AQA Higher Physics exam questions by topic
Eight free PDF exam practice books, one for each AQA GCSE Physics topic, written for the Higher tier, grades 4 to 9. Each book has eight modules, and every module takes its core questions through four stages, from Core Skills to a Higher Tier Challenge, with worked answers at the back.
These are not past papers. Use them for repeated recall on each topic, then move on to AQA’s own past papers for unseen questions under timed conditions.
Free to download. No sign up, no email required. Independent resources aligned to AQA GCSE Physics 8463, not produced, approved or endorsed by AQA.
Which Higher topics can I practise?
All eight AQA GCSE Physics topics. Topics 1 to 4 are examined on Paper 1 and topics 5 to 8 on Paper 2. Want a topic taught from scratch first? Start with our AQA Higher Physics learning books. Taking Combined Science? Use the Higher Combined Science exam questions.
Energy
Energy stores and pathways, work done, kinetic, gravitational and elastic energy, power, efficiency and Sankey diagrams, heating and insulation, energy resources and the required practicals.
Download the Energy bookElectricity
Charge and current, potential difference and resistance, I-V characteristics, series and parallel circuits, domestic electricity and safety, power, the National Grid and static electricity.
Download the Electricity bookParticle Model of Matter
States of matter, density and its required practical, changes of state, internal energy, specific heat capacity, specific latent heat and heating curves, gas pressure and the gas laws.
Download the Particle Model of Matter bookAtomic Structure
Atoms and energy levels, the development of the atomic model, isotopes, nuclear equations, alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation, half-life, background radiation, fission and fusion.
Download the Atomic Structure bookForces
Forces and resultants, springs and elasticity, moments, levers, gears and pressure, motion graphs, acceleration and Newton’s laws, stopping distance, the required practicals and momentum.
Download the Forces bookWaves
Wave properties and calculations, reflection and refraction, sound, ultrasound and seismic waves, the electromagnetic spectrum and its uses, lenses, colour and black body radiation.
Download the Waves bookMagnetism and Electromagnetism
Magnets and field diagrams, Earth’s field, fields around currents and solenoids, the motor effect and Fleming’s left-hand rule, the generator effect, alternators, microphones and transformers.
Download the Magnetism and Electromagnetism bookSpace Physics
The Solar System, star formation and life cycles, fusion and supernovae, gravity, orbits and satellites, red-shift, the Big Bang model, dark matter and dark energy.
Download the Space Physics bookHow is each book organised?
Every book has eight modules of 45 numbered questions. Each module is built on a small set of core questions, usually eight or nine, which return through four stages with new numbers in calculations and rising mark allocations. Worked answers for every question sit at the back of the book.
The four stages in every module
- Core Skills, questions 1 to 18: short recall questions and one-step calculations that secure the basics of the module
- Course Practice, questions 19 to 30: the same core questions again, so each method is practised until it is automatic
- Exam Practice, questions 31 to 40: the core questions with exam-style mark allocations, answered as full written responses
- Higher Tier Challenge, questions 41 to 45: a final round of the core questions at the highest mark allocation, best attempted from memory without notes
What else is inside
- a contents and study plan with a score box for every module, so weak modules are easy to spot
- a specification coverage map linking each module to its AQA content reference
- a six-step answer routine for the topic, from choosing the equation to repairing mistakes
- date and score boxes on every practice page, for tracking progress and retesting
- worked answers with the mark allocation for every question, collected at the back of the book
- 119 printable A4 pages per book
What do the eight books cover?
Each book follows one AQA topic and splits it into eight modules, and the final module of most books brings the topic’s required practicals and mixed problems together.
Topic 4.1: Energy
- Energy stores, systems and pathways
- Work done and mechanical energy transfers
- Kinetic, gravitational and elastic energy
- Power and rates of energy transfer
- Efficiency and Sankey diagrams
- Heating, thermal transfer and insulation
- National and global energy resources
- Required practicals and integrated Energy problems
Topic 4.2: Electricity
- Circuit symbols, charge and current
- Potential difference and resistance
- Components and I-V characteristics
- Series and parallel circuits
- Domestic electricity and safety
- Electrical power and energy transfers
- The National Grid
- Static electricity and required practicals
Topic 4.3: Particle Model of Matter
- Particle model and states of matter
- Density and the density required practical
- Changes of state and conservation of mass
- Internal energy and heating
- Specific heat capacity
- Specific latent heat and heating curves
- Gas particles, temperature and pressure
- Gas laws, compression and integrated practical skills
Topic 4.4: Atomic Structure
- Atomic structure, ions and energy levels
- Development of the atomic model
- Isotopes and nuclear notation
- Radioactive decay and nuclear equations
- Properties of alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation
- Half-life, activity and count rate
- Background radiation, hazards and medical uses
- Nuclear fission, fusion and integrated evaluation
Topic 4.5: Forces
- Forces, vectors, weight and resultants
- Work done, springs and elasticity
- Moments, levers, gears and pressure
- Distance, speed, velocity and motion graphs
- Acceleration and Newton’s laws
- Stopping distance, reaction time and braking
- Required practicals and experimental analysis
- Integrated Forces challenges and Higher momentum
Topic 4.6: Waves
- Wave types, properties and representations
- Wave calculations and wave-speed required practical
- Reflection, refraction and light required practical
- Sound, ultrasound and seismic waves
- The electromagnetic spectrum
- Electromagnetic applications, hazards and infrared practical
- Lenses, visible light and colour
- Infrared emission, black bodies and integrated Waves problems
Topic 4.7: Magnetism and Electromagnetism
- Permanent and induced magnets
- Magnetic fields and field diagrams
- Earth’s field, compasses and field investigations
- Magnetic fields around currents and solenoids
- Motor effect, Fleming’s rule and electric motors
- Generator effect, alternators and microphones
- Transformers and power transmission
- Integrated Higher electromagnetism challenges
Topic 4.8: Space Physics
- The Solar System and astronomical scales
- Star formation and stable main-sequence stars
- Life cycles of Sun-like and massive stars
- Fusion, elements and supernovae
- Gravity, orbital motion and satellites
- Red-shift and an expanding Universe
- The Big Bang model and scientific evidence
- Dark matter, dark energy and integrated Space problems
How should a student use these?
Work one module at a time, mark each stage against the worked answers, and come back to weak modules a few days later. Because the core questions repeat, the aim is to answer them from memory by the final stage.
If the exam is months away
Work through one module a week in order. Mark each stage before moving on, and use the score boxes on the contents page to flag modules for a second attempt.
If the exam is weeks away
Go straight to the Exam Practice and Tier Challenge stages for the weakest topics and answer them without notes. Then switch to AQA past papers for unseen questions.
If you are aiming for grade 7 to 9
Use these books to make recall automatic, then spend most of the time on six-mark explanations and multi-step calculations. Our Higher learning books teach the Higher-only content in full.
Guide: AQA Physics past papers
Where to find the real AQA GCSE Physics past papers, mark schemes and the equation sheet to sit alongside these books.
Find AQA Physics past papersGuide: 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 guideExam practice book questions
The short version: the books are free for personal use, every question has a worked answer, and they are written for the AQA Higher tier, grades 4 to 9.
Are these real AQA past paper questions?
No. Every question is independently written. The books follow the AQA GCSE Physics 8463 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.
Why do some questions appear more than once?
Each module is built around a small set of core questions, and those questions come back through the four stages, sometimes word for word and sometimes with new numbers. Treat the repeats as recall practice: a student who can answer them from memory by the final stage has secured the module. For unseen questions, use AQA past papers alongside these books.
Do the books include answers?
Yes. Worked answers for every question, with the mark allocation, are collected at the back of each book. Mark one stage at a time and correct each mistake before moving on.
Are they free? What is the licence?
The books 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.
Which topics are on which paper?
AQA GCSE Physics has two papers, each 1 hour 45 minutes for 100 marks and worth 50% of the GCSE. Paper 1 covers Energy, Electricity, Particle model of matter and Atomic structure. Paper 2 covers Forces, Waves, Magnetism and electromagnetism, and Space physics.
How do the Higher books differ from the Foundation books?
Most core questions are shared with the Foundation books and carry Higher mark allocations. The biggest difference is Magnetism and Electromagnetism, where the Higher book covers the motor effect, the generator effect and transformers, and the Higher Forces book adds momentum. For grade 7 to 9 content in depth, use the Higher learning books, whose practice questions are written separately for the Higher tier.
My child keeps losing marks on the same topic. What next?
Repeating the same 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, that is the point to get the method retaught, whether by a teacher at school or a tutor. Five of our tutors teach Physics and the first 30 minutes are free.
Practice finds the gaps. A tutor closes them
Five of our tutors teach Physics, led by a doctorate in Physics and two engineering degrees. Lessons are one to one on Zoom, £30 each with no premium for Higher tier, 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.