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PHYSICS-YPH11 · Pearson Edexcel International A Level

PHYSICS-YPH11/11

Paper 1

Physics · June 2025 · Variant 1

Relative difficulty

Demanding · 3.8/5

Analysis source: Pearson Edexcel

Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.

Relative difficulty

3.8 / 5

Total marks

230

Duration

290 min

Most tested topic

Electric and Magnetic Fields (including Capacitance, Electrostatics and Induction)

Cohort performance

Session statistics from official examination reports

Total marks

230

Duration

290 min

Session difficulty

3.8 / 5

Key examiner messages

Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise

1

The Summer 2025 sittings for the Edexcel IAL Physics series (comprising WPH14, WPH15, and WPH16) presented a balanced yet conceptually demanding set of papers, earning a solid difficulty index of 3.8 out of 5.

2

WPH14 heavily focused on electric and magnetic field integrations, while WPH15 demanded strong cross-topic algebraic manipulation, particularly in thermodynamics and cosmology.

3

WPH16 tested practical competencies with rigorous uncertainty and logarithmic graphing requirements.

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
Conceptual Explanation5
Graphical3
Analysis2
Experimental &1

Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

MathematicalMathematicalConceptual ExplanationConceptualExplanationGraphicalGraphicalAnalysisAnalysisExperimental &Experimental &
SkillWeightShare
  • Mathematical

    Weight: 6100%
  • Conceptual Explanation

    Weight: 583%
  • Graphical

    Weight: 350%
  • Analysis

    Weight: 233%
  • Experimental &

    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. 90% of maximum mark

Level A

Approx. 80% of maximum mark

Level B

Approx. 70% of maximum mark

Level C

Approx. 60% of maximum mark

Level D

Approx. 50% of maximum mark

Level E

Approx. 40% 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

CalculateFrequency: 16

Show formula, substitution, and unit; method marks need visible working.

ExplainFrequency: 12

Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.

thatFrequency: 8

Match the expected response style for “that” questions.

DetermineFrequency: 6

Match the expected response style for “Determine” questions.

DeduceFrequency: 6

Match the expected response style for “Deduce” questions.

StateFrequency: 5

Match the expected response style for “State” questions.

DescribeFrequency: 4

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

CriticiseFrequency: 3

Match the expected response style for “Criticise” questions.

Time traps

Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks

WPH16 Practical Que80m / 50 marks

Min per mark: 1.6

WPH14 Section A (MC12m / 10 marks

Min per mark: 1.2

WPH14 Section B93m / 80 marks

Min per mark: 1.2

WPH15 Section A (MC12m / 10 marks

Min per mark: 1.2

WPH15 Section B93m / 80 marks

Min per mark: 1.2

Syllabus traceability

Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session

Electric and Magnetic Fields

55 marks this session

Astrophysics and Cosmology

38 marks this session

Oscillations

30 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
2023
2024
2025
2026
Σ

Waves and Particle Nature of Light

49
74
60
60
243

Electric and Magnetic Fields

61
99
50
210

Mechanics

73
58
70
201

Electric Circuits

54
42
45
141

Materials

52
52

Thermodynamics

40
40

Astrophysics and Cosmology

38
38

Oscillations

30
30

Paper comparison

Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session

WPH14/01: Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles: WPH15/01: Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology: WPH16/01: Practical Skills in Physics II:

90 marks105 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

    The Summer 2025 sittings for the Edexcel IAL Physics series (comprising WPH14, WPH15, and WPH16) presented a balanced yet conceptually demanding set of papers, earning a solid difficulty index of 3.8 out of 5.

  • 2Message

    WPH14 heavily focused on electric and magnetic field integrations, while WPH15 demanded strong cross-topic algebraic manipulation, particularly in thermodynamics and cosmology.

  • 3Message

    WPH16 tested practical competencies with rigorous uncertainty and logarithmic graphing requirements.

Teacher briefing pack

One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review

June 2025 2025

Physics

The Summer 2025 sittings for the Edexcel IAL Physics series (comprising WPH14, WPH15, and WPH16) presented a balanced yet conceptually demanding set of papers, earning a solid difficulty index of 3.8 out of 5. WPH14 heavily focused on electric and magnetic field integrations, whi

  • The Summer 2025 sittings for the Edexcel IAL Physics series (comprising WPH14, WPH15, and WPH16) presented a balanced yet conceptually demanding set of papers, earning a solid difficulty index of 3.8 out of 5.

  • WPH14 heavily focused on electric and magnetic field integrations, while WPH15 demanded strong cross-topic algebraic manipulation, particularly in thermodynamics and cosmology.

  • WPH16 tested practical competencies with rigorous uncertainty and logarithmic graphing requirements.

Total marks
230
Duration
290 min
Session difficulty
3.8 / 5

Session analysis

The Summer 2025 sittings for the Edexcel IAL Physics series (comprising WPH14, WPH15, and WPH16) presented a balanced yet conceptually demanding set of papers, earning a solid difficulty index of 3.8 out of 5. WPH14 heavily focused on electric and magnetic field integrations, while WPH15 demanded strong cross-topic algebraic manipulation, particularly in thermodynamics and cosmology. WPH16 tested practical competencies with rigorous uncertainty and logarithmic graphing requirements.

Updated Jun 12, 2026

Paper breakdown

WPH14/01: Further Mechanics, Fields and Particles: WPH15/01: Thermodynamics, Radiation, Oscillations and Cosmology: WPH16/01: Practical Skills in Physics II:

90 marks105 min

Top chapters

Electric and Magnetic Fields55 marks
Astrophysics and Cosmology38 marks
Oscillations30 marks

Exam structure insights

Marks by chapter

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

Electric and Magnetic Fields55 marks
Astrophysics and Cosmology38 marks
Oscillations30 marks
Nuclear and Particle Physics28 marks
Thermodynamics23 marks
Nuclear Decay22 marks
Further Mechanics16 marks
Light Absorption and Instrument18 marks

Mark accessibility

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

76% within easy or medium reach

65
110
55
Easy: 65 marksMedium: 110 marksHard: 55 marks

Command word frequency

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

Calculate16 times
Explain12 times
that8 times
Determine6 times
Deduce6 times
State5 times
Describe4 times
Criticise3 times

Question type mix

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

230Marks
  • Long Answer / Calculation

    135·18·59%

  • Short Answer

    75·25·33%

  • MCQ

    20·20·9%

Study ROI

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

DifficultyRecurrence %Electric and Magne…OscillationsAstrophysics and C…Nuclear Decay

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

3.420193.820203.8202142022420233.620243.82025

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

MarksMinutesMarks / min

WPH14 Section A (MC

0.83 m/min
10
12

WPH14 Section B

0.86 m/min
80
93

WPH15 Section A (MC

0.83 m/min
10
12

WPH15 Section B

0.86 m/min
80
93

WPH16 Practical Que

0.63 m/min
50
80

Total marks

230

Total time

290 min

Avg pace

0.79

Next-year prediction

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

Electromagnetic Induction (Lenz's and Faraday's Laws)

90%

90%

Ideal Gas Laws & Molecular Kinetic Theory

80%

80%

Paper analysis

The Summer 2025 sittings for the Edexcel IAL Physics series (comprising WPH14, WPH15, and WPH16) presented a balanced yet conceptually demanding set of papers, earning a solid difficulty index of 3.8 out of 5. WPH14 heavily focused on electric and magnetic field integrations, while WPH15 demanded strong cross-topic algebraic manipulation, particularly in thermodynamics and cosmology. WPH16 tested practical competencies with rigorous uncertainty and logarithmic graphing requirements.

Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.

PHYSICS-YPH11/11 — Pearson Edexcel International A Level Physics (June 2025) | Revui