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Series and parallel circuits: AQA GCSE Physics questions

Every AQA GCSE Physics exam question on 4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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1,653 questions

  1. Q06.3

    June 2025 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marks4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 1 Higher, question 06.3: The circuit inside the hand warmer can be connected to a mobile phone to recharge the mobile phone. Figure 9 shows the circuit diagram when the hand warmer is c

  2. Q05.5

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Higher

    5 marks4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Higher, question 05.5: The cooling system inside the vending machine turns on when the temperature of the thermistor is above 20 °C. Determine the potential difference across the ther

  3. Q02.5

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Foundation, question 02.5: How could the potential difference (pd) across the resistor be calculated? [1 mark] Tick () one box. pd across battery – pd across thermistor pd across battery

  4. Q02.6

    June 2024 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marks4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 1 Foundation, question 02.6: At one temperature, the thermistor in Figure 5 has a resistance of 200 Ω. What is the potential difference across the thermistor at this temperature? Give a rea

  5. Q01.3

    June 2023 · Paper 1 Foundation

    3 marks4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits4.2.1 Current, potential difference and resistance
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 1 Foundation, question 01.3: How will increasing the resistance of the variable resistor in Figure 1 affect each of the following quantities? [3 marks] Tick () one box in each row. Quantit

  6. Q11.2

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 mark4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 11.2: Why do the hair straighteners not turn on when only switch S2 is closed? [1 mark]

  7. Q11.4

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Higher

    3 marks4.2.4 Energy transfers4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Higher, question 11.4: Figure 14 shows the hair straighteners circuit with switch S1 closed. Figure 14 Switch S2 and switch S3 are then closed at the same time. Explain what happens t

  8. Q06.1

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 06.1: Complete the sentence. [1 mark] The three resistors in Figure 7 are connected in with the power supply.

  9. Q06.2

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 06.2: Which switch must always be closed for the hair dryer to work? [1 mark] Tick () one box. S1 S2 S3

  10. Q06.3

    June 2022 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2022 Paper 1 Foundation, question 06.3: Which switches must be closed for the hair dryer to work at maximum power output? [1 mark] Tick () one box. S1 and S2 S1 and S3 S1, S2 and S3 Use the Physics E

  11. Q03.3

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 mark4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 03.3: What is the resolution of the moving coil ammeter? [1 mark] Resolution = A

  12. Q03.4

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    1 mark4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 03.4: Student B replaced the moving coil ammeter with a digital ammeter. Figure 4 shows the reading on the digital ammeter. Figure 4 The digital ammeter has a higher

  13. Q07.3

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marks4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits4.2.1 Current, potential difference and resistance
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 07.3: Figure 10 shows a circuit with a switch connected incorrectly. Figure 10 Explain how closing the switch would affect the current in the variable resistor. [2 ma

  14. Q10.4

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Higher

    2 marks4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits4.2.1 Current, potential difference and resistance
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Higher, question 10.4: Figure 16 shows a cross-section through a power cable. Figure 16 A 1 metre length of a single aluminium wire is a better conductor than a 1 metre length of the

  15. Q04.1

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Foundation

    3 marks4.2.1 Current, potential difference and resistance4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Foundation, question 04.1: Complete the sentences. Choose answers from the box. Each answer can be used once, more than once or not at all. [3 marks] As the number of lamps increased, the

  16. Q04.2

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.2.1 Current, potential difference and resistance4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Foundation, question 04.2: When there were three lamps in the circuit the ammeter reading kept changing between 0.35 A and 0.36 A. What type of error would this lead to? [1 mark] Tick ()

  17. Q04.3

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marks4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Foundation, question 04.3: Complete Table 2 to show the readings on ammeters A2 and A5. [2 marks] Table 2 Ammeter A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 Current in amps 0.36 0.12 0.12

  18. Q11.3

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Foundation, question 11.3: What is the resolution of the moving coil ammeter? [1 mark] Resolution = A

  19. Q11.4

    November 2021 · Paper 1 Foundation

    1 mark4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 1 Foundation, question 11.4: Student B replaced the moving coil ammeter with a digital ammeter. Figure 16 shows the reading on the digital ammeter. Figure 16 The digital ammeter has a highe

  20. Q04.1

    November 2020 · Paper 1 Foundation

    2 marks4.2.2 Series and parallel circuits
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2020 Paper 1 Foundation, question 04.1: Calculate the mean resistance of 1 resistor. [2 marks] Resistance = Ω
All 31 questions on Series and parallel circuits, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 1 Higher, Q06.3 (3 marks): The circuit inside the hand warmer can be connected to a mobile phone to recharge the mobile phone. Figure 9 shows the circuit diagram when the hand warmer is c
  2. June 2024, Paper 1 Higher, Q05.5 (5 marks): The cooling system inside the vending machine turns on when the temperature of the thermistor is above 20 °C. Determine the potential difference across the ther
  3. June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.5 (1 mark): How could the potential difference (pd) across the resistor be calculated? [1 mark] Tick () one box. pd across battery – pd across thermistor pd across battery
  4. June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q02.6 (2 marks): At one temperature, the thermistor in Figure 5 has a resistance of 200 Ω. What is the potential difference across the thermistor at this temperature? Give a rea
  5. June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q01.3 (3 marks): How will increasing the resistance of the variable resistor in Figure 1 affect each of the following quantities? [3 marks] Tick () one box in each row. Quantit
  6. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q11.2 (1 mark): Why do the hair straighteners not turn on when only switch S2 is closed? [1 mark]
  7. June 2022, Paper 1 Higher, Q11.4 (3 marks): Figure 14 shows the hair straighteners circuit with switch S1 closed. Figure 14 Switch S2 and switch S3 are then closed at the same time. Explain what happens t
  8. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q06.1 (1 mark): Complete the sentence. [1 mark] The three resistors in Figure 7 are connected in with the power supply.
  9. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q06.2 (1 mark): Which switch must always be closed for the hair dryer to work? [1 mark] Tick () one box. S1 S2 S3
  10. June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q06.3 (1 mark): Which switches must be closed for the hair dryer to work at maximum power output? [1 mark] Tick () one box. S1 and S2 S1 and S3 S1, S2 and S3 Use the Physics E
  11. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q03.3 (1 mark): What is the resolution of the moving coil ammeter? [1 mark] Resolution = A
  12. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q03.4 (1 mark): Student B replaced the moving coil ammeter with a digital ammeter. Figure 4 shows the reading on the digital ammeter. Figure 4 The digital ammeter has a higher
  13. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q07.3 (2 marks): Figure 10 shows a circuit with a switch connected incorrectly. Figure 10 Explain how closing the switch would affect the current in the variable resistor. [2 ma
  14. November 2021, Paper 1 Higher, Q10.4 (2 marks): Figure 16 shows a cross-section through a power cable. Figure 16 A 1 metre length of a single aluminium wire is a better conductor than a 1 metre length of the
  15. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.1 (3 marks): Complete the sentences. Choose answers from the box. Each answer can be used once, more than once or not at all. [3 marks] As the number of lamps increased, the
  16. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.2 (1 mark): When there were three lamps in the circuit the ammeter reading kept changing between 0.35 A and 0.36 A. What type of error would this lead to? [1 mark] Tick ()
  17. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.3 (2 marks): Complete Table 2 to show the readings on ammeters A2 and A5. [2 marks] Table 2 Ammeter A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 Current in amps 0.36 0.12 0.12
  18. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q11.3 (1 mark): What is the resolution of the moving coil ammeter? [1 mark] Resolution = A
  19. November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q11.4 (1 mark): Student B replaced the moving coil ammeter with a digital ammeter. Figure 16 shows the reading on the digital ammeter. Figure 16 The digital ammeter has a highe
  20. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.1 (2 marks): Calculate the mean resistance of 1 resistor. [2 marks] Resistance = Ω
  21. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.2 (1 mark): What was the resolution of the ohmmeter the student used? Tick () one box. [1 mark] 0.1 Ω 0.2 Ω 1.1 Ω 36.0 Ω
  22. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.3 (1 mark): How do the results show that the student’s measurements were precise? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The measurements are accurate. The measurements are grouped clo
  23. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.4 (1 mark): How do the results show that the total resistance is directly proportional to the number of resistors? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The results give a line with a
  24. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.5 (1 mark): Predict the mean total resistance of 7 resistors. Use Figure 7. [1 mark] Mean total resistance of 7 resistors = Ω
  25. November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q04.6 (2 marks): Some resistors are connected in series with a battery. When more resistors are added in series, the total resistance increases. Complete the sentences. Choose a
  26. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q07.1 (1 mark): In which position could a switch be placed so that both lamps can be switched on or off at the same time? [1 mark] Tick () one box. J K L M
  27. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q07.5 (1 mark): How would the reading on the ammeter in Circuit Y compare to the reading on the ammeter in Circuit X? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The reading in Y would be highe
  28. June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q07.6 (1 mark): How does the total resistance of Circuit Y compare with the total resistance of Circuit X? [1 mark] Tick () one box. The total resistance of Y is greater. The
  29. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q07.1 (2 marks): The ammeter displays a reading of 0.10 A. Calculate the potential difference across the 45 Ω resistor. [2 marks] Potential difference = V
  30. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q07.2 (3 marks): Calculate the resistance of the resistor labelled R. [3 marks] Resistance = Ω
  31. Specimen, Paper 1 Higher, Q07.3 (2 marks): State what happens to the total resistance of the circuit and the current through the circuit when switch S is closed. [2 marks]

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