How to revise IB Physics (SL and HL) so the facts actually stick — and how to use the tools on this site to get there with short, daily sessions rather than last-minute cramming.
IB Physics is assessed by two written papers plus an internal assessment (an independent scientific investigation worth 20%). You take it at Standard Level (SL) or Higher Level (HL) — HL adds the additional-higher-level (AHL) content and has longer papers. The final grade is 1–7.
| Component | SL | HL |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (multiple choice + data-based) | 1h30 · 36% | 2h00 · 36% |
| Paper 2 (short + extended response) | 1h30 · 44% | 2h30 · 44% |
| Internal assessment (investigation) | 20% at both levels | |
Paper 1 has Section A (multiple choice) and Section B (data-based questions); both papers rely on the IB data booklet, so practise finding and using its values. HL students must also master the AHL material flagged in the syllabus.
Marks are lost every year by answering the wrong "type" of question. Train yourself to spot the command word and give exactly what it asks for:
Reading notes feels productive but is one of the weakest ways to revise. Active recall — trying to retrieve an answer from memory before checking — is far more effective, and it is exactly what this site is built around:
Revisit each topic several times with gaps of days, not in one long block. Short daily sessions beat a single marathon: your per-topic scores show what to come back to, and correctly answered questions and flashcards are deliberately set aside so you do not waste time on what you already know.
About 20% of your grade is the internal assessment — an independent investigation marked on research design, data analysis, conclusion and evaluation. Build those skills as you revise: design controlled experiments, process data with uncertainties and significant figures, plot and interpret graphs, and evaluate sources of error. Get fluent with the IB physics data booklet (fundamental constants, the equations you are given, and unit and quantity data) so you can locate and use values quickly under exam pressure.