Complete. Accurate. Structured. Searchable. Editable.

Identify gaps in essential prior knowledge quickly with a concise diagnostic question list aligned to the Activate KS3 Physics specification.

Each question checks the foundational knowledge students need before beginning a lesson or topic, helping teachers establish what learners already know, identify misconceptions and decide where additional explanation, retrieval or intervention is required.

Organised into the recommended teaching sequence, the resource makes it easy to locate concise prior-knowledge checks for individual topics and lessons. Questions are deliberately focused and manageable, supporting fast diagnosis without turning the activity into a full assessment.

Built in Microsoft Excel, the list is searchable, filterable and fully editable, allowing teachers to select, adapt and combine questions for lesson starters, baseline checks, intervention and revision.

Developed using principles of information management and process improvement, this resource helps teachers gather useful formative information quickly and respond more precisely to students’ starting points.

**What’s included
**
• Concise prior-knowledge diagnostic questions aligned to Activate KS3 Physics
• Coverage organised by topic, lesson and specification reference
• Focused questions checking essential prerequisite knowledge
• Questions designed to reveal gaps, misconceptions and insecure recall
• Searchable, filterable and fully editable Excel workbook
• Question list suitable for selecting, adapting and combining
• Read Me guide explaining the structure and navigation

Designed for efficient diagnosis

• Check what students know before introducing new content
• Identify missing prerequisite knowledge at the start of a lesson or topic
• Reveal misconceptions before they become embedded
• Select targeted questions without creating diagnostic checks from scratch
• Use responses to adjust explanation, retrieval and intervention
• Build consistent prior-knowledge checking across classes and teaching teams

Supports

• Lesson starters
• Baseline assessment
• Formative assessment
• Retrieval practice
• Targeted intervention
• Revision and reteaching

Ideal for

• Science teachers
• Heads of Physics
• Heads of Science
• Early Career Teachers (ECTs)
• Tutors and tuition providers

File format: Microsoft Excel (.xlsx)

This resource provides a practical and manageable way to diagnose students’ starting points, helping teachers identify gaps early, adapt teaching responsively and strengthen the prior knowledge needed for success throughout Activate KS3 Physics.