GCSE Physics AQA - Today

[Glitterbiscuits]

Did anyone else's DC come home and say topics such as nuclear were on the exam today even they were on the official AQA 'not assessed' list?

Physics teacher here. I have the paper.

Just at a quick look 4.2.1 has the circuit symbols on the spec. Question on draw a symbol for an LED. This specifically says not assessed.

More questions on parallel circuits too.

@Tinkerblonde1 so it is a mess up AQA? They said it wouldn't be assessed and it has been?

Just checking as this is so unfair I will make a complaint.

@HairyKitty I don't think that is the case for this one.

Question on draw a symbol for an LED.

That definitely shouldn’t have been on there.

With the parallel circuits stuff, could is it stuff considered under the power section? I can’t remember the spec reference, but I’m sure current and resistance are needed in that section.

Ah! I was going to suggest that maybe there were other types of circuits that would not be a focus but would be assessed. Maybe not. Just a cockup and yet more results that don't reflect what he poor sods have actually learned.

Looks like it, also parallel circuits there there is any easy one marker a 4 mark equation ( which they wouybe able to do using the equation sheet) then a 4 marker on a parallel circuit which they may get away with as it mentions power but it's tenacious to me.

Have the paper infront of me now.

Sorry for typos am walking and typing.

Which equation, tinkerblonde?

Sorry to be a nuisance, but I won’t see the paper til tomoz

Thanks. What is your view on the radiation question? Does that come under 4.4.3, which is on the 'not to be assessed" list?

After the easy circuit question there is calculation basically power energy and time. So not really linked to circuits but it's about electric hair straighteners. Its a 4 marker. Pretty easy.

Ds said there was a couple of equations questions where the equations were on the provided info, he said that was easy marks.

I think the radiation one is sneaky but they can get away with it by linking its to the properties of radiation and not the irradiation section.

Thanks tinkerblonde. Very poor to have the circuit symbol on there though, that would have thrown a few students.

I think anything to do with risks of radiation and they’ll be able to argue it is part of 4.4.2 - irradiation / contamination / ionisation etc are all in that section.

Overall, do you think it was a difficult paper or do the questions seem straight forward?

Irradiation was in the AI wasn't it?

Not about the physics paper but AQA put a question about the impact of Brexit in the geography paper exam earlier this week. Brexit is not on the sylabus and I'm not sure we will be able to appriase the full impact for some years yet, intrigued to know what they are expecting teenagers to writw about it.

I don't think it was that bad. The density six marker was a beauty.
Eureka!

Students should be able to compare the hazards associated with contamination and irradiation.

This is from section 4.4.2 of the specification. It is not listed as a major focus, but anything from that section is fair game for low mark questions.

There is a question on static that I don't think my students will have liked as we focused so much more on other stuff.

Awesome! I was hoping density would be 6 marker. Fingers crossed my kids remembered it was a displacement/Eureka can though, rather than “the metal tin with the sticky out bit”.

Hopefully. During a practice paper on eof mine put the extra bit of equipment they needed was water and not the balance that they needed to measure the mass.
I think another actually put an apple corer as it was about the density of fruit.

My DD loved this Q because she is very political and has been on many anti Brexit marches etc - so she wrote what sounded like a whole one sided monologue with zero balance and facts, figures and opinions likely not taught or on the syllabus …. I just said “well done dear…” and left it at that…

DD said the advanced info for AQA higher physics separate was wrong and first time she has thought advanced information was wrong and she checked and said definitely errors made and things that said not assessed were assessed.

My DD loved this Q because she is very political and has been on many anti Brexit marches etc - so she wrote what sounded like a whole one sided monologue with zero balance and facts, figures and opinions likely not taught or on the syllabus …. I just said “well done dear…” and left it at that…

That's really made me laugh... the confidence of youth!

This is a special dispensation for this year’s GCSEs because of all the school days lost to Covid, home learning and lock downs in the past two years.

It made me smirk too as she enthusiastically relayed her polemic - think realistically we might be smirking on the other side of our faces on results day. I wasn’t going to burst her bubble!