A Level Physics Practical Exemplars: Satisfying the Common Practical Assessment Criteria

All twelve AQA A Level Physics Required Practical Activities, written up!The twelve practical tasks presented here are the tasks specified by AQA as Required Practical Activities in the A Level specification for course code 7408 (for A Level exams in May/June 2017 onwards). They have been chosen to satisfy the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) as agreed by all exam boards so that students experience similar practical work. The specific investigations conducted and presented here may not be the same as the Required/Core Practical tasks for other exam boards.For students to be awarded the Practical Endorsement with their A Level certificate, they must demonstrate that they are competent in five key skills: following instructions; applying investigative approaches and methods when using instruments and equipment; safely using a range of practical equipment and materials; making and recording observations; and researching, referencing and reporting. For the endorsement to be awarded, these skills can be demonstrated by any twelve practical tasks as long as they cover the specified range of techniques and apparatus. Exam boards also specify the twelve required practical tasks so that students are adequately and properly prepared to answer questions about them in the written examinations.This document can be used to help students appreciate the required level of competency that needs to be attained in each of the five key skills, but does not necessarily present examples of the best way to present their work, nor are they necessarily examples of the best possible results attainable from the practical tasks. Presentation of laboratory work and acceptable accuracy of results is up to the school’s discretion.