Read the command word, then match the marks
Every Paper 2 question tells you what to do through its command word: state, define, explain, describe, calculate, determine, compare or suggest. Answer the verb that is actually used. A "state" answer is one line; an "explain" answer needs a cause-and-effect chain.
The marks tell you how much to write. A two-mark point needs two distinct, correct ideas, not one idea written twice. If a part is worth four marks, a single sentence is almost certainly too thin.
Show full working on calculations
For any calculation, write it in clear steps:
- State the formula in symbols.
- Substitute the values with their units.
- Work to the answer and give the correct unit.
Method marks are awarded for the formula and substitution even when the final number slips, so never jump straight to an answer. Keep extra digits while working and round only at the end.
Use physics keywords in explanations
Structured and longer questions reward precise language. "It goes faster" is weaker than "the acceleration increases because the resultant force increases." Name the quantities, the direction, and the law or principle involved. When a question says "explain," make the link explicit: because X, therefore Y.
Handle diagrams and data carefully
Label forces, rays or fields on any diagram the question gives you, and add units to every axis and reading. For data questions, quote values from the table or graph rather than guessing, and check that your answer is physically sensible in size and direction.
Work through past Paper 2 questions and mark yourself against the exact wording of each command word. If your answers keep losing marks in the same way, targeted practice on that pattern, or a one-to-one review of your scripts, fixes it faster than doing more untargeted questions.