Physics Past Papers 2026
Browse all available Physics sessions from 2001-2026. This archive currently includes 843 official papers and 19 donated papers.
54
Sessions
862
Papers
843
Official
2001-2026
Years
May 2026
Latest Session
54
Sessions
2001–2026
250
Question Papers
138
Markschemes
55% coverage
Components & time pressure
Marks per minute = how fast you have to write. Anything above 0.85 is tight; above 1.0 is brutal.
| Paper | Component | Marks | Duration | Marks / min | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1A | Multiple Choice | 40 | 2h (40 MCQs) | 0.25 | Steady |
| Paper 1B | Data-based and Skills | 20 | Identical for HL and SL (included in Paper 1 time) | — | — |
| Paper 2 | Structured Questions | 90 | 2h 30m (90 marks) | 0.60 | Steady |
Components: 7 papers, up to 8 variants each. Component data extracted from 6 official IB subject reports (2024, 2025).
May 2026
Latest Session
54
Sessions
2001–2026
252
Question Papers
143
Markschemes
57% coverage
Components & time pressure
Marks per minute = how fast you have to write. Anything above 0.85 is tight; above 1.0 is brutal.
| Paper | Component | Marks | Duration | Marks / min | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1A | Multiple Choice | 25 | 1h 30m (25 MCQs) | 0.28 | Steady |
| Paper 1B | Data-based and Skills | 20 | Identical for HL and SL (included in Paper 1 time) | — | — |
| Paper 2 | Structured Questions | 50 | 1h 30m (50 marks) | 0.56 | Steady |
Components: 5 papers, up to 5 variants each. Component data extracted from 6 official IB subject reports (2024, 2025).
Yearly Exam Sessions
What IB examiners say about Physics
Verbatim quotes from 6 official IB subject reports (2025–2024). Every quote is attributable to a specific paper and session — these are the things IB markers flag year after year.
Failing to explain microscopic mechanisms
Students found a larger challenge when questions required them to connect macro phenomena with micro mechanisms (e.g., thermal conduction, entropy).
Powers of ten errors and wrong units in calculations
A high proportion of students were not well focused on the use of units and powers of ten. Even if we do not penalise wrong or missing units in most sub-questions, such mistakes often disrupt the student's fluency and lead to other, more serious errors.
Not reading questions carefully
Errors stemmed not from misunderstanding of physics content, but from lapses in exam techniques: missing key terms in responses, misreading the intent of a question, or neglecting necessary quantities.
About IB Physics
IB Physics is one of the most popular and challenging Group 4 sciences in the IB Diploma Programme. It covers core topics including mechanics, thermal physics, waves, electricity and magnetism, circular motion, atomic and nuclear physics, and energy production. Higher Level students additionally study wave phenomena, fields, electromagnetic induction, quantum and nuclear physics, and two optional topics.
Past papers are essential for IB Physics revision. Practising Paper 1 multiple-choice sharpens conceptual understanding, while Paper 2 and Paper 3 exam questions develop extended-response skills and data analysis. Our archive includes official and donated IB Physics question papers and mark schemes from May and November sessions dating back to 2010, covering both the current syllabus and legacy papers.
Exam Format
Paper 1 (SL: 45 min / HL: 1 hr)
Multiple-choice questions testing core concepts. SL: 30 questions; HL: 40 questions. No calculator allowed.
Paper 2 (SL: 1 hr 15 min / HL: 2 hr 15 min)
Short-answer and extended-response questions on core and AHL topics. Data booklet provided.
Paper 3 (SL: 1 hr / HL: 1 hr 15 min)
Section A: data-based question and short experimental questions. Section B: optional topic questions.
SL vs HL
IB Physics SL covers the core syllabus (Topics 1–8) and one option topic. HL adds five additional topics (Topics 9–12 and an extended option), requiring deeper mathematical treatment and additional hours of teaching. HL students typically score lower on average but gain stronger preparation for university-level physics.
Study Tips for IB Physics
- ✓Work through Paper 1 past papers under timed conditions — aim for 1 minute per SL question, 90 seconds per HL question.
- ✓Always show full working in Papers 2 and 3; method marks are awarded even if the final answer is wrong.
- ✓Memorise key equations not in the data booklet (e.g. Ohm's law, kinematic equations).
- ✓For Paper 3 Section A, practise interpreting graphs and calculating uncertainties — this is consistently tested.
- ✓Review mark schemes after every practice paper to understand exactly what examiners want.
- ✓Focus on common high-mark topics: mechanics, electricity, and waves account for the majority of marks.
- ✓Use the IB Physics data booklet in every practice session so you know exactly what's provided.
Questions, answered.
IB Physics has three written papers: Paper 1 (multiple choice), Paper 2 (short answer and extended response), and Paper 3 (data analysis and options). Internal Assessment counts for 20% of the final grade.
HL Physics covers 5 additional topics beyond the SL core, requires more mathematical rigour, and has longer exam papers. Most universities give IB Physics HL credit towards science or engineering degrees.
IB Physics is considered one of the toughest IB subjects. Globally, around 20–25% of HL students achieve a 7. Consistent past paper practice and strong mathematical skills are the key differentiators.
Our archive includes a mix of official IBO-released papers and donated papers uploaded by students and teachers. Each session is labelled as 'official' or 'donated' on the subject page.
Our IB Physics archive spans sessions from 2010 to 2025, including both May and November examination series. Both the current (2023 syllabus) and legacy papers are included.