Download clean, printable lists of the most common mistakes students make — so you can fix them before they cost marks.
Each sheet is aligned to its exam board and built from recurring student errors highlighted in examiner reports and mark schemes.
What you get
A topic-by-topic mistakes list with a “do this instead” fix and a quick self-check.
How to use it
Review before past papers, then use the quick checks to catch errors under timed conditions.
Why it works
Many marks are lost on predictable slips: rounding, sign errors, units, and misreading commands.
Coverage by topic
Preview (up to 5 per topic)
38 total rows in download
| Topic | Common mistake / misconception | Do this instead | Quick check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Units & prefixes | Mixing cm and m in the same equation without converting. | Convert to SI (often m) before substituting into wave speed, energy, etc. | Are all lengths in metres? |
| Units & prefixes | Confusing m/s with m/s² in explanations. | Speed vs acceleration: state which quantity your number represents. | Does your unit match a gradient interpretation? |
| SIG & data | Giving calculator display as final answer with 10 significant figures. | Match the precision implied by the data (often 2–3 s.f. unless stated). | Compare s.f. to the least precise value given. |
| Forces | Newton’s 2nd law with mass in grams. | Use F = ma with m in kg, a in m/s², F in N. | Did you ÷1000 for grams? |
| Forces | Resultant force omitted; using one force only. | Add forces as vectors on a line; direction matters for sign. | Did you sketch forces on the object? |
| Motion graphs | Distance–time gradient read as acceleration. | Gradient of d–t is speed; gradient of v–t is acceleration. | Which graph is on the axes? |
| Motion graphs | Area under distance–time graph treated as distance travelled wrongly. | Area under v–t gives displacement/distance for motion along a line (context). | Are you using v–t for area? |
| Energy | Efficiency over 100% or efficiency as energy ‘created’. | Efficiency = useful output ÷ total input; energy conserved, not created. | Is your fraction ≤ 1? |
| Energy | Work done confused with power. | Work done = force × distance in force direction; power is energy per second. | Did the question ask per second? |
| Electricity | Using V = IR with R in the wrong circuit arrangement. | Series: current same; parallel: p.d. same across branches. | Did you redraw the junctions? |
| Electricity | Total resistance in parallel added directly. | Use 1/Rtotal = 1/R1 + 1/R2 + … | Is the answer smaller than smallest resistor? |
| Electricity | Confusing charge with current. | Q = It; current is rate of flow of charge. | Which is measured in coulombs? |
| Particle model | Gas pressure explained only as ‘particles moving faster’ without collisions. | Particles hit container walls; more frequent/harder collisions increases pressure. | Did you mention collisions with walls? |
| Thermal | Specific heat capacity and specific latent heat mixed up. | SHC: temperature change; latent heat: state change at constant temperature. | Is temperature changing in the process? |
| Waves | Wave speed = f × λ used with inconsistent units (Hz vs kHz). | Convert kHz → Hz; m vs mm for wavelength. | Are frequency and wavelength in matching units with v? |
| Waves | Refraction described as ‘bending’ without linking to speed change. | Wave changes speed between media; direction changes because of boundary rules. | Did you mention change of speed? |
| EM spectrum | Order memorised wrong (radio/microwave/IR mixed). | Learn standard order: radio → microwave → IR → visible → UV → X-ray → gamma. | Compare frequency direction. |
| Radioactivity | Half-life as ‘time for all substance to decay’. | Time for activity/mass/count to halve (repeat halving for multiple half-lives). | Are you using halves or trying linear decay? |
| Radioactivity | Contamination vs irradiation confused. | Contamination: source on object; irradiation: exposed but not necessarily contaminated. | Does material keep the source? |
| Electromagnetism | Motor effect force direction without Fleming’s left-hand rule correctly labelled. | Thumb/FIRST/Second fingers for motion / field / current — consistent mapping. | Did you label field and current directions? |
| Electromagnetism | Transformer equation used with DC. | Transformers require changing flux → alternating current in GCSE model. | Did the question say AC? |
| Space physics | Red shift interpreted as galaxy colour change only. | Link to wavelength increase / frequency decrease and evidence for expanding universe. | Did you mention motion away? |
| Pressure | Area in cm² used directly in p = F/A with F in N. | Convert area to m² for pascals. | Did you divide cm² by 10⁴? |
| Momentum | Conservation applied with external resultant force ignored. | Momentum conserved in isolated collisions/ explosions if no significant external impulse. | Did the problem mention friction as negligible? |
| Stopping distance | Thinking distance proportional to speed only (linear misapplied). | Reaction time roughly constant; speed affects distance; braking distance ~ v² intuition at GCSE. | Did you separate thinking vs braking? |
| Circuits practical | Ammeter placed in parallel. | Ammeter in series; voltmeter across component. | Did you check your circuit diagram symbols? |
| Required practicals | Uncertainty: ‘human error’ as sole reason. | Name specific error: reaction time, parallax, resolution, zero error. | Is your error measurable/improvable? |
| Graphs | Straight line through origin forced when scatter suggests variability. | Use best fit; discuss anomalies if obvious; consider proportional vs linear. | Does the origin point justify (0,0)? |
| Vectors | Resolving forces at wrong angle to horizontal/vertical. | Draw triangle; use sin/cos consistently with the angle shown. | Does a component sum match resultant? |
| Energy stores | Saying ‘energy lost’ without stating transfer pathway. | Use heating, radiation, mechanical working pathways; reference sankey idea. | Where is energy transferred to? |
| Circuit maths | Power calculated as V²/R but using total V across wrong resistor. | Match V to the component in question for P = IV or V²/R. | Is V the p.d. across that resistor? |
| Density | Using mass in g and volume in m³ without conversion. | Convert to kg and m³ OR g and cm³ consistently. | Do units cancel to give kg/m³? |
| Exam technique | Writing physics essays with no equations when calculation expected. | Show substituted equation even for ‘show that’ questions. | Did you write the standard form first? |
| Exam technique | Misreading scale on meters or oscilloscope-style diagrams. | Check each axis multiplier and division size before reading values. | Did you count divisions? |
| Exam technique | Citing irrelevant equations from equation sheet without variables match. | List knowns → choose equation where only one unknown remains. | How many unknowns in your chosen equation? |
| Command words | ‘Explain’ as definition only. | Because… therefore… linked chain for physics mechanisms. | Are there at least two linked clauses? |
| Command words | ‘Describe’ a graph as values only without trend. | Trend + key points (start/end/gradient change). | Did you say increasing/decreasing or plateau? |
| Terminology | Speed and velocity used interchangeably when direction matters. | Velocity is vector; specify direction when relevant. | Did the question involve direction changes? |
A downloadable checklist of high-frequency calculation and explanation slips, plus quick checks for graph and practical questions.
Always use the relationship and units your tier allows. AQA publishes a Physics equation sheet — match rearrangements and SI prefixes to what examiners reward in mark schemes.