How I Revised A-Level Physics: 5 Strategies That Actually Work

Physics has a way of making you feel unstoppable one day and defeated the next. You might smash a lesson on electric fields, only to sit down with a past paper and feel like the questions are written in a different language. That swing between confidence and confusion is normal – Physics is designed to test how well you can apply ideas, not just remember them. It’s not a subject where memorising a page of notes guarantees marks. Instead, you’re asked to untangle unfamiliar problems, apply equations under pressure, and explain your reasoning clearly.

That’s why so many students get frustrated. They think they’re “bad at Physics” when really, they just haven’t trained the right way. The good news is that Physics rewards preparation more than raw talent. Once you build habits like breaking questions down, training with past papers, and getting fluent with equations, exams feel a lot more predictable.

Here are five proven strategies to take the stress out of Physics revision and make exam questions feel manageable.

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1. Get fluent with equations

Equations are the language of Physics. Yes, there’s a formula sheet in the exam, but if you need to pause and search for every formula, you’ll bleed time. Worse, you’ll often miss what the question is really asking because you can’t immediately see which relationships are in play. Strong students don’t just memorise them – they know when to use them and what each symbol means.

That fluency matters. It saves you time, helps you understand the question faster, and almost always leads to better marks because you’re solving with confidence instead of hesitating.

Try building it into your own routine:

  • Write an equation on a flashcard and test yourself daily.
  • After recalling it, immediately practice a question on Physics & Maths Tutor.
  • Say what each symbol represents out loud – not just “F = ma,” but “force equals the product of mass and acceleration.”

Once equations are in your head and linked to real examples, they stop being a barrier and start being shortcuts. 

2. Sketch your way into clarity

Long Physics questions often look scarier than they are because they’re buried in text. A quick sketch is the fastest way to cut through that. Free-body diagrams, circuit layouts, and ray diagrams – they all reduce a wordy question into a visual problem that you can tackle. 

The advantage of sketching is huge. Instead of wasting time trying to picture the whole setup in your head, it’s right there on paper. That frees up mental energy for the maths and makes it obvious what’s going on. A rough doodle with a few arrows is often the difference between staring blankly and actually starting the problem.

So, make it a habit: as soon as you read the problem, draw what you see. Label the forces, currents, or rays, even if it feels obvious. That messy doodle gives you a clear entry point into the maths.

If visualising is tricky, HyperPhysics Concepts is a brilliant site for diagram-led explanations, and YouTube tutorials can walk you through how exam-style diagrams are drawn. Over time, this becomes automatic – you’ll instinctively reach for a pen instead of staring blankly at the text.

3. Break down multi-step problems

Those six-mark monsters that combine mechanics, energy, and power in one go are where panic usually sets in. The mistake is expecting the full solution to click straight away. In reality, most of these questions are just a chain of smaller steps.

At Medentors Academy, tutors slow these questions right down so students can see the logic of going piece by piece. Once you’ve understood the question and practised it, the process feels less overwhelming:

  1. Write down the values given.
  2. Choose an equation that links them.
  3. Solve that step and carry the result forward.
  4. Repeat until you’ve reached what the question is asking.

For example: SUVAT to find velocity → F = ma to get force → P = Fv for power. Each step on its own is manageable. Together, they stack up to full marks.

The more you practise this breakdown, the more those long problems feel like Lego instead of walls of text.

4. Mix theory with application

Physics exams rarely reward you for repeating definitions. Instead, they test whether you can use those definitions in brand-new situations. That’s what makes the subject tough: you can’t predict every context the exam will throw at you. One year it’s a train crash, the next it’s a space probe – the physics is the same, but the wrapping is unfamiliar.

That’s why application is everything. Your revision rhythm should always be: learn it, then apply it. The sooner you build that habit, the fewer exam questions will catch you off guard.

Here’s what that looks like in practice: revise conservation of momentum, then immediately attempt a past question on collisions. Study simple harmonic motion, then sketch and explain the graphs without looking. Go over electric fields, then tackle a Coulomb’s Law calculation.

Tools like Revisely are great for short recall checks, while Physics & Maths Tutor has deeper, exam-style questions to train you for the real thing. Blending both builds the muscle of recognising a concept and instantly using it.

5. Train with past papers in examiner mode

Physics is one of the most mark scheme-sensitive subjects. You can explain an answer perfectly in your own words and still get zero because you didn’t use the precise phrase the examiner was looking for. The only way to train for that is to practise with real past papers.

Start with topic-based packs from Physics Revision – PMT so you can build confidence in one area at a time. Then move to full-time papers before examinations. The crucial part isn’t just checking if you’re right – it’s comparing your wording to the mark scheme. 

Here’s what to look for:

  • Recurring phrases – words like “directly proportional,” “uniform acceleration,” or “conservation of momentum” appear over and over. Keep a running list and practise using them until they come out naturally.
  • Method marks in calculations – mark schemes show exactly where credit is given: for writing the correct equation, substituting values, or giving units. This makes it clear where you gained or lost marks.
  • Patterns in reasoning questions – examiners reward clarity and structure. Notice how full-mark answers are written, then model your own after them.

In short: don’t just do the papers – study the mark schemes. They show you the language, structure, and steps that examiners expect, so by exam day you’re not just solving problems, you’re writing answers in the style that gets full marks.

Final Thoughts

Physics won’t get easier by rereading your notes. It gets easier when you revise like the exam will test you: know your equations inside out, sketch problems into clarity, break down long questions, blend theory with practice, and train in examiner mode with past papers.

Follow that system, and Physics stops being a trap and starts being a subject you can control. And if you’d rather not piece it together on your own, Medentors Academy can match you with a tutor who’s been through your exam board and knows how to turn effort into predictable marks.

Amazing YouTube Channels:

  • PhysicsOnline – Walkthrough of all the content and has a personal website for you
  • Zhelyo Physics  – Has huge compilation videos covering all bases

Topic-By-Topic Revision & Questions:

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