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International Baccalaureate · IB Diploma Programme

IB Diploma Programme Physics

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Physics. What it covers, how it is assessed, a link to the official syllabus, and the free study material Marlbridge publishes for it.

Syllabus
DP Physics
Board
International Baccalaureate
Qualification
IB Diploma Programme
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Topics and resources

89 free resources, 5 of 5 topics covered

Each topic below is from the official International Baccalaureate document for International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Physics, with its study guides, revision notes and practice questions together. Everything here is for IB Diploma Programme Physics only.

  • Learn with study guides
  • Revise with revision notes
  • Practise with practice questions
  1. Topic 1 16 resources

    A. Space, time and motion

    Covers Kinematics, Forces and momentum, Work, energy and power, Rigid body mechanics (HL only), Galilean and special relativity (HL only)

    Study guides 6

    Revision notes 5

    Practice questions 5

  2. Topic 2 22 resources

    B. The particulate nature of matter

    Covers Thermal energy transfers, Greenhouse effect, Gas laws, Thermodynamics (HL only), Current and circuits

    Study guides 8

    Revision notes 7

    Practice questions 7

  3. Topic 3 16 resources

    C. Wave behaviour

    Covers Simple harmonic motion, Wave model, Wave phenomena, Standing waves and resonance, Doppler effect

    Study guides 6

    Revision notes 5

    Practice questions 5

  4. Topic 4 19 resources

    D. Fields

    Covers Gravitational fields, Electric and magnetic fields, Motion in electromagnetic fields, Induction (HL only)

    Study guides 7

    Revision notes 6

    Practice questions 6

  5. Topic 5 19 resources

    E. Nuclear and quantum physics

    Covers Structure of the atom, Quantum physics (HL only), Radioactive decay, Fission, Fusion and stars

    Study guides 7

    Revision notes 6

    Practice questions 6

Covering more than one topic

Course guides, exam preparation and pages that span several topics.

Study guides

No study guide for this course yet.

Revision notes

No revision notes for this course yet.

Practice questions

Source: International Baccalaureate Organization, Physics guide (Diploma Programme), first assessment 2025 — First assessment 2025. Verified 2026-09-17. Subtopics are shown where Marlbridge has entered them; a topic may have more in the official document. A topic listed here is part of the syllabus; it does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.

About this course

Qualification
IB Diploma Programme Physics
Spec code
DP Physics
Does Marlbridge teach it?
Yes — request a free trial class
Who teaches it?
Iftikhar Azeemi · Jawad Tariq · Hassan
Are resources available?
Yes — 89 published
Is enrolment open?
Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
Official syllabus
International Baccalaureate syllabus
Topic checklist
Printable DP Physics checklist
Where was this verified?
2026-08-28, official International Baccalaureate specification

Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official International Baccalaureate specification on 2026-08-28.

Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.

The qualification

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Physics

Marlbridge's summary of the course

IB DP Physics develops an understanding of the fundamental concepts and principles of physics through five topics (space/time/motion, particulate nature of matter, wave behaviour, fields, and nuclear/quantum physics), combining theory with a self-directed scientific investigation, at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL).

The board's own description is on the official International Baccalaureate syllabus page.

First assessments 2025. This record and its matching assessment record are sourced from the full subject guide (physics-guide.pdf), originally accessed under a 2026-08-22 owner licensing confirmation, cross-verified against a current (Aug 2026) published school IB Physics resource for the exact SL/HL paper mark totals – see the matching assessment record's own notes for the full sourcing chain. Owner decision 2026-09-05 retired that licensing framing – no formal IB license is claimed or required. Five topics (A-E, with HL-only sub-topics within several) plus an internal assessment (individual scientific investigation).

Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the International Baccalaureate syllabus page for your examination year.

Assessment structure

Component-based qualification

Assessment components for International Baccalaureate Physics DP Physics
Component Duration Marks Weighting Type
Paper 1: Paper 1 – Paper 1A Multiple-choice Questions and Paper 1B Data-based Questions (SL) 1h 30m 45 36% Multiple choice
Paper 2: Paper 2 – Short and Extended Response (SL) 1h 30m 55 44% Written exam
Internal Assessment: Internal Assessment – Individual Scientific Investigation (SL) — 24 20% Practical
Paper 1: Paper 1 – Paper 1A Multiple-choice Questions and Paper 1B Data-based Questions (HL) 2h 60 36% Multiple choice
Paper 2: Paper 2 – Short and Extended Response (HL) 2h 30m 90 44% Written exam
Internal Assessment: Internal Assessment – Individual Scientific Investigation (HL) — 24 20% Practical

Source: official International Baccalaureate specification, verified 2026-08-28. Read from the Physics guide (first assessment 2025, physics-guide.pdf, ibo.org), Assessment outline SL and HL (pp. 62-63 of the guide, PDF pp. 68-69) and External assessment details (PDF pp. 70-71), read 2026-09-17 in a browser. SL: Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes, 45 marks, 36%) is presented as two separate booklets completed together without interruption, "Paper 1A—25 marks • 25 multiple-choice questions on standard level material only" and "Paper 1B—20 marks • Data-based questions"; Paper 2 (1 hour 30 minutes, "Marks: 55", 44%), short-answer and extended-response questions on standard level material only; internal assessment, the scientific investigation (24 marks, 20%), internally assessed and externally moderated. HL: Paper 1 (2 hours, 60 marks, 36%), "Paper 1A—40 marks • 40 multiple-choice questions on standard level and additional higher level material" and "Paper 1B—20 marks • Data-based questions"; Paper 2 (2 hours 30 minutes, 90 marks, 44%); internal assessment as SL. Calculators permitted and a clean copy of the Physics data booklet required on both papers. Correction 2026-09-17: SL Paper 2 marks 50 to 55 and the Paper 1 titles, which had described one mixed paper, now name Papers 1A and 1B; the earlier note's reliance on a school revision page is withdrawn.

Questions about this course

How is International Baccalaureate Physics (DP Physics) assessed?

International Baccalaureate Physics (DP Physics) is assessed through: SL candidates take: Paper 1 (Paper 1 – Paper 1A Multiple-choice Questions and Paper 1B Data-based Questions) — 1h 30m, 45 marks, 36% of the qualification; Paper 2 (Paper 2 – Short and Extended Response) — 1h 30m, 55 marks, 44% of the qualification; Internal Assessment (Internal Assessment – Individual Scientific Investigation) — no fixed duration, 24 marks, 20% of the qualification. HL candidates take: Paper 1 (Paper 1 – Paper 1A Multiple-choice Questions and Paper 1B Data-based Questions) — 2h, 60 marks, 36% of the qualification; Paper 2 (Paper 2 – Short and Extended Response) — 2h 30m, 90 marks, 44% of the qualification; Internal Assessment (Internal Assessment – Individual Scientific Investigation) — no fixed duration, 24 marks, 20% of the qualification. It is a component based qualification. Source: official International Baccalaureate specification, verified 2026-08-28.

What topics does IB Diploma Programme Physics cover?

5 topics in the current syllabus: A. Space, time and motion; B. The particulate nature of matter; C. Wave behaviour; D. Fields; E. Nuclear and quantum physics. The printable topic checklist lists every topic and subtopic on one page.

Can I get a tutor for IB Diploma Programme Physics?

Yes. Marlbridge teaches IB Diploma Programme Physics live online, one-to-one only, taught by a named subject teacher from its academy in Lahore, Pakistan. The first trial class is free.

Are there free IB Diploma Programme Physics revision notes and practice questions?

Yes. Marlbridge has published 89 free resources for this course (study guides, practice questions, revision notes, exam preparation guides), free to read with no sign-up.

The subject

Physics teaching and study resources, organised by level and topic.

All Physics at Marlbridge

Physics at other qualifications

These are separate qualifications with different syllabuses and assessments — not different names for the same course. Check which one your school enters you for.

Related articles

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