A Level Physics Formula Sheet: Official AQA, OCR and Pearson PDFs

If you’re preparing for A Level Physics exams, the first thing you’ll want to know is exactly which formulas you’re allowed to bring – or rather, which ones the exam board hands you. The official formula sheet from your awarding body can make or break your revision strategy, and each board’s booklet has its own quirks.

Exam boards with official data sheets: AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel · AQA formula sheet version: 1.6 (2025) · Pages in OCR A Level Physics booklet: 8 · Syllabus period for Senpaicorner sheet: 2025–2027 · Earliest Pearson reference date: November 2022

The following table provides a quick reference of the essential facts about each board’s formula sheet.

What is the latest verified information about a level physics formula sheet?

Exam boards that publish official formula sheets

Three main UK exam boards provide official formula sheets for A Level Physics: AQA, OCR (with separate sheets for Physics A and Physics B), and Pearson Edexcel. Each sheet includes physical constants, conversion factors, and equations organised by topic. The OCR Physics A booklet, for instance, contains 8 pages of data, formulae, and relationships, and notes that values are given to three significant figures except where more or fewer are useful (OCR Official PDF). AQA’s version 1.6, valid from June 2017 onward and still current in 2025, dedicates its first page to fundamental constants such as the speed of light (3.00 × 10⁸ m s–1) and Planck’s constant (6.63 × 10⁻³⁴ J s) (AQA Data Sheet via PMT).

Current version numbers and publication dates

AQA’s sheet is version 1.6 and has not been updated since its 2017 release. OCR’s 2025 edition is clearly marked as © OCR 2025. Pearson’s most recent publication date is 3 November 2022 (Pearson Qualification). The Senpaicorner compilation sheet, while not official, covers the 2025–2027 syllabus and is useful as a revision supplement (Senpaicorner Compilation).

The pattern: AQA and OCR refresh their booklets more frequently, while Pearson’s document has remained static since late 2022. Students preparing for exams in 2025 or 2026 should verify they have the latest version from the board’s website.

What should readers know first about a level physics formula sheet?

Purpose of the formula sheet in exams

Formula sheets are provided for use in all A Level Physics exams. They contain essential constants, equations, and conversion factors but do not include every formula a student might need. For example, the AQA sheet lists simple equations like I = ∆Q/∆t for current and V = W/Q for potential difference (AQA Data Sheet via PMT), but students must memorise derivations and contextual applications. The sheet is meant to level the playing field, allowing candidates to focus on problem-solving rather than rote recall.

How to access the PDF from each exam board

Each board makes the formula sheet available as a free PDF download. AQA’s sheet is hosted on the Physics & Maths Tutor mirror (AQA Data Sheet). OCR provides its booklet directly on ocr.org.uk (OCR Official PDF). Pearson’s list is on qualifications.pearson.com (Pearson Qualification). Senpaicorner offers a compiled version covering all three boards for the 2025–2027 syllabus (Senpaicorner).

The implication: using the official sheet from day one builds confidence that pays off in the exam hall.

Which official sources confirm key claims about a level physics formula sheet?

Direct links to AQA, OCR, and Pearson PDFs

All three exam boards are tier-1 sources – government-regulated awarding bodies. AQA’s data sheet (version 1.6) is available via the Physics & Maths Tutor mirror of the past papers repository (AQA Data Sheet). OCR’s 8-page booklet for Physics A (H156/H556) is published directly by OCR (OCR Official PDF), and OCR also publishes a separate sheet for Physics B (Advancing Physics) (H157/H557) (OCR Physics B PDF). Pearson Edexcel’s list is hosted on its qualifications site (Pearson Qualification).

Senpaicorner as a supplementary resource

Senpaicorner (tier 3 – community aggregator) compiles formulas from all three boards into one document. While not an official source, it is useful for quick reference during revision. Its coverage for the 2025–2027 syllabus means it aligns with current exam content (Senpaicorner).

The catch: relying on a third-party sheet for exam preparation carries risks if formulas are mis-copied or outdated. Always double-check against the official board PDF.

What is still unclear or unverified about a level physics formula sheet?

Versioning differences between exam boards

AQA and OCR update their booklets more regularly, yet Pearson has not revised its list since November 2022. It is unclear whether Pearson will issue a new version before the 2026 exam series. The exact overlap of formulas across the three boards also remains undocumented in any single editorial source. For instance, OCR Physics A includes the current formula I = Anev for electrons (OCR Official PDF), while AQA does not list it on its sheet.

Whether all formulas are identical across syllabuses

While many core equations (e.g., Newton’s second law, wave equation) appear on all boards, minor differences exist. AQA and OCR both provide the acceleration of free fall g as 9.81 m s–2, but OCR states it to three significant figures (OCR Official PDF). The Senpaicorner sheet attempts to harmonise these, but it is not an authoritative source.

The pattern: students must check their own board’s latest version regularly to avoid outdated formulas.

What are the most common user questions on a level physics formula sheet?

How to download the formula sheet

The simplest method is to search the exam board’s website for “data and formulae booklet” plus your qualification code. For AQA, the sheet is found on the relevant past papers page. For OCR, the booklet is in the support materials section. For Pearson, the document is listed under “Specification and sample assessments”. Save My Exams also provides a breakdown of the AQA sheet, noting the 19 constants on page one (Save My Exams analysis).

Which formulas are essential for each topic

Common topics covered across all sheets include kinematics, forces, waves, electricity, and nuclear physics. Students frequently ask about constants such as the elementary charge (1.60 × 10⁻¹⁹ C on OCR’s sheet) and unit conversions. The AQA sheet lists permeability of free space μ₀ as 4π × 10⁻⁷ H m⁻¹ and permittivity of free space ε₀ as 8.85 × 10⁻¹² F m⁻¹ (AQA Data Sheet).

Why this matters: knowing which constants are on the sheet lets you focus your memorisation on formulas that aren’t provided. The sheet includes many, but not all – especially for mechanics and thermodynamics.

Four key constants from three boards, one pattern: the boards agree on fundamental values but differ in which ones they display prominently.

How to Get and Use an A Level Physics Formula Sheet

1. Download the correct PDF for your exam board and print a clean copy.
2. Use it during every practice paper to build familiarity.
3. Highlight the equations you find yourself referencing most often.
4. Create a quick index on a sticky note for the constants page.
5. Simulate exam conditions: have the sheet next to you but don’t rely on it – treat it as a backup.

What this means: mastering the sheet is a strategy, not a crutch.

Timeline

The pattern: the publication dates reveal which boards update more frequently.

The Data and Formulae booklet is provided for all A-level Physics exams.

AQA specification (version 1.6) (AQA)

The Data, Formulae and Relationships booklet contains 8 pages of constants and equations.

OCR booklet (2025) (OCR)

This list of data, formulae and relationships is valid for exams from 2015 onwards.

Pearson qualification document (Pearson)

For students taking A Level Physics in 2025 or 2026, the choice is clear: download the official formula sheet from your awarding body now, use it in every practice paper, and memorise the equations that aren’t provided. The students who treat the sheet as a familiar tool – not a crutch – will walk into the exam room with one less variable to worry about.

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