plumiMagnets and magnetic fields: Edexcel GCSE Combined Science questions
Every Edexcel GCSE Combined Science exam question on Magnets and magnetic fields (specification points 12.1–12.6), 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q4(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q4(b)(iv)
The whole paper ↗Q4(c)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)
The whole paper ↗Q3(b)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(d)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(d)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q3(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q2(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(a)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q2(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗
All 54 questions on Magnets and magnetic fields, as a list
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a)(i) (1 mark): Complete the labels in Figure 5 to show the N and S poles of nail Y. (1)
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q4(a)(ii) (1 mark): Nail X is removed from the magnet and nail Y falls off nail X. This shows that the magnet caused both nails to be (1) A permanent magnets B temporarily charged
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b)(i) (1 mark): Complete Figure 7 to show the missing value. (1)
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b)(ii) (1 mark): Use the data in Figure 7 to complete the bar chart in Figure 8. (1) 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 mean number of nails 6 picked up 5 4 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 number of pl
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b)(iii) (2 marks): Use Figure 8 to describe the relationship between the number of plastic strips and the mean number of nails picked up. (2)
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q4(b)(iv) (2 marks): A student thinks that none of the nails used in the investigation become permanently magnetised. Suggest how the student could test this hypothesis. (2)
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q4(c) (3 marks): The magnetic flux density, B, is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field of a magnet. B varies with the distance, d, from a magnetic pole of a magnet as
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a magnetic material? (1) A aluminium B plastic C steel D lead
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(b) (2 marks): Figure 5 shows two magnetic poles facing each other. There is a uniform magnetic field between the poles. Draw field lines, on Figure 5, to show the uniform par
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): On Figure 6, draw an X where most of the iron filings will stick. (1)
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(c)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why most of the iron filings will stick to the point you have labelled with an X. (2)
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(d)(i) (2 marks): Explain how a plotting compass can be used to show that the Earth has a magnetic field. (2)
- June 2025, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(d)(ii) (1 mark): State the name of a device that uses a permanent magnet. (1)
- June 2024, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): A compass needle is placed at point P and another at point R, near to the Earth’s surface. On Figure 6, draw an arrow at point P and an arrow at point R to show
- June 2024, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): Explain why the arrows point in the directions you have drawn in part (i). You may draw on Figure 6 to help your answer. (3)
- June 2024, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (1 mark): Draw one arrow on a magnetic field line in Figure 2 to show the direction of that magnetic field line. (1)
- June 2024, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Draw an X on Figure 2 to show where the magnetic field is strongest. (1)
- June 2024, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): Give a reason why Figure 2 shows the magnetic field is strongest at point X. (1)
- June 2024, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (2 marks): Draw some magnetic field lines on Figure 3 to show the shape of the magnetic field between the two magnets. (2)
- June 2024, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(ii) (1 mark): The student is holding the two magnets on the smooth bench. State what would happen if the student let go of one of the magnets. (1)
- June 2024, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c)(i) (1 mark): Which of these is a magnetic material? (1) A aluminium B iron C plastic D wood
- June 2024, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c)(ii) (2 marks): Describe how the student could use the paper clips to find out which of the two permanent magnets is the stronger magnet. (2)
- June 2023, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a) (2 marks): Figure 3 shows two magnets with their N poles facing each other. S N N S Figure 3 On Figure 3, draw the shape and direction of the magnetic field between the tw
- June 2023, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b) (3 marks): Figure 4 shows a toy that has a plastic cylinder, a plastic base and two similar magnets. Each of the two magnets is in the shape of a ring. plastic cylinder up
- June 2023, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): The poles of the lowest paper clip are labelled. Label the poles of the other two paper clips in Figure 3. (2)
- June 2023, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Complete the sentence, by choosing a word from the box, to describe the type of magnetism that these paper clips have. (1) alternated earthed induced transforme
- June 2023, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest a material that these paper clips in Figure 3 could be made from. (1)
- June 2023, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a)(iv) (2 marks): When the paper clips were pulled off the magnet they fell separately to the table. Describe how you could test whether any of the paper clips had kept any magne
- June 2022, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a)(i) (1 mark): Draw arrows on the field lines in Figure 4 to show the direction of the magnetic field. (1)
- June 2022, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a)(ii) (1 mark): Place a letter X on Figure 4 at a place where the magnetic field is strongest. (1)
- June 2022, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a)(iii) (2 marks): Describe two differences between the magnetic field shown in Figure 4 and a uniform magnetic field. (2)
- June 2022, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(c)(i) (2 marks): Sketch, on Figure 5, the Earth’s magnetic field outside and inside the Earth. (2)
- June 2022, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(c)(ii) (1 mark): State which part of the Earth generates its magnetic field. (1)
- June 2022, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(i) (1 mark): State why the strength of the magnetic field shown is not zero. (1) The student places a magnet near to the phone on the table. Figure 4 shows the magnet and th
- June 2022, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(ii) (2 marks): State two changes in the magnetic field measured by the phone from Figure 3 to Figure 4. (2) 1 2
- June 2022, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b)(iii) (3 marks): Describe how the student could use the mobile phone to investigate the strength of the magnetic field at different distances from the magnet. (3)
- November 2021, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a)(i) (2 marks): Draw two rectangles on Figure 6 to show the positions of the two bar magnets. Label the N-pole and the S-pole of each magnet. (2)
- November 2021, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a)(ii) (3 marks): The student wants to determine the shape of the magnetic field for a larger area around the magnets. Describe how the student should continue the investigation
- November 2021, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b)(i) (3 marks): The magnets are 4.0 cm apart. The force between the magnets is 1.2 N. Calculate the value of K. State the unit. (3) K = unit
- November 2021, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(b)(ii) (1 mark): The magnets are held the same distance apart but with the N-pole of one magnet now facing the S-pole of the other magnet. The value of K does not change. State
- November 2021, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a) (2 marks): Figure 3 shows some objects and words describing these objects. Draw one line from each object to its description. (2) object description non-magnetic nail in a
- November 2020, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a) (1 mark): At which point is the magnetic field strongest? (1) A B C D
- November 2020, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(a) (2 marks): Figure 6 shows a part of a machine used to separate steel cans from aluminium cans. steel cans and aluminium cans roller (a magnet) moving belt container B con
- November 2020, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(b)(i) (1 mark): There is a magnet attached to the top of each toy. The student moves the toy brick towards the toy car. The magnet on the toy brick repels the magnet on the toy
- November 2020, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain why the toy car starts to move only when the toy brick gets near to the toy car. (2)
- November 2020, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q3(b)(iii) (4 marks): The student thinks that two magnets on top of each other will produce a magnetic field that is stronger than the magnetic field from a single magnet. The studen
- June 2019, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(a) (1 mark): Which of these is a magnetic material? (1) A aluminium B carbon C cobalt D copper
- June 2019, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c) (3 marks): Figure 3 shows two magnetic poles facing each other. The magnetic field between the poles is uniform. On Figure 3, draw the magnetic field lines between the two
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Higher, Q3(a) (3 marks): A student has a bar magnet, a piece of iron the same size as the magnet, and some paper clips. Describe how the student could use these items to demonstrate tem
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(b) (1 mark): Which of these materials would be the most suitable for making a temporary magnet? (1) A copper B iron C plastic D steel
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(c) (2 marks): Figure 2 shows a magnet holding some paper clips. Figure 2 Describe how a student could show that the paper clips are induced magnets. (2)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(d) (2 marks): Describe how you could show that the Earth has a magnetic field. (2)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(e)(i) (1 mark): Mark the north pole of the bar magnet with an ‘N’ in Figure 3. (1)
- June 2018, Physics Paper 2 Foundation, Q2(e)(ii) (2 marks): State two ways in which the investigation could be developed to show the shape of the magnetic field around the bar magnet. You may add to Figure 3 to help with
Questions, mark schemes and examiner’s reports are © Pearson Edexcel, from their published past papers. Plumi isn’t affiliated with any exam board. Want whole papers? Full past papers.
Rather write your answers by hand on iPad? Plumi marks them against the same mark schemes.