PhysicsUK Cookie Notice
We use essential cookies and browser storage to make requested features work and keep accounts secure. Optional Google Analytics and Reddit Ads conversion tracking are off until you actively choose to allow them. Advertising tracking is not required to create an account, answer questions or buy membership.
Cookie settings
The site asks before loading Google Analytics or the Reddit Pixel. Your choice is stored in puk_cookie_consent for 180 days. Choose Allow analytics & ads to allow both services, Allow analytics only to allow GA4 without Reddit advertising tracking, or Keep optional tracking off to decline both. A previous granted choice remains analytics-only and does not turn on Reddit. You can revisit this choice from this section. Clearing browser storage may remove preferences or in-progress work and will sign you out.
Essential cookies and storage
| Name or type | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|
connect.sid | Maintains the authenticated PhysicsUK session and protects account features. | 24 hours |
guestSessionId | Maintains guest-practice continuity and rate limits to protect the service from abuse. | 7 days |
token (PAG area) | Maintains the separate PAG account-area session. | 1 hour |
puk_cookie_consent | Stores the choice about optional analytics and advertising measurement. It does not identify you. | 180 days |
| Local and session storage | Stores functional preferences and in-progress work, such as drawing drafts and interface continuity. | Until the browser clears it or the relevant session ends |
Our session cookies are HTTP-only and use a same-site setting. Secure cookies are used over HTTPS in production. They are needed for the requested account or guest-service function and are not used for advertising or cross-site behavioural tracking.
Optional analytics
If you allow analytics, Google Analytics 4 may set analytics cookies such as _ga and receive technical page-use information such as the page visited, referring page, browser/device details and an approximate location. We do not send account IDs, answers, prompts or learning content to GA4, and we do not use it for advertising.
Optional Reddit advertising measurement
If you choose Allow analytics & ads, the Reddit Pixel loads and may set or read advertising cookies or similar identifiers. It receives technical information available to the pixel, such as the page URL and referring page, browser/device details and IP-derived location, plus the conversion event reached: a relevant landing-page visit, opening a PhysicsUK Exam Studio question, successful account creation or confirmed paid membership. Purchase events include the currency and amount. We do not send PhysicsUK account IDs, email addresses, pupil answers, prompts, marks or learning content to Reddit. Reddit may use the information for advertising attribution, campaign measurement and advertising audiences under its own terms. Choosing analytics only does not load Reddit.
Authenticated service activity
When a person uses PhysicsUK, we may record limited account-linked activity, security and service information on our servers. For pupil pages, this can include an active-study-time update based on a visible, recently used page. This is described in the Privacy Notice; it is not an optional browser analytics cookie.
Third-party components
Some components load only when the relevant feature is used: hCaptcha protects the contact form from abuse; Pusher supports authenticated real-time classroom and presence features; and content-delivery services supply interface, maths and chart libraries. Those providers can receive technical request information such as IP address and browser details, and may use their own cookies or other browser storage under their notices. Reddit is used only after the separate advertising choice described above. If the way any other component uses storage means consent is required, we will provide it before loading that non-essential storage.
Children
PhysicsUK is likely to be used by people under 18. We therefore keep analytics and advertising measurement off by default, make the advertising choice separate from account and learning activity, and do not send account identifiers or learning content through the pixel. The service remains available when optional tracking is declined. See the Privacy Notice for information about learning data, automated tools and children's data.