AQA Higher Combined Science physics exam questions by topic
Seven free PDF exam practice workbooks for the physics topics of AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy, written for the Higher tier, double grades 4-4 to 9-9. 897 original questions, every one different, organised into modules by AQA specification reference, with a mark scheme that gives one mark for each numbered point.
These are not past papers. Every question is independently written, so a student can work through a workbook, mark it like an examiner, and still sit AQA’s own past papers fresh.
Free to download. No sign up, no email required. Independent resources aligned to AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy 8464, not produced, approved or endorsed by AQA.
Which Higher physics topics can I practise?
All seven physics topics of Combined Science Trilogy, 897 questions in all. Topics 18 to 21 are examined on Physics Paper 1 and topics 22 to 24 on Physics Paper 2. Need a topic taught first? Start with our Higher Combined Science learning books.
Energy
Energy stores and pathways, kinetic, gravitational and elastic energy, work and power, specific heat capacity and Required Practical 14, efficiency, insulation and energy resources.
Download the Energy workbookElectricity
Charge and current, potential difference and resistance, I-V characteristics, series and parallel circuits, mains electricity, power, the National Grid and Required Practicals 15 and 16.
Download the Electricity workbookParticle Model of Matter
States of matter, density and Required Practical 17, changes of state, internal energy, specific heat capacity, specific latent heat, heating curves, and gas pressure and temperature.
Download the Particle Model of Matter workbookAtomic Structure
Atoms, ions and energy levels, the atomic model, isotopes, nuclear equations, alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation, half-life, background radiation and radiation risk.
Download the Atomic Structure workbookForces
Forces and resultants, work done and springs, motion graphs, acceleration and Newton’s laws, stopping distance, momentum and safety, and Required Practicals 18 and 19.
Download the Forces workbookWaves
Wave types and properties, wave calculations and Required Practical 20, measuring the speed of sound, the electromagnetic spectrum, refraction and Required Practical 21, and wave hazards and uses.
Download the Waves workbookMagnetism and Electromagnetism
Magnets and magnetic fields, compasses and Earth’s field, fields around wires, solenoids and electromagnets, then the Higher-only motor effect, Fleming’s left-hand rule, F = BIl and electric motors.
Download the Magnetism and Electromagnetism workbookHow is each workbook organised?
Each workbook follows one Trilogy physics topic, split into modules by AQA specification reference, and a contents page gives the question count for every module. Every question carries a mark allocation, and the mark scheme at the back awards exactly one mark for each numbered point.
The practice cycle in every workbook
- Attempt: work through a module without looking at the mark scheme, planning the number of points each mark allocation asks for
- Mark: award one mark only for each numbered marking point, exactly as an examiner would
- Diagnose: record whether each lost mark was knowledge, mathematics, interpretation or practical method
- Repair and retest: rewrite the answer with every substitution and unit shown, then return a few days later and answer a different question from the module
What else is inside
- a contents and specification map giving the AQA reference and question count for every module
- a short planning prompt at the start of each module: command word, relationship, units and the number of points to make
- calculation, explanation, diagram and practical-analysis questions, with physics Required Practicals 14 to 21 built in
- a mark scheme for every question, with one numbered marking point per mark
- Higher questions that ask students to judge and improve a sample answer, the skill behind longer Higher responses
- 50 to 85 printable A4 pages per workbook
What do the seven workbooks cover?
Module titles and question counts as printed on each workbook’s contents page. Unit numbers in the books run from 1 to 7, matching AQA Trilogy topics 18 to 24.
Topic 18: Energy
- Energy stores, systems and transfer pathways (12 questions)
- Kinetic, gravitational and elastic energy (28 questions)
- Work done and power (28 questions)
- Heating and specific heat capacity (20 questions)
- Conservation and dissipation of energy (12 questions)
- Efficiency and improving transfers (20 questions)
- Thermal insulation and energy loss (12 questions)
- Energy resources and evaluation (12 questions)
Topic 19: Electricity
- Circuit symbols, charge and current (20 questions)
- Potential difference and resistance (28 questions)
- Components and I-V characteristics (12 questions)
- Series and parallel circuits (20 questions)
- Domestic electricity and safety (12 questions)
- Electrical power and energy transfers (29 questions)
- The National Grid (16 questions)
- Required practicals and circuit analysis (12 questions)
Topic 20: Particle Model of Matter
- Particle model and states of matter (12 questions)
- Density and the density required practical (24 questions)
- Changes of state and conservation of mass (12 questions)
- Internal energy and heating (12 questions)
- Specific heat capacity (24 questions)
- Specific latent heat and heating curves (20 questions)
- Gas particles, temperature and pressure (12 questions)
- Integrated particle-model and practical analysis (11 questions)
Topic 21: Atomic Structure
- Atomic structure, ions and energy levels (12 questions)
- Development of the atomic model (12 questions)
- Isotopes and nuclear notation (21 questions)
- Radioactive decay and nuclear equations (20 questions)
- Properties of alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation (12 questions)
- Half-life, activity and count rate (15 questions)
- Background radiation, hazards and medical uses (12 questions)
- Radiation risk, evidence and integrated evaluation (12 questions)
Topic 22: Forces
- Forces, vectors, weight and resultants (20 questions)
- Work done, springs and elasticity (28 questions)
- Distance, speed, velocity and motion graphs (24 questions)
- Acceleration and Newton’s laws (20 questions)
- Stopping distance, reaction time and braking (16 questions)
- Safety applications and tiered force challenges (24 questions)
- Required practicals and experimental analysis (12 questions)
- Integrated forces, graphs and evaluation (24 questions)
Topic 23: Waves
- Wave types, properties and representations (12 questions)
- Wave calculations and required practical (25 questions)
- Sound waves and measuring wave speed (16 questions)
- The electromagnetic spectrum (12 questions)
- Wave interactions, refraction and infrared practical (12 questions)
- Electromagnetic-wave generation and hazards (4 questions)
- Electromagnetic-wave uses and applications (9 questions)
- Integrated waves, practicals and data evaluation (15 questions)
Topic 24: Magnetism and Electromagnetism
- Permanent magnets, poles and magnetic forces (12 questions)
- Magnetic fields, field lines and field strength (12 questions)
- Compasses, Earth’s field and field mapping (12 questions)
- Magnetic fields around current-carrying wires (12 questions)
- Solenoids and electromagnets (12 questions)
- Motor effect, Fleming’s left-hand rule and calculations (16 questions)
- Electric motors and integrated Higher challenges (12 questions)
How should a student use these?
One module at a time. Answer without notes, mark against the numbered points, log why each mark was lost, then return a few days later and try a different question from the same module.
If the exam is months away
Learn each topic with its learning book first, then work through its workbook one module a week. Use the error log to decide which modules to revisit.
If the exam is weeks away
Go straight to the modules on the weakest topics, especially the three mark calculations and explanations, then move on to AQA past papers for timed practice.
If you are aiming for 7-7 or above
Spend time on the questions that ask you to judge and improve a sample answer, and on multi-step calculations. Those are where Higher marks are won and lost.
Guide: maths skills for Physics
The equations, rearranging, graphs and standard form that physics questions expect, in one checklist.
Read the maths skills guideGuide: last-minute revision
What to do with the final weeks when there is no time left to cover everything.
Read the last-minute guideGuide: GCSE Science resits
How Combined and separate Science resits work, and how to plan the months before the exam.
Read the resits guideExam workbook questions
The short version: the workbooks are free for personal use, every question is different and has a mark scheme, and they are written for the Combined Science Trilogy Higher tier.
Are these real AQA past paper questions?
No. Every question is independently written. The workbooks follow the AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy 8464 physics content and question styles without reproducing any past-paper wording, diagrams or data, so they can be used alongside AQA’s own past papers without overlap.
How many questions are in each workbook?
897 in all, every one different: Energy 144, Electricity 149, Particle Model of Matter 127, Atomic Structure 116, Forces 168, Waves 105 and Magnetism and Electromagnetism 88. Each workbook’s contents page gives the count for every module.
How are the answers marked?
Each question’s mark allocation matches the numbered points in its mark scheme, and each point is worth one mark. Calculations usually earn marks for choosing the relationship, substituting with consistent units, and the final answer with its unit.
Are they free? What is the licence?
The workbooks are free to download for personal and household educational use. Tutors and schools need permission before copying them for learners, and resale, paid redistribution and third-party uploading are not permitted.
Why does the workbook say Unit 1 when the specification says Topic 18?
The workbooks number the physics units 1 to 7. AQA numbers the same content as Combined Science Trilogy topics 18 to 24, after the biology and chemistry topics. Unit 1 Energy is Topic 18, and Unit 7 Magnetism and Electromagnetism is Topic 24.
How do the Higher workbooks differ from Foundation?
Most Foundation questions appear in the Higher workbooks too, and each Higher workbook adds about 29 to 56 more questions: judging and improving sample answers, multi-step calculations, and Higher-only content such as momentum, the motor effect and F = BIl.
My child keeps losing marks on the same module. What next?
Repeating questions rarely fixes it, because the problem is usually the method rather than the practice. If a module still scores low after two honest attempts, get the method retaught by a teacher at school or a tutor. Fourteen of our tutors teach Science and the first 30 minutes are free.
Practice finds the gaps. A tutor closes them
Fourteen of our tutors teach Science, and Combined Science is covered by tutors who teach across biology, chemistry and physics. Lessons are one to one on Zoom, £30 each, and the first 30 minutes are free with no card details. If a module keeps scoring low after two attempts, that is usually the sign to get help with the method rather than repeat the questions.