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• Introduction
   

  Introduction

  Basic information The exam score accounts for 76% of the students final grade, the other 24% coming from the internally assessed practical work. The format of the exam is pretty much the same as any other physics exam at this level but there are some features that are worth knowing about. There are 3 papers one multiple choice and 2 with full answers. They are not particularly difficult compared to say a typical physics olympiad question but can be a bit confusing, the emphasis is on understanding basic physics rather
• Paper 1
   

  Paper 1

  Format of the Paper Paper 1 is a multiple choice paper, each question has 4 alternative answers and the student must pick the best one. No calculators can be used in this paper but that's ok since the questions are set so that one is not needed. Unlike in chemistry, physics students students ARE allowed to use the data book in paper 1. The SL paper has 30 questions on the core that must be answered in 45min The HL paper has 40 questions that must be answered in 1
  • Worked Solutions
     

    Worked Solutions

    The IB mark scheme gives the letters of the correct answers but not the complete solution. The examiners report gives some more details and statistics but again no worked solution. Here I have written out how I would solve each problem, this may not be the intended way and there has been a lot of OCC discussion on a couple of them but I've done it anyway. Students need to be familiar with MC tests so you will need to practice this sort of question however I find that students
    • P1 Nov 2010
       

      P1 Nov 2010

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    • P1 May 2009 TZ1
       

      P1 May 2009 TZ1

      1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
    • P1 May 2009 TZ2
       

      P1 May 2009 TZ2

      1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
    • P1 Nov 2009
       

      P1 Nov 2009

      1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
    • P1 May 2010 TZ1
       

      P1 May 2010 TZ1

      1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
    • P1 May 2010 TZ2
       

      P1 May 2010 TZ2

      1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
    • P1 may 2011 TZ1
       

      P1 may 2011 TZ1

      1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
    • P1 May 2011 TZ2
       

      P1 May 2011 TZ2

      1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.
• Paper 2
   

  Paper 2

  Format of the Paper Paper 2 consists of questions with gaps for the answers, like this. The answers are to be filled in in the gaps but it's possible to use extra sheets of paper if necessary. Students with special needs can answer the questions using a computer but this needs to be arranged through the schools diploma coordinator. The standard level paper has two sections, section A has 3 compulsory questions, section B has 3 questions but students only answer 1 of them. All questions are about the core.
  • Marking
     

    Marking

    After the exam is finished the papers are put into an envelope and posted directly to an assistant examiner who marks about 100 papers according to the mark scheme. All assistant examiners must complete an online course where they mark example scripts and discuss the answers with one of the team leaders. About a week after the exam the assistant examiners receive the mark scheme, this has already been checked by the team leaders who send by email any corrections or additions. Mark schemes can be bought from the OCC
  • Worked Solutions
     

    Worked Solutions

    The IB markshemes are essential for understanding how the marks are awarded but are not complete solutions, for that reason I decided to make my own with some comments in red. Due to copyright reasons I can't reproduce the questions on this website so you will have to buy the paper from the OCC shop. If your school has been doing the IB for some time you will probably already have
    • P2 May2009 TZ1
       

      P2 May2009 TZ1

      May 2009 time Zone 2 paper 2 A1 Data Analysis (Electrical resistance of mercury) A2 Impulse A3 Internal energy, heat and ideal gases A4 Alternating current A5 Energy transfer B1 part 1 Electrical fields and circuits B1 part 2 Atomic and Nuclear B2 part 1 Greenhouse effect B2 part 2 Digital Storage devices B3 part 1 SHM and waves B3 part 2 Gravitational fields and Potential B4 part 1 Radioactive decay B4 part 2 Diffraction and resolution
    • P2 May2009 TZ2
       

      P2 May2009 TZ2

      May 2009 time Zone 2 paper 2 A1 Data Analysis (Liquid flow) A2 Electrical resistance A3 Force fields A4 Wave power A5 CCD B1 part 1 Dynamics and energy B1 part 2 Charged particles in E field B2 part 1 Ideal gases B2 part 2 Fossil fuel B3 part 1 SHM and waves B3 part 2 Diffraction B4 part 1 Alpha scattering B4 part 2 Albedo
    • P2 Nov 2009
       

      P2 Nov 2009

      November 2009 paper 2 A1 Data Analysis (Waves in a stretched wire) A2 Thermal energy transfer A3 Gravitational and electric fields A4 Microwaves A5 Forces B1 Electrical energy and global warming B2 part 1 Nuclear fission and fusion B2 part 2 CCD B3 part 1 SHM B3 part 2 Thermodynamics B4 part 1 Electrical circuits B4 part 2 Electrons
    • P2 May 2010 TZ1
       

      P2 May 2010 TZ1

      May 2010 time Zone 2 paper 2 A1 Data Analysis A2 Forces A3 Solar heating panels A4 Generator A5 Ideal gas B1 part 1 Solar radiation B1 part 2 CCD B2 part 1 Water waves B2 part 2 Projectile motion B3 part 1 Nuclear decay and ionization B3 part 2 Radio waves B4 part 1 Electrical heater B4 part 2 Hydrogen atom
    • P2 May 2010 TZ2
       

      P2 May 2010 TZ2

      May 2010 time Zone 2 paper 2 A1 Data Analysis A2 Radioactive decay and Binding energy A3 Phase Change A4 Induced EMF and Transformers A5 Standing Waves A6 Polarised light B1 part 1 Electrical fields and resistance B1 part 2 Radioactive decay B2 part 1 Oscillations and waves B2 part 2 Gases and Thermodynamicsnbsp; B3 part 1 Fossil fuels and Greenhouse effect B3 part 2 Electric Potential B4 part 1 Momentum Energy and Power B4 part 2 CCD and Digital Data
    • P2 May 2011 TZ1
       

      P2 May 2011 TZ1

      May 2011 time Zone 1 paper 2 A1 Data Analysis A2 Gravitational field A3 Polarization A4 Thermodynamics A5 Circular motion B1 part 1 CCD and Photons B1 part 2 SHM B2 part 1 Mechanics and thermal physics B2 part 2 Nuclear physics B3 part 1 Quantum aspects of the electron B3 part 2 Electric circuits B4 part 1 Energy balance of the Earth B4 part 2 Motion in a magnetic field and electromagnetic induction
    • P2 May 2011 TZ2
       

      P2 May 2011 TZ2

      May 2011 time Zone 2 paper 2 A1 Data Analysis A2 Kinematics A3 Heat A4 Atomic and Nuclear A5 States of a gas A6 Induced EMF B1 part 1 Electrical charge and resistance B1 part 2 orbital motion B2 part 1 Power production and global warming B2 part 2 CCD B3 part 1 Power and Efficiency B3 part 2 Photo electric effect B4 part 1 SHM and Wavesr
• Paper 3
   

  Paper 3

  Format of the Paper Paper 3 is the same format as paper 2 but the questions are on the options. Refer to the section on paper 2 for comments on the type of question and marking as it is the same. Paper 3 is 1½ hours long and consists of 6 questions (EFGHIJ), one for each option: E Astrophysics F Communications G Electromagnetic Waves H Relativity I Medical physics J Particles Each question is split into 4 or 5 parts. Students can answer any 2 questions but they would be
  • Marking
     

    Marking

    As with paper 2 the completed scripts are put in an envelope and sent directly to the assistant examiner who uses a markscheme similar to the paper 2 markscheme. To mark a question properly the examiner has to understand the background of the question, this is not easy for paper 3 markers who probably havent actualy taught all of the topics, this will be partiularly true after the latest syllabus change introduced such topics as Feynam diagrams, CCD's and Op amps. Having said that, my experience of marking paper 2
  • Worked Solutions
     

    Worked Solutions

    • P3 May 2009 TZ1
       

      P3 May 2009 TZ1

      May 2009 time Zone 1 paper 3 E Astrophysics F Communications G Electromagnetic waves H Relativity I Medical J Particles
    • P3 May 2009 TZ2
       

      P3 May 2009 TZ2

      May 2009 time Zone 2 paper 3 E Astrophysics F Communications G Electromagnetic waves H Relativity I Medical J Particles
    • P3 Nov 2009
       

      P3 Nov 2009

      May 2009 time Zone 2 paper 3 E Astrophysics F Communications G Electromagnetic waves H Relativity I Medical J Particles
    • P3 May 2010 TZ1
       

      P3 May 2010 TZ1

      May 2010 time Zone 1 paper 3 E Astrophysics F Communications G Electromagnetic waves H Relativity I Medical J Particles
    • P3 May 2010 TZ2
       

      P3 May 2010 TZ2

      May 2010 time Zone 2 paper 3 E Astrophysics F Communications G Electromagnetic waves H Relativity I Medical J Particles
    • P3 May 2011 TZ1
       

      P3 May 2011 TZ1

      May 2011 time Zone 1 paper 3 E Astrophysics F Communications G Electromagnetic waves H Relativity I Medical J Particles
    • P3 May 2011 TZ2
       

      P3 May 2011 TZ2

      May 2011 time Zone 2 paper 3 E Astrophysics F Communications G Electromagnetic waves H Relativity I Medical J Particles

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