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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 2024 · Variant 1

Relative difficulty

Demanding · 3.6/5

Analysis source: OCR

Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.

Relative difficulty

3.6 / 5

Total marks

140

Duration

180 min

Most tested topic

Space, time and motion

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

Total marks

140

Duration

180 min

Session difficulty

3.6 / 5

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

An analysis of the OCR Physics B (Advancing Physics) 2024 H157 papers (Foundations of Physics and Physics in Depth), highlighting core mechanics, wave-particle duality, practical uncertainty propagation, and computational spreadsheet modeling.

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

Mathematical6
Experimental &5
Conceptual4
Physic3
Graphical & Practical Skills2
Vectors1

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

MathematicalMathematicalExperimental &Experimental &ConceptualConceptualPhysicPhysicGraphical & Practical SkillsGraphical &Practical SkillsVectorsVectors
SkillWeightShare
  • Mathematical

    Weight: 6100%
  • Experimental &

    Weight: 583%
  • Conceptual

    Weight: 467%
  • Physic

    Weight: 350%
  • Graphical & Practical Skills

    Weight: 233%
  • Vectors

    Weight: 117%

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. 70% of maximum mark

Level B

Approx. 61% of maximum mark

Level C

Approx. 51% of maximum mark

Level D

Approx. 42% of maximum mark

Level E

Approx. 34% 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

DetermineFrequency: 22

Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.

DescribeFrequency: 18

State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.

CompleteFrequency: 12

Match the expected response style for “Complete” questions.

SuggestFrequency: 10

Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

H157/01 Section A (25m / 20 marks

Min per mark: 1.3

H157/02 Section B (40m / 30 marks

Min per mark: 1.3

H157/02 Section C (20m / 15 marks

Min per mark: 1.3

H157/02 Section A (30m / 25 marks

Min per mark: 1.2

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

Space, time and motion

42 marks this session

Waves and quantum behaviour

40 marks this session

Sensing

18 marks this session

Fundamental data analysis

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

LowHigh
Topic
2022
2023
2024
Σ

Waves and quantum behaviour

38
32
40
110

Sensing

29
18
47

Space, time and motion

42
42

Imaging and signalling

24
24

Fundamental data analysis

18
18

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

H157/01 Foundations of physics: H157/02 Physics in depth:

70 marks90 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

    An analysis of the OCR Physics B (Advancing Physics) 2024 H157 papers (Foundations of Physics and Physics in Depth), highlighting core mechanics, wave-particle duality, practical uncertainty propagation, and computational spreadsheet modeling.

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2024 2024

Physics B Advancing Physics

An analysis of the OCR Physics B (Advancing Physics) 2024 H157 papers (Foundations of Physics and Physics in Depth), highlighting core mechanics, wave-particle duality, practical uncertainty propagation, and computational spreadsheet modeling.

  • An analysis of the OCR Physics B (Advancing Physics) 2024 H157 papers (Foundations of Physics and Physics in Depth), highlighting core mechanics, wave-particle duality, practical uncertainty propagation, and computational spreadsheet modeling.

Total marks
140
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.6 / 5

Session analysis

An analysis of the OCR Physics B (Advancing Physics) 2024 H157 papers (Foundations of Physics and Physics in Depth), highlighting core mechanics, wave-particle duality, practical uncertainty propagation, and computational spreadsheet modeling.

Updated Jun 14, 2026

Paper breakdown

H157/01 Foundations of physics: H157/02 Physics in depth:

70 marks90 min

Top chapters

Space, time and motion42 marks
Waves and quantum behaviour40 marks
Sensing18 marks
Fundamental data analysis18 marks

Exam structure insights

Marks by chapter

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

Space, time and motion42 marks
Waves and quantum behaviour40 marks
Sensing18 marks
Fundamental data analysis18 marks
Mechanical properties of materi12 marks
Imaging and signalling10 marks

Mark accessibility

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

71% within easy or medium reach

45
55
40
Easy: 45 marksMedium: 55 marksHard: 40 marks

Command word frequency

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

Determine22 times
Describe18 times
Complete12 times
Suggest10 times

Question type mix

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

140Marks
  • Structured Calculation

    49·18·35%

  • Extended Writing

    49·16·35%

  • Short Answer

    22·20·16%

  • Multiple Choice

    20·20·14%

Study ROI

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

DifficultyRecurrence %Sensing (Resistors…Space, time and mo…Fundamental data a…Waves and quantum …

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

420223.820233.62024

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

MarksMinutesMarks / min

H157/01 Section A (

0.80 m/min
20
25

H157/02 Section A (

0.83 m/min
25
30

H157/02 Section B (

0.75 m/min
30
40

H157/02 Section C (

0.75 m/min
15
20

Total marks

90

Total time

115 min

Avg pace

0.78

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.

03570105140A estimatedB estimatedC estimatedD estimatedE estimatedU estimated2025Q22 (Digital30Q22 (Digital35Q22 (Digital40Q24 (Ion Engi50Q24 (Ion Engi61Q26 (Internal70Q26 (Internal74Q1 [Paper 2]79Q1 [Paper 2]84Q3 [Paper 2]91Q3 [Paper 2]95Q5 [Paper 2]110Q5 [Paper 2]125Q7 [Paper 2]140Q7 [Paper 2]

Next-year prediction

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

Mechanical properties of materials

85%

85%

Imaging and signalling

78%

78%

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.

PHYSICS-B-ADVANCING-PHYSICS-H157/21 — Cambridge OCR AS Level Physics B Advancing Physics (June 2024) | Revui