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Sample exam questions - radioactive materials - OCR 21st CenturyThe exam

Understanding how to approach exam questions helps boost exam performance. Questions will include multiple choice, descriptions and explanations, using mathematical skills and extended writing.

Part of Physics (Single Science)Radioactive materials

The exam

You will sit two exam papers at the end of your GCSE Physics course. Paper 1 is called "Breadth in physics", and paper 2 is called "Depth in physics".

Each paper:

  • is worth 50% of your GCSE in Physics
  • has a total of 90 marks
  • lasts for 1 hour and 45 minutes
  • can be sat at Foundation or Higher tier
  • assesses knowledge and understanding from across the whole GCSE Physics course, including practical questions and maths questions

The Breadth in physics paper will contain questions worth 1-4 marks. The Depth in physics paper will contain questions worth 1-5 marks, plus two 6 mark extended writing questions.

Learn how to revise with Dr Alex Lathbridge

Dr Alex Lathbridge breaks down how to revise for your GSCE science exams.

Demonstrating and applying what you know

Each exam paper will contain:

  • questions that require you to recall what you've learnt

You will need to remember, select and clearly communicate facts and explanations that you have learnt from studying the specification.

  • questions that require you to apply what you've learnt to an unfamiliar context

These questions may, at first, appear to be about things you haven't learnt. But the question will give you all the information you need to answer it when combined with your own knowledge and understanding from your studies.

  • questions that require you to analyse evidence or data and then make your own decision or conclusion

To get full marks on this type of question, you will usually have to do more than just processing data (eg doing calculations or plotting a graph) or describing it (eg describing the pattern in the results or the shape of the graph). You will have to come up with your own conclusion or decision based on the evidence you have been given.

Sometimes, you may be asked whether you agree with a statement or a conclusion. You may not get any marks for simply stating that you agree or disagree - more marks may come from explaining and justifying your decision. Your answer must make it clear to the examiner that your decision is based on the evidence you have been given in the question and your own knowledge and understanding of physics.