recommended self teaching AQA Physics textbook??

I'm self teaching Physics next year, and was wondering whether anyone on the board (AQA) could give me a bit of advice.

Should i just go for the standard AQA books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-Physics-AS-Students-Book/dp/0748782826/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3BQNYFPCKQOER&coliid=IIMXCB4G66AD3)

or the more expensive collins series (i.e the first one = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Student-Support-Materials-AQA-Electricity/dp/0007343833/ref=pd_sim_b_5)


I'll be using the books alongside past papers and need an A so any insight at all is helpful thanks

My advice would be to steer clear of the Nelson Thornes book. It has very bad explanations and fails to highlight, what are in my opinion, some key concepts.

Speaking as a current AS student (who has their PHYA2 exam tomorrow ) I'd recommend the following books (one of which I think you've already linked in your post);

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Student-Support-Materials-AQA-Electricity/dp/0007343833/ref=pd_sim_b_5?tag=10xxx11360-21

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Student-Support-Materials-AQA-Mechanics/dp/0007343841/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370374697&sr=1-1&keywords=Student+Support+Materials+for+AQA+-+AS+Physics

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Calculations-Level-Physics-Fourth-Lowe/dp/0748767487/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370374726&sr=1-1&keywords=calculations+for+a+level+physics

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AS-Level-Physics-Complete-Revision-Practice/dp/1847621287/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370374745&sr=1-2&keywords=aqa+as+physics

http://www.amazon.co.uk/AS-Physics-AQA-Student-Book/dp/1847629040/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370374745&sr=1-3&keywords=aqa+as+physics

The book titled 'Calculations for A-level Physics' is a particularly good book as it contains questions that you wouldn't necessarily come across in most other books. The questions it has require to think a little more than normal, probably due to the fact that they're quite old, but never say no to practise, eh?

Also, the last one is also quite good in that it explains things quite well and it can come in really handy where the more conceptual stuff is concerned. It also contains very detailed answers, showing you exactly how to arrive at an answer, unlike the Nelson Thornes books which completely omits the answers to the written questions!

To be fair to the Nelson Thornes book, it does have some useful stuff, but there's not enough 'useful stuff' for me to recommend it to you. Although there's nothing stopping you from looking at it to get another perspective on something.

Good luck for next year, and if you require anything further, I'll be happy to assist you, whether that just be general advice or something more specific. Hope that helped

Thanks alot, really useful.. good luck for your exam man!!!


If i could just ask, how difficult are you finding AS physics? im really looking forward too it, how are the practicals?

Thanks, In hoping for full UMS on this one *fingers crossed*

And in my opinion, the content for AS physics is really not hard at all, it simply requires you to put in a fair amount of time and work.
The first unit is quite simple as its more conceptual and based around understanding ideas. However, electricity can be a bit of a pain at times.

The second unit is slightly harder, but he mechanics section should be no problem providing you're doing maths along side it (the mechanics module, that is). The waves part is what everyone finds tricky but is purely down to grind. The more work you do on it the better you get, it really is as simple as that.

At the end of the the day, your grade will reflect how much time and effort you've put in, so if you work hard for physics, it'll be a walk in the park.

I'm self teaching Physics next year, and was wondering whether anyone on the board (AQA) could give me a bit of advice.

Should i just go for the standard AQA books (http://www.amazon.co.uk/AQA-Physics-AS-Students-Book/dp/0748782826/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=3BQNYFPCKQOER&coliid=IIMXCB4G66AD3)

or the more expensive collins series (i.e the first one = http://www.amazon.co.uk/Student-Support-Materials-AQA-Electricity/dp/0007343833/ref=pd_sim_b_5)


I'll be using the books alongside past papers and need an A so any insight at all is helpful thanks

I've self-taught it with the standard AQA books and past papers and it's been all A*s (and As in the AS) so far the only other materials I've used are the internet and the CGP revision guide.

Really, thats awesome well done! Is it not as bad as people keep saying then? I was thinking about just getting those big GCP 'student guides' and using past papers haha..