plumiMagnets and magnetic fields: OCR GCSE Physics A questions
Every OCR GCSE Physics A exam question on P4.1 Magnets and magnetic fields, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
All papers
Exam
All years
Calculations
Q17(a)
The whole paper ↗Q17(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q17(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q17(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q17(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q17(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q19(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q19(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q19(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q19(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q23(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q23(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q23(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q23(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
Q16(a)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q16(a)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q16(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q16(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
All 59 questions on Magnets and magnetic fields, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(a) (3 marks): Draw the magnetic field around the bar magnet. N S [3]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(b)(i) (1 mark): Why did the student choose a wooden stand instead of an iron stand? [1]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(b)(ii) (1 mark): The bar magnet is able to move freely. In which direction does the bar magnet face when it stops moving? Tick (✓) one box. East-west North-south Up-down [1]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(b)(iii) (1 mark): Why does the bar magnet face in this direction? Tick (✓) one box. It lines up with the wooden stand. It lines up with the Earth’s gravitational field. It lines
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(c)(i) (1 mark): Which type of magnet is the steel paperclip? Tick (✓) one box. Induced Permanent Solenoid [1]
- June 2025, Paper 1 Foundation, Q17(c)(ii) (1 mark): Explain your answer to (c)(i). [1]
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q19(a)(i) (1 mark): The student uses iron filings to show the magnetic field pattern. Write down a different piece of equipment that the student could use to investigate the magnet
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q19(a)(ii) (3 marks): The diagram shows the north pole of a magnet and the south pole of another magnet. Sketch the magnetic field between the poles of the magnets. N S [3]
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q19(b)(i) (1 mark): Why did the student use insulated copper wire? [1]
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q19(b)(ii) (1 mark): Write down one factor that can affect the strength of the magnetic field of a solenoid. [1]
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how the position of the needle changes if the compass is moved from the equator to the poles of the Earth. [2]
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(a)(ii) (1 mark): What does your answer to (a)(i) suggest about the Earth’s core? [1]
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(b)(i) (3 marks): Describe how the teacher uses this equipment to show the shape of the magnetic field around the current-carrying wire. [3]
- June 2024, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(b)(ii) (2 marks): On Fig. 23.3 sketch the magnetic field around the current carrying wire. Fig. 23.3 Direction of current Cardboard sheet [2]
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q2 (1 mark): A student holds a bar magnet above a paperclip. The paperclip is attracted to the bar magnet. Magnet Steel paperclip Thread Blu-tack Which row of the table corr
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q16(a)(i) (2 marks): Describe how the position of the needle changes if the compass is moved from the equator to the poles of the Earth. [2]
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q16(a)(ii) (1 mark): What does your answer to (a)(i) suggest about the Earth’s core? [1]
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q16(b)(i) (3 marks): Describe how the teacher uses this equipment to show the shape of the magnetic field around the current-carrying wire. [3]
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q16(b)(ii) (2 marks): On Fig. 16.3 sketch the magnetic field around the current carrying wire. Fig. 16.3 Direction of current Cardboard sheet [2]
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q8 (1 mark): A magnet attracts two paperclips. S represents a South pole and N represents a North pole. Which diagram shows the correct magnetic poles of each paperclip? A B
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(a)(i) (2 marks): Name two variables the student controls in the experiment. 1 2 [2]
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(a)(ii) (2 marks): The table shows the student’s results. Number of turns Number of paperclips picked up 4 5 8 10 12 15 16 20 20 25 Describe the pattern shown by the student’s res
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(a)(iii) (1 mark): Predict how many paperclips the electromagnet will pick up if it has 28 turns. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(b)(i) (1 mark): Add arrows to the magnetic field lines to show the direction of the magnetic field. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(b)(ii) (1 mark): Write the letter X to show a position where the magnetic field is stronger. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(b)(iii) (1 mark): Write the letter W to show a position where the magnetic field is weaker. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(a) (1 mark): Suggest why the student uses an iron nail in the centre of the solenoid. [1]
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(b) (6 marks): A student makes a solenoid by wrapping wire around an iron nail as shown in the diagram. A Iron nail Wire Paperclips The student investigates how the current in
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q6 (1 mark): A student places a magnet next to a copper rod and then an iron rod. Copper rod Iron rod A attracts attracts B attracts repels C nothing happens attracts D noth
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q14 (1 mark): What is an induced magnet? A A permanent magnet which is always magnetic. B A permanent magnet with two identical poles. C A temporary magnet which is only magn
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(a) (2 marks): Suggest two variables that the student should keep the same for this experiment. 1 2 [2]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(b) (1 mark): The student tests three different magnets A, B and C and puts their results into a table. Maximum number of pieces of Magnet paper held by the magnet A 24 B 20
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(c)(i) (1 mark): Which diagram, A, B, C or D, shows the correct magnetic field around a fridge magnet? [1]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(c)(ii) (1 mark): How does this diagram show the direction of the magnetic field? [1]
- June 2022, Paper 1 Foundation, Q18(d) (2 marks): The student writes a method to plot the magnetic field around a bar magnet using a plotting compass. 1 Join the dots together on the paper to show the field lin
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q2 (1 mark): A student draws the magnetic field lines between the poles of two magnets. A B N N S S C D N S S N Which magnetic field line diagram is correct? [1] Your answer
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(a) (1 mark): Fig. 16.1 shows the magnetic field around a bar magnet. X N S Fig. 16.1 Draw an arrow on the field line at position X on Fig. 16.1 to show the direction of the
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(b)(i) (2 marks): Draw on Fig. 16.2 the shape and direction of the magnetic field observed on the card. [2] Card Direction of current in the wire Fig. 16.2
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one way the students could increase the strength of the magnetic field around the wire. [1]
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(c)(i) (3 marks): Plot the two missing results onto the graph. Draw a line of best-fit. 20 15 Number of paperclips 10 picked up 5 0 10 20 30 40 50 Number of turns [3]
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(c)(ii) (2 marks): Describe the relationship between the number of turns and the number of paperclips picked up. You may use data from the graph in your answer. [2]
- November 2021, Paper 1 Foundation, Q16(c)(iii) (2 marks): Suggest two variables the students need to control in their experiment. 1 2 [2]
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q2 (1 mark): A magnetic field line diagram shows the magnetic field between the poles P and Q of two magnets. MAGNET P Q MAGNET What are the poles P and Q? Pole P Pole Q A N
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q3 (1 mark): A current is passed through a straight wire. Cardboard Direction of current A B C D Which diagram shows the magnetic field around the current-carrying wire? [1]
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): A student investigates the magnetic effect of a current in a solenoid with a core. The student makes four different solenoids. Which solenoid will have the stro
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q4 (1 mark): Which action increases the strength of an electromagnet? A Decreasing the current B Decreasing the number of turns of wire C Increasing the number of turns of w
- November 2020, Paper 1 Foundation, Q7 (1 mark): The different currents in four wires are shown below. The magnetic field is measured at positions A, B, C and D. A 1A B 2A C 4A D 3A Which position will experie
- November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q12 (1 mark): A magnet is used to pick up a paperclip. Which statement explains why the paperclip is picked up? A The magnet is a permanent magnet and the opposite pole has b
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q20(a) (3 marks): Draw the magnetic field pattern between the North and South poles of the magnets. Include arrows on your field lines. N S [3]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q20(b) (1 mark): Describe one difference between a permanent magnet and an induced magnet. [1]
- June 2019, Paper 1 Foundation, Q20(c) (2 marks): A student investigates solenoids and writes the following: Solenoids Solenoids are coils of wire. When a voltage flows through them a magnetic field is created.
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q5 (1 mark): Which of these factors affects the strength of the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire? A Direction of the current only B Size of the current only C D
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(a)(i) (3 marks): Describe how the student could use this experiment and a compass to investigate the magnetic field produced by the wire. [3]
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(a)(ii) (2 marks): Draw the shape of the field which would be found around this wire. [2]
- June 2018, Paper 1 Foundation, Q23(b) (2 marks): The behaviour of a magnetic compass is evidence that the core of the Earth is magnetic. Explain why. [2]
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q11 (1 mark): Which does not increase the magnetic effect of a solenoid? A Increasing the cross-sectional area of the solenoid B Increasing the current in the solenoid C Incr
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(a)(i) (3 marks): Describe how the student could use this experiment and a compass to investigate the magnetic field produced by the wire. [3]
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(a)(ii) (2 marks): Draw the shape of the field which would be found around this wire. [2]
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q17(b) (2 marks): The behaviour of a magnetic compass is evidence that the core of the Earth is magnetic. Explain why.
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