Preparing for A level Physics
Why I recommend a daily workout
Every year, students finishing GCSE Physics ask the same question:
"What should I do over the summer to prepare for A Level Physics?"
There is no single perfect answer, but one thing is clear: the transition from GCSE to A Level Physics is a significant step up. Students are expected to become more independent, more resilient when tackling unfamiliar problems, and more confident in both their mathematics and their scientific understanding.
One resource I recommend to students making this transition is Daily Workout Book 1 (July–October) by Lewis Matheson from A Level Physics Online. What makes this book unusual is that it is designed to begin immediately after GCSE examinations, helping students bridge the gap between Year 11 and Year 12 rather than waiting until their A Level course has already started.
The Forgotten Summer Problem
Many students reach their highest level of GCSE Physics understanding just before they sit their final examinations.
They have revised extensively, practised questions, and sharpened their mathematical skills. Then the exams finish and, understandably, Physics is put to one side for several months.
The challenge is that A Level Physics builds directly on GCSE foundations. If those foundations become less secure over the summer, students can find themselves starting Year 12 below the level they had reached only a few weeks earlier.
One purpose of summer transition work is therefore not simply to learn something new, but to maintain the understanding and fluency that have already been developed.
This is where Daily Workout Book 1 can be particularly helpful. Rather than requiring large amounts of study, it provides a framework for regular, manageable engagement with Physics throughout the summer.
The Value of a Clear Structure
Many students know they ought to do something over the summer but are unsure where to begin.
Should they revise GCSE work?
Should they look ahead to A Level topics?
Should they practise mathematics?
This uncertainty can sometimes lead to doing very little at all.
One of the strengths of Daily Workout Book 1 is its structure. The book provides a clear sequence of daily tasks, removing much of the decision-making from the process. Students do not need to spend time deciding what to study next; they simply move on to the next day's work.
This may sound like a small point, but reducing the cognitive load associated with planning can make it much easier to establish productive study habits.
The Importance of Daily Practice
In my view, the greatest value of Daily Workout Book 1 is not any individual question.
It is the habit of engaging with Physics regularly.
The workbook is organised around short daily exercises that can typically be completed in around twenty minutes. This encourages students to view Physics as something that is practised consistently rather than something reserved for occasional intensive revision sessions.
Of course, students are human. Not everyone completes every task on the intended day. It is not uncommon for several days' work to be completed in a single sitting before a tutorial.
However, even when this happens, the dated structure still helps reinforce the idea that regular, short periods of study are generally more effective than infrequent marathon sessions. Developing this habit becomes increasingly important as students progress through A Level Physics.
More Than Just Mathematics
Students often hear that A Level Physics contains more mathematics than GCSE Physics, and this is certainly true.
Algebra becomes more important. Unit conversions require greater confidence. Mathematical relationships need to be understood rather than simply memorised.
Common difficulties I see in new Year 12 students include:
- Algebraic manipulation of equations.
- Unit conversions.
- Understanding how physical units are related to one another.
- Confidence when approaching unfamiliar questions.
Daily Workout Book 1 helps students revisit and strengthen many of these skills before the course begins.
However, mathematics is only part of the story.
Learning the Language of Physics
One difference that students often underestimate is the increased precision of scientific language.
At GCSE it is sometimes possible to write answers that are broadly correct. At A Level, the language of Physics becomes more exact, and this precision matters.
Words that might appear similar in everyday conversation often have very specific meanings in Physics. Terms such as force, energy and power cannot simply be substituted for one another, however natural that might sound in ordinary English.
Physics is not only about learning equations; it is also about learning to communicate ideas accurately.
Developing this precision of thought and language is an important part of becoming a successful A Level student.
Using Daily Workout Alongside Isaac Physics
For my own students, Daily Workout Book 1 is not used in isolation.
I see it as complementary to Isaac Physics.
The Daily Workout book provides structure, routine and regular practice. When difficulties arise, these can be discussed during tutorials.
Isaac Physics is then particularly useful for further practice. Its carefully structured questions, stepwise development of concepts and immediate feedback allow students to revisit areas of weakness and strengthen their understanding. I also find it valuable that student progress can be monitored, helping to identify misconceptions and gaps that need further attention.
Together, the two resources provide a combination of structured daily study and extensive independent problem-solving practice.
A Tutor's Perspective
After many years of teaching Physics at both GCSE and A Level, I have become convinced that successful students are not necessarily those who do the longest hours of study.
More often, they are the students who:
- Keep their knowledge fresh.
- Work consistently.
- Develop confidence with mathematics.
- Use scientific language accurately.
- Persist when faced with unfamiliar problems.
Daily Workout Book 1 supports many of these goals.
The reason I recommend it is not simply because it contains useful questions. Rather, it provides a simple, structured way for students to maintain their Physics and mathematics between GCSE and A Level at a time when many would otherwise do very little.
For students planning to begin A Level Physics in September, twenty minutes a day during the summer can be a small investment that pays significant dividends when Year 12 begins.
Further Information
Daily Workout Book 1 is the first in a series of six books that continue throughout the A Level course. Book 1 covers July to October and is specifically designed to support the transition from GCSE to A Level Physics. The later books continue to provide structured practice as students progress through both Year 12 and Year 13.
Daily Workout Books by Lewis Mathesson from A-level Physics Online
Bridging the Gap
Using Isaac Physics to Support the Transition from GCSE to A Level Physics
Every year, many students finish GCSE Physics with a solid grade, only to discover that A Level Physics feels like a completely different subject. The mathematical demands increase significantly, problem-solving becomes more sophisticated, and students are expected to apply concepts in unfamiliar contexts rather than simply recall facts.
One of the most effective ways to prepare for this transition is through structured problem-solving practice, and this is where Isaac Physics (now hosted within Isaac Science) can be invaluable. The platform provides a collection of free question decks designed by Cambridge University subject specialists, including a dedicated "GCSE to A Level Transition" resource aimed specifically at students making the leap to sixth-form study.
Why Students Find the Transition Difficult
The challenge is rarely that A Level Physics introduces entirely new ideas. Instead, students often struggle because:
- Algebra becomes much more important.
- Questions require multiple stages of reasoning.
- Mathematical fluency is assumed.
- There is less scaffolding in exam questions.
- Students must connect concepts across different topics.
At GCSE, many problems can be solved by identifying the correct equation and substituting values. At A Level, students are increasingly expected to explain their reasoning, combine several ideas, and manipulate equations confidently before any numbers are substituted.
The result is that many capable GCSE students find themselves losing confidence during the first few months of Year 12.
How Isaac Physics Helps
Isaac Physics addresses this problem by providing large collections of carefully structured questions that develop both conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. The platform includes topic-based question decks covering areas such as mechanics, waves, materials, circuits, fields and thermal physics. It also offers a dedicated GCSE to A Level Transition deck specifically designed to help students bridge knowledge gaps before advanced study begins.
What makes Isaac different from many question banks is its emphasis on thinking rather than memorising. Students are encouraged to tackle unfamiliar situations and develop persistence when solving problems.
This mirrors the style of questioning encountered in A Level examinations and, more importantly, in STEM degree courses.
The Importance of Mathematical Fluency
One of the biggest predictors of success in A Level Physics is confidence with mathematics.
Students who have mastered the GCSE content but struggle with rearranging equations, handling standard form, interpreting graphs or working with proportionality often find the early stages of A Level particularly challenging.
The GCSE to A Level Transition deck provides an excellent opportunity to revisit these skills in a physics context. Rather than treating mathematics and physics as separate subjects, Isaac Physics integrates them naturally within problem-solving activities.
For students entering Year 12, spending part of the summer completing transition questions can make a noticeable difference to confidence levels in September.
Developing Independent Learning Habits
A Level study requires a much greater degree of independence than GCSE.
Students are expected to:
- Review mistakes independently.
- Practise regularly outside lessons.
- Persevere with difficult questions.
- Identify areas of weakness.
Isaac Physics supports this approach because students receive immediate feedback on their answers, allowing them to learn from errors and monitor their progress. The platform has been designed as a free learning resource for students from school through to university-level study.
This makes it particularly useful during the summer between Year 11 and Year 12, when students may not yet have access to A Level teaching but want to keep their skills sharp.
A Practical Summer Programme
A simple and effective summer preparation plan might look like this:
Weeks 1–2
Focus on the GCSE to A Level Transition deck. Review any mathematical techniques that feel unfamiliar.
Weeks 3–4
Move on to introductory mechanics questions. Mechanics forms a substantial part of most A Level specifications and rewards strong algebraic thinking.
Weeks 5–6
Tackle selected questions from waves, electricity and materials. The aim is not to master every topic but to become comfortable with A Level-style problem solving.
Students who spend even a few hours each week working through these resources will begin Year 12 with far greater confidence than those who take a complete break from physics.
A Tutor's Perspective
After many years of teaching both GCSE and A Level Physics, I have found that the students who make the smoothest transition are rarely the ones who simply memorise the most facts. Instead, they are the students who regularly practise applying their knowledge to unfamiliar situations.
Isaac Physics is one of the best free resources available for developing exactly this skill. Its carefully sequenced questions help students move beyond GCSE-style routines and begin thinking like A Level physicists.
For any student considering A Level Physics, I would strongly recommend spending some time during the summer exploring the GCSE to A Level Transition question deck available through Isaac Science. The investment of a few hours now can make the first term of Year 12 significantly less daunting—and considerably more enjoyable.
You can find the transition resources and topic question decks on the Isaac Science website: Isaac Science A Level Physics Question Decks.