Edexcel Foundation Physics exam questions by topic
Seven free PDF exam practice workbooks for Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics, written for the Foundation tier, grades 1 to 5. Together they cover all 15 specification topics across both papers, in 124 modules, with space for working under every question and a complete mark scheme at the back of each book.
These are not past papers. Each module drills one part of the specification with numbered questions and mark allocations, so a student can practise a method until it is automatic, mark it like an examiner, and still sit Pearson’s own past papers fresh.
Free to download. No sign up, no email required. Independent resources aligned to Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics 1PH0, not produced, approved or endorsed by Pearson or Edexcel.
Which Foundation topics can I practise?
All 15 Edexcel GCSE Physics topics, grouped into seven units of two or three topics. Units 1 to 3 cover the Paper 1 topics and Units 4 to 7 the Paper 2 topics. Need a topic taught first? Topics 1 to 7 have Edexcel Foundation Physics learning books.
Unit 1: Foundations of Physics
Covers SI units, prefixes and conversions, then motion, forces, Newton’s laws and stopping distance, then energy stores, efficiency and energy resources. 199 printable pages.
Download Unit 1Unit 2: Waves, Light and EM Radiation
Covers wave terms and equations, measuring wave speed and its core practical, then reflection, colour, lenses, the electromagnetic spectrum, thermal radiation and both light core practicals. 140 printable pages.
Download Unit 2Unit 3: Nuclear Physics and Astronomy
Covers atoms and isotopes, nuclear radiation, decay equations, half-life, medical uses and nuclear power, then the Solar System, orbits, the Big Bang, red-shift and the life cycles of stars. 140 printable pages.
Download Unit 3Unit 4: Work, Power, Moments and Force Effects
Covers energy stores, work done, GPE, kinetic energy, power and efficiency, then interaction pairs, moments, levers and gears, and lubrication. 108 printable pages.
Download Unit 4Unit 5: Electricity, Circuits and Static Electricity
Covers charge, circuits and meters, potential difference, current and resistance, the I-V core practical, power and mains safety, then static charge, earthing, sparks and electric fields. 108 printable pages.
Download Unit 5Unit 6: Magnetism, Motor Effect and Electromagnetic Induction
Covers magnets, fields, solenoids and electric motors, then the National Grid, transformers and high-voltage transmission. 108 printable pages.
Download Unit 6Unit 7: Particle Model, Forces and Matter
Covers the particle model, density and specific heat core practicals, latent heat and gas pressure, then springs and the spring core practical, fluid pressure and pressure in liquids. 108 printable pages.
Download Unit 7How is each workbook organised?
Each workbook is split into parts, one per Edexcel topic, and each part into modules with the specification statements they test. A module opens with a short reminder, then 12 or 16 numbered questions. The mark scheme at the back gives one mark per numbered point.
The practice routine in every workbook
- Learn: read the formula or concept reminder on the module’s opening page
- Practise: answer every question in the module without looking at the mark scheme
- Mark: award one mark for each numbered marking point achieved, as an examiner would
- Repair: record the weak modules and repeat them after targeted revision
- Retest: use the integrated module at the end of each part to check the ideas connect
What else is inside
- a coverage table showing which topic and specification statements each part covers
- a module map for every part, with the Pearson statement references for each module
- a mark allocation on every question, mostly two to four marks
- ruled space for working and answers under every question
- a complete mark scheme with one numbered point per mark, accepting equivalent wording
- 108 to 199 printable A4 pages per workbook
What does each workbook cover?
124 modules across seven workbooks, listed by Edexcel topic. Module titles follow each workbook’s own module map, and the specification statements are printed in the books.
Topic 1: Key Concepts of Physics
- SI base units and quantity symbols
- SI derived units and compound units
- Large prefixes: kilo, mega and giga
- Small prefixes: centi, milli, micro and nano
- Time, length, area and mixed-unit conversions
- Large- and small-prefix conversions
- Time, length and compound-unit conversions
- Integrated SI-unit and conversion mastery
Topic 2: Motion and Forces
- Scalars, vectors, distance, displacement, speed and velocity
- Speed calculations, typical speeds and laboratory methods
- Distance-time graphs and gradient
- Acceleration and equations of motion
- Velocity-time graphs and free fall
- Resultant forces and Newton’s first and second laws
- Weight, gravitational fields and the force-mass-acceleration practical
- Force, mass and acceleration mastery
- Reaction time and stopping distance
- Deceleration, road safety and braking distance
Topic 3: Conservation of Energy
- Gravitational potential energy
- Kinetic energy
- Energy stores and transfer diagrams
- Energy changes in physical systems
- Dissipation and wasteful mechanical processes
- Reducing unwanted transfers and building insulation
- Efficiency calculations
- Efficiency calculation mastery
- Energy resources and generation
- Energy resources: comparison and decision making
Topic 4: Waves
- Wave transfer and terminology
- Wave equations and calculations
- Measuring wave speed
- Reflection, refraction, transmission and absorption
- Qualitative reflection and refraction
- Common wave terminology and calculations
- Core practical: waves in solids and fluids
- Integrated Foundation waves challenges
Topic 5: Light and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Reflection, refraction and total internal reflection
- Colour, filters and surfaces
- Lenses and images
- Electromagnetic spectrum and common wave properties
- Thermal radiation and temperature
- Core practicals: refraction and thermal radiation
- Uses, hazards and atomic or nuclear changes
- Integrated Foundation light and EM challenges
Topic 6: Radioactivity
- Atomic structure, isotopes, ions and atomic models
- Nuclear radiation, detection and background
- Radioactive decay and nuclear equations
- Activity, randomness and half-life
- Uses, hazards and radiation safety
- Medical applications of radioactivity
- Nuclear energy, fission and reactors
- Fission, fusion and temperature-pressure conditions
Topic 7: Astronomy
- Weight, gravitational fields and the Solar System
- Astronomical models and observational evidence
- Orbits, gravity, speed and velocity
- Big Bang and Steady State theories
- Doppler effect, red-shift and expansion
- Cosmic microwave background evidence
- Stellar evolution and equilibrium
- Integrated astronomy challenges
Topic 8: Energy: Forces Doing Work
- Energy stores, pathways and closed systems
- Work done and energy transferred
- Gravitational potential energy
- Kinetic energy
- Dissipation and wasteful processes
- Power and energy-transfer rate
- Efficiency
- Integrated energy and power practical skills
Topic 9: Forces and Their Effects
- Contact and non-contact interactions
- Scalars, vectors and force pairs
- Interaction-pair diagrams
- Force directions and interaction pairs
- Forces causing rotation
- Moments calculations
- Principle of moments, levers and gears
- Lubrication and integrated force effects
Topic 10: Electricity and Circuits
- Atomic charge and circuit symbols
- Series and parallel circuits; meters
- Potential difference, energy and charge
- Current, charge flow and junctions
- Resistance, variable resistors and circuit calculations
- Core practical and component characteristics
- Heating, energy transfer and power
- Domestic electricity and electrical safety
Topic 11: Static Electricity
- Charging by friction and electron transfer
- Attraction, repulsion and charge interactions
- Everyday electrostatic phenomena
- Earthing and charge removal
- Uses of electrostatic charge
- Sparking hazards and prevention
- Electric fields and field-line diagrams
- Explaining static phenomena with electric fields
Topic 12: Magnetism and the Motor Effect
- Magnetic poles and magnetic materials
- Magnetic fields and plotting compasses
- Field around a current-carrying conductor
- Solenoids and electromagnets
- Comparing magnetic-field patterns
- Electromagnet investigation skills
- Electric motors
- Integrated magnetism practical skills
Topic 13: Electromagnetic Induction
- National Grid transformer roles
- High-voltage transmission efficiency
- Grid transformer locations
- Reducing transmission losses
- Alternating voltage and transformers
- Step-up and step-down decisions
- National Grid transformers and efficiency
- Transformer power and high-voltage transmission
Topic 14: Particle Model
- Particle model and states of matter
- Density and the density core practical
- Changes of state and conservation of mass
- Specific heat capacity and thermal energy
- Specific latent heat and thermal insulation
- Water core practical and heating graphs
- Gas pressure, temperature and absolute zero
- Gas compression and qualitative pressure-volume behaviour
Topic 15: Forces and Matter
- Forces and elastic distortion
- Hooke law and spring constant
- Elastic energy and force-extension graphs
- Spring core practical
- Atmospheric and fluid pressure
- Pressure, force and area
- Liquid pressure: density and depth
- Pressure forces on immersed surfaces
How should a student use these?
One module at a time, after the topic has been taught. Answer without notes, mark strictly against the numbered points, note why each mark was lost, then return to the weakest modules a few days later.
If the exam is months away
Learn each topic first, from class notes or our learning books for topics 1 to 7, then work through its part of the workbook one or two modules a week.
If the exam is weeks away
Go straight to the integrated module at the end of each part for the weakest topics. Any module that scores low is the one to repeat, then move on to Pearson past papers for timed practice.
If you are resitting
Resit students often know the content but lose marks on units, substitution and method. Mark strictly against the numbered points: a missing unit costs the mark in the real exam too.
Guide: GCSE past papers
Where to find real past papers and mark schemes to practise with alongside these books.
Read the past papers guideGuide: maths skills for Physics
The equations, rearranging, graphs and standard form that physics questions expect, in one checklist.
Read the maths skills 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 workbooks are free for personal use, every question has a mark scheme, and they are written for the Edexcel Foundation tier, grades 1 to 5. These answers cover repetition, marking, units, papers and licensing.
Are these real Pearson past paper questions?
No. Every question is independently written. The workbooks follow the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Physics 1PH0 content without reproducing any past-paper question, mark scheme wording or illustration, so they can be used alongside Pearson’s own past papers without overlap.
Why do many questions in a module look alike?
Many modules repeat one task with new numbers or a new context, for example the same kinetic energy calculation with a different mass and speed. That makes the workbooks good for drilling a method until it is automatic, but they are not a source of unseen exam questions. Use Pearson’s past papers for those.
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. Scientifically equivalent wording is accepted unless a specific value, direction or unit is required, so calculations need the unit as well as the number.
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.
Which topics are in which workbook?
Unit 1 covers topics 1 to 3, Unit 2 topics 4 and 5, Unit 3 topics 6 and 7, Unit 4 topics 8 and 9, Unit 5 topics 10 and 11, Unit 6 topics 12 and 13, and Unit 7 topics 14 and 15. Paper 1 examines topics 1 to 7 and Paper 2 examines topic 1 and topics 8 to 15, each 1 hour 45 minutes for 100 marks.
How are these different from your learning books?
They do different jobs. The learning books teach topics 1 to 7 from scratch, lesson by lesson, with worked examples and practice questions. These workbooks assume the topic has been taught and drill exam-style questions with a full mark scheme, across all 15 topics. Learn first, then practise.
My child keeps losing marks on the same module. 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, get the method retaught 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, 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.