.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “Show” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Estimate” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.
Weigh arguments for and against with evidence; end with a supported judgement.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.3
Min per mark: 1.2
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Waves and quantum behaviour
38 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
Waves and quantum behaviour
Sensing
Space, time and motion
Imaging and signalling
Fundamental data analysis
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
H157/01 Foundations of physics: H157/02 Physics in depth:
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
Waves and quantum behaviour
38 marks this session
Practise in RevuiPhysics B Advancing Physics
Session priority from examiner report
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The June 2022 series represents a challenging but fair assessment.
- 2Message
While Paper 1 demands a swift pace to navigate through the 20 multiple-choice questions and foundational structured items, Paper 2 delves deep into multi-step calculations and comparative evaluations (such as the Mars Perseverance communication methods).
- 3Message
Overall, the examination places a premium on analytical reasoning, conceptual precision, and practical data analysis.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
June 2022 2022
Physics B Advancing Physics
The June 2022 series represents a challenging but fair assessment. While Paper 1 demands a swift pace to navigate through the 20 multiple-choice questions and foundational structured items, Paper 2 delves deep into multi-step calculations and comparative evaluations (such as the
The June 2022 series represents a challenging but fair assessment.
While Paper 1 demands a swift pace to navigate through the 20 multiple-choice questions and foundational structured items, Paper 2 delves deep into multi-step calculations and comparative evaluations (such as the Mars Perseverance communication methods).
Overall, the examination places a premium on analytical reasoning, conceptual precision, and practical data analysis.
- Total marks
- 140
- Duration
- 180 min
- Session difficulty
- 4.0 / 5
Session analysis
The June 2022 series represents a challenging but fair assessment. While Paper 1 demands a swift pace to navigate through the 20 multiple-choice questions and foundational structured items, Paper 2 delves deep into multi-step calculations and comparative evaluations (such as the Mars Perseverance communication methods). Overall, the examination places a premium on analytical reasoning, conceptual precision, and practical data analysis.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
H157/01 Foundations of physics: H157/02 Physics in depth:
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.
79% 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 / Structured
108·26·77%
Multiple Choice Questions
20·20·14%
Level of Response
12·2·9%
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.
Paper 1 Section A (…
0.77 m/minPaper 1 Section B &…
0.83 m/minPaper 2 Section A (…
0.75 m/minTotal marks
120
Total time
155 min
Avg pace
0.77
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Sensing Circuits with Potential Dividers
5%5%
Phasors and Superposition
5%5%
Young Modulus and Polymeric Properties
4%4%
Difficulty Verdict
The June 2022 series represents a challenging but fair assessment. While Paper 1 demands a swift pace to navigate through the 20 multiple-choice questions and foundational structured items, Paper 2 delves deep into multi-step calculations and comparative evaluations (such as the Mars Perseverance communication methods). Overall, the examination places a premium on analytical reasoning, conceptual precision, and practical data analysis.
Examiner notes & key calculations
- Unit Conversions: In Paper 1, many students failed to convert volume from cubic millimeters (mm3 \text{mm}^3 mm3) to cubic meters (m3 \text{m}^3 m3) correctly, with many dividing by 103 10^3 103 or 106 10^6 106 instead of 109 10^9 109.
- Wavefront Geometry: In Paper 2, drawing converging wavefronts through a lens proved highly problematic; students failed to show wavefronts being closer together inside the glass or neglected to adjust the curvature properly.
- Line of Best Fit / Gradient Work: Candidates often lost marks in the microwave diffraction experiment by failing to draw a sufficiently large gradient triangle (which must span at least half of the plotted range).
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 30min
- Total marks
- 70
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- Structured Explanation & Calculation, Extended Analysis & Calculations, Comprehensive Data Task & Level of Response
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.