IB Diploma · Physics
Understand it, then learn to show it.
IB Physics rarely asks a student to recall a formula. It asks them to choose the right principle from several that could apply, use it precisely, and present the working so the marks are findable. Most lost marks live in that third step.
SL and HL
What actually differs.
| Covers | |
|---|---|
| SL | Space, time and motion; the particulate nature of matter; wave behaviour; fields; nuclear and quantum physics. |
| HL | All of the above with additional HL content and substantially greater mathematical depth — more derivation, more algebraic manipulation, more multi-step problems. |
Both levels sit Paper 1 (1A multiple choice and 1B data analysis) and Paper 2. Under the current syllabus, first assessed in 2025, there is no Paper 3 and there are no options — the experimental and data-handling skills that used to sit in Paper 3 are now examined in Paper 1B. [TO CONFIRM — Glen] verify against the current IB Physics subject guide before launch.
Where marks go
Five ways students lose Physics marks.
- They pick a valid principle that is not the one the question is testing
- They know the physics but describe it in everyday language the rubric does not credit
- They reach the right answer with working an examiner cannot follow, and score two of five
- They lose Paper 1B marks on uncertainty and data analysis, which almost nobody is taught properly
- At HL, the physics is fine and the algebra is not
What we cover
- Conceptual clarity first — the why behind each principle, not the formula sheet
- Choosing the right principle: pattern recognition across question types
- Presentation of working in the format that collects method marks
- Paper 1B specifically: uncertainties, error propagation, graph analysis
- Cross-topic connections — energy, forces, fields and waves as one system
- Internal Assessment: experimental design, data processing, evaluation
Questions
What parents ask.
How is IB Physics assessed now?
Paper 1 in two parts — 1A multiple choice and 1B data analysis and experimental skills — plus Paper 2. The Internal Assessment is worth 20% of the final grade. Paper 3 and the option topics were removed in the syllabus first assessed in 2025.
Does my child need a strong maths background?
IGCSE Extended Mathematics is enough for SL. HL needs more, and we assess that at the diagnostic. If mathematics is the real constraint we will tell you — treating it as a physics problem wastes months.
Can you help with the Physics IA?
Yes, included. We coach choosing a question that will actually produce usable data, designing a safe and measurable experiment, processing the data with proper treatment of uncertainty, and writing the evaluation to the rubric.