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Assessment

Assessment Overview​

IB Physics (first assessment 2025) is examined through a combination of external written papers and an Internal Assessment (IA). The external component accounts for 80% of the total mark at both SL and HL, while the IA accounts for the remaining 20%.

ComponentSL WeightingHL WeightingDuration (SL)Duration (HL)Marks (SL)Marks (HL)
Paper 130%20%45 min60 min3040
Paper 250%40%1 h 15 min2 h 15 min5090
Paper 3--20%--1 h 15 min--30
IA20%20%10 hours10 hours----

Paper 1 -- Multiple Choice​

Paper 1 consists entirely of multiple choice questions (MCQs). Each question presents four answer options, only one of which is correct.

AspectSLHL
Duration45 minutes60 minutes
Marks3040
Number of questions3040
CalculatorNot allowedNot allowed
Data bookletNot allowedNot allowed

Key details:

  • All questions carry equal weighting.
  • The paper covers all core topics (Themes A through E, SL content).
  • Since calculators are not permitted, questions focus on conceptual understanding, proportional reasoning, and estimation rather than numerical computation.
  • No data booklet is provided, so you must recall or derive any formulae needed.
  • Common question types include identifying correct relationships, interpreting graphs, predicting outcomes of experiments, and recognising valid physical reasoning.
  • HL Paper 1 includes additional questions on AHL material but follows the same format.

Strategy tips:

  • Eliminate clearly incorrect options before selecting your answer.
  • Use dimensional analysis and orders-of-magnitude estimates to check plausibility of options.
  • Pay close attention to qualifiers such as "always", "never", "sometimes" in the stem.
  • Manage your time: roughly 1.5 minutes per question at SL and 1.5 minutes per question at HL.

Paper 2 -- Extended Response​

Paper 2 contains extended response questions requiring detailed working, derivations, calculations, and explanations.

AspectSLHL
Duration1 hour 15 minutes2 hours 15 minutes
Marks5090
CalculatorAllowedAllowed
Data bookletProvidedProvided

Key details:

  • The paper covers all core topics (Themes A through E, SL content for SL students; SL + AHL content for HL students).
  • Questions combine short-answer parts with longer multi-step problems.
  • You are expected to show full working: intermediate steps, substitution of values, correct use of significant figures, and inclusion of units in final answers.
  • The data booklet contains all relevant formulae and physical constants. Familiarity with its layout is essential for efficient use under timed conditions.
  • Graphical analysis is common: you may be asked to plot data, determine gradients or intercepts, and interpret the physical meaning of linearised graphs.
  • Error propagation and uncertainty analysis may appear in data-based questions.

Strategy tips:

  • Practise past papers under timed conditions to build speed and accuracy.
  • When a question references a specific topic, quickly locate the relevant formulae in the data booklet before starting calculations.
  • Always include units in final answers; marks are often deducted for missing units.
  • Show your working clearly, even if you are unsure of the final answer, as method marks can be awarded.
  • For explanation questions, use precise physics terminology and structure your response logically.

Paper 3 -- HL Extension (HL Only)​

Paper 3 is sat exclusively by HL students and tests the Additional Higher Level (AHL) extension material.

AspectHL
Duration1 hour 15 minutes
Marks30
CalculatorAllowed
Data bookletProvided

Topics covered:

Paper 3 draws exclusively from AHL content across all five themes:

ThemeAHL Sub-topicsKey Areas
AA.4--A.5Rigid body mechanics; Galilean and special relativity
BB.5--B.7Thermodynamics; current and potential difference in circuits; electric cells
CC.5Wave phenomena (interference, resolution, Doppler effect)
DD.5Fields at work (electromagnetic induction)
EE.3--E.4Quantum and nuclear physics (radioactive decay, structure of matter)

Key details:

  • Questions require deeper mathematical treatment and more sophisticated physical reasoning than Papers 1 and 2.
  • Derivations are common: you may be asked to derive relationships starting from first principles.
  • Synoptic questions can link AHL content across different themes.
  • The same data booklet provided for Paper 2 is used here.

Strategy tips:

  • Ensure thorough mastery of AHL derivations; examiners frequently test whether you can reproduce key proofs.
  • Practise combining concepts from different themes, as Paper 3 questions can be synoptic.
  • Pay attention to the distinction between AHL and SL treatments of the same topic (e.g., wave behaviour at C.5 versus C.1--C.4).

Internal Assessment (IA)​

The Internal Assessment is an individual scientific investigation carried out by each student. It is internally marked by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB.

AspectDetail
Duration10 hours (recommended)
Weighting20% of total mark (both SL and HL)
FormatIndividual investigation with a written report (maximum 12 pages)
SubmissionOne investigation per student

Assessment criteria:

The IA is assessed against four criteria, each carrying equal weighting (maximum 6 marks per criterion, 24 marks total):

  1. Personal Engagement (6 marks): Evidence of personal input, initiative, and independent thinking. The student should demonstrate genuine curiosity and ownership of the research question, showing how their own interests, experiences, or observations motivated the investigation.

  2. Exploration (6 marks): The research question must be clearly stated, focused, and scientifically relevant. Background information should be appropriate and properly sourced. The methodology should be well described, with appropriate attention to safety, environmental, and ethical considerations. Variables must be clearly identified.

  3. Analysis (6 marks): Data must be recorded and presented clearly, with appropriate use of tables, graphs, and statistical treatment. Uncertainties should be propagated and error bars included where relevant. The analysis should go beyond simple description to show mathematical and physical reasoning.

  4. Evaluation (6 marks): The conclusion must be justified by the data. Strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of the investigation should be discussed with specific reference to the methodology and results. Realistic and relevant suggestions for improvement and extension should be provided.

Choosing a good IA topic:

  • Pick a topic you are genuinely interested in; personal engagement is a separate criterion and cannot be faked convincingly.
  • Ensure the research question is specific and testable. "How does temperature affect the resistance of a wire?" is too broad; "How does the resistance of a 1 m length of nichrome wire vary with temperature between 20 C and 100 C?" is much better.
  • The investigation does not need to be groundbreaking or complex. A well-executed simple experiment with thorough analysis and evaluation scores higher than an ambitious but poorly executed one.
  • Consider the availability of equipment and the feasibility of collecting sufficient data within the 10-hour limit.

Grade Boundaries​

IB Physics uses the standard IB 1--7 grading scale. Grade boundaries are determined after each examination session and vary from session to session depending on the difficulty of the papers.

GradeDescription
7Excellent
6Very good
5Good
4Satisfactory
3Mediocre
2Poor
1Very poor

Important notes:

  • Grade boundaries are not fixed. They are set after marking to ensure fairness across sessions.
  • A typical rough guide (which should NOT be relied upon) suggests that a grade 7 at HL corresponds to approximately 75--80% of the total available marks, while a grade 7 at SL corresponds to approximately 70--75%. These figures vary significantly by session.
  • The IA mark is combined with the external examination marks before boundaries are applied.
  • Always check the most recent grade boundaries published by the IB for the specific session.

Cross-References​