OCR GCSE Physics A, Foundation tier exam papers and weighting (J249)
Guide overview All topics Sample questions Papers and weighting Look inside Questions and answers
What each OCR GCSE Physics A, Foundation tier paper assesses
OCR GCSE Physics A (Gateway Science, specification J249) is one of the three separate sciences and is examined by two written papers of 1 hour 45 minutes and 90 marks each, worth 50% apiece. Paper 1 covers the first half of the topics and the practical skills of Topic P9, and Paper 2 the second half, with the first half and the practical skills assumed. This is the Foundation tier, which sits its own pair of papers and offers grades 5 to 1.
| Paper | Covers | Length | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Paper 1 Physics A Paper 1 |
Electricity Forces Magnetism and Magnetic Fields Matter |
1 hour 45 minutes | 90 marks | 50% |
|
Paper 2 Physics A Paper 2 |
Energy Global Challenges Radioactivity Waves in Matter |
1 hour 45 minutes | 90 marks | 50% |
Every topic, and where it is examined
| Topic | Examined on | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Paper 1 | 169 |
| Energy | Paper 2 | 94 |
| Forces | Paper 1 | 309 |
| Global Challenges | Paper 2 | 195 |
| Magnetism and Magnetic Fields | Paper 1 | 55 |
| Matter | Paper 1 | 178 |
| Radioactivity | Paper 2 | 131 |
| Waves in Matter | Paper 2 | 172 |
Assessment details from the OCR GCSE Physics A (Gateway Science) J249, version 5.0, July 2026. OCR specification.
Every paper is covered, because the guide runs the whole specification.Get the guide, £7
OCR GCSE Physics A, Foundation tier Active Recall Guide
1,303 questions across every paper on the specification.