IB Physics tutor online
Taught for IB.
At a glance
Our IB Physics tutors teach the Diploma Programme Physics course at SL and HL through live 1:1 or small-group online classes. Lessons follow the five themes of the current guide, from space, time and motion to nuclear and quantum physics, and build confidence with data-based questions, extended responses and the scientific investigation.
IB Physics key facts
| IB | IB Diploma Programme Physics, 3 papers/components (official syllabus) |
|---|---|
| May session series | Exams run from late April to May; results are released in early July. |
| November session series | Exams run in November; results are released in mid-December (16 December for the 2024 and 2025 sessions). |
| Topics covered | 25 syllabus topics, with past-paper practice |
| Lesson format | Live online, 1:1 (60 min) or small group (75 min); first class free |
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IB Physics attracts students aiming for engineering, physics, astrophysics, architecture and computer science, and it pairs naturally with Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches. Higher Level is commonly requested for physical science and engineering degrees, though each university sets its own conditions. The current guide, first assessed in 2025, is organised into five themes: space, time and motion; the particulate nature of matter; wave behaviour; fields; and nuclear and quantum physics, with HL adding rigid body mechanics, relativity, thermodynamics, induction and quantum physics.
Paper 1 combines multiple-choice questions in Paper 1A with data-based questions in Paper 1B, lasts 90 minutes at SL or two hours at HL, and contributes 36%. Paper 2 contains short-answer and extended-response questions, runs for 90 minutes at SL or two and a half hours at HL, and carries 44%. The scientific investigation supplies the final 20% at both levels. Physicists also complete a collaborative sciences project with students from other science subjects, which is required but not graded.
The biggest jump from IGCSE, GCSE or MYP science is mathematical: rearranging equations, resolving vectors and handling uncertainties become routine expectations. Fields and circuits often feel abstract until students draw careful diagrams, while the move from numerical answers to explained reasoning in extended responses surprises many. We use the physics data booklet in every lesson so its equations become familiar tools, and we practise estimating orders of magnitude so answers can be sense-checked quickly.
How is IB Physics examined?
IB Diploma Programme Physics
Official syllabus from IB| Paper | Duration | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (Paper 1A multiple-choice + Paper 1B data-based questions) | 1 hour 30 minutes (SL) / 2 hours (HL) | – | 36% (SL and HL) |
| Paper 2 (short-answer and extended-response) | 1 hour 30 minutes (SL) / 2 hours 30 minutes (HL) | – | 44% (SL and HL) |
| Internal assessment: scientific investigation | – | – | 20% (SL and HL) |
New guide, first assessment 2025. Teaching hours: 150 (SL) / 240 (HL). A physics data booklet is provided. Students also complete the collaborative sciences project, which is required but not graded.
May session series
Exams run from late April to May; results are released in early July.
November session series
Exams run in November; results are released in mid-December (16 December for the 2024 and 2025 sessions).
Plan your revision with our exam dates guide and where to find official past papers.
What topics are in IB Physics?
- 1
A.1 Kinematics
Treating displacement and distance as interchangeable, especially when reading velocity–time graphs.
- 2
A.2 Forces and momentum
Drawing free-body diagrams that include forces the object exerts rather than forces acting on it.
- 3
A.3 Work, energy and power
Forgetting to account for energy dissipated to the surroundings when calculating efficiency.
- 4
A.4 Rigid body mechanics (HL)
Using linear quantities where angular equivalents such as moment of inertia are required.
- 5
A.5 Galilean and special relativity (HL)
Mixing up proper time and proper length, or which observer's frame measures each.
- 6
B.1 Thermal energy transfers
Confusing specific heat capacity with specific latent heat during a change of state.
- 7
B.2 Greenhouse effect
Describing the absorption and re-emission of infrared radiation vaguely instead of naming the mechanism.
- 8
B.3 Gas laws
Substituting temperatures in degrees Celsius instead of kelvin.
- 9
B.4 Thermodynamics (HL)
Applying the first law with the wrong sign for work done by or on the gas.
- 10
B.5 Current and circuits
Misplacing voltmeters and ammeters, or ignoring internal resistance when it is given.
- 11
C.1 Simple harmonic motion
Not stating that acceleration is proportional to displacement and directed opposite to it.
- 12
C.2 Wave model
Confusing the directions of oscillation in transverse and longitudinal waves when sketching them.
- 13
C.3 Wave phenomena
Using the wrong path-difference condition for constructive or destructive interference.
- 14
C.4 Standing waves and resonance
Mislabelling nodes and antinodes at the open and closed ends of pipes.
- 15
C.5 Doppler effect
Shifting the observed frequency in the wrong direction for an approaching or receding source.
- 16
D.1 Gravitational fields
Measuring distance from the planet's surface rather than from its centre.
- 17
D.2 Electric and magnetic fields
Drawing field lines that cross, or that point the wrong way between charges.
- 18
D.3 Motion in electromagnetic fields
Getting the direction of the magnetic force wrong for negatively charged particles.
- 19
D.4 Induction (HL)
Quoting Lenz's law without explaining what change the induced current opposes.
- 20
E.1 Structure of the atom
Describing scattering results without linking them to the nuclear model of the atom.
- 21
E.2 Quantum physics (HL)
Claiming intensity, rather than frequency, decides whether photoelectrons are emitted.
- 22
E.3 Radioactive decay
Misapplying half-life when the elapsed time is not a whole number of half-lives.
- 23
E.4 Fission
Not conserving nucleon and proton numbers when completing a nuclear equation.
- 24
E.5 Fusion and stars
Misreading the reversed temperature axis of a Hertzsprung–Russell diagram.
- 25
Internal assessment: scientific investigation
Choosing a research question that cannot generate enough data points or a meaningful range.
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How do our online Physics classes work?
Diagnostic
A short check of what your child already knows against the syllabus.
Topic teaching
Clear explanations on a shared whiteboard, one topic at a time.
Past-paper practice
Exam questions from your board, timed and marked to the mark scheme.
Feedback
What went well, what to fix and what to practise before next class.
How do you get top marks in IB Physics?
In Paper 1A, eliminate options using units and limiting cases before doing any calculation.
For Paper 1B data-based questions, read axis labels and units carefully before taking values from graphs.
Show substitution into each equation, with units, so method marks survive an arithmetic slip.
Match significant figures to the data in the question rather than copying every calculator digit.
In extended responses, use precise terms such as resultant force or work done instead of everyday words.
Know where each equation sits in the data booklet so you do not waste exam time searching.
How much does IB Physics tutoring cost?
Prices shown in US dollars
- Recommended
One-to-one
Fully personalised to your child
USD 35 / class
- 60-minute live classes at times you choose
- A plan built from a diagnostic of your child's gaps
- Past-paper practice marked against the mark scheme
- Progress notes for parents
Small group
Up to 6 students, 8 live classes a month
USD 10 / class
- 75-minute live classes, 8 per month
- Taught to your exam board and syllabus code
- Weekly past-paper questions with feedback
- Class recordings and notes
Intensive exam prep
12 one-to-one classes a month before exams
USD 32 / class
- Three 60-minute classes a week
- Timed past papers and full mock exams
- Topic-by-topic weak-spot drills
- Pack discount of 10% applied
Prices are per class unless shown per month: one-to-one classes are 60 minutes and group classes 75 minutes. Your trial class is free and doesn't turn into a paid plan by itself. Pricing FAQ
IB Physics FAQs
Should I take IB Physics at HL or SL?
Take IB Physics at HL if you are planning engineering, physics or another physical science degree, because many such courses expect it, but requirements vary, so check each university's published entry requirements. SL suits students who want a solid science background without the extra HL content in rotation, relativity, thermodynamics, induction and quantum physics. Strong mathematics makes either level considerably more manageable.
Is IB Physics hard?
IB Physics is challenging for most students because it combines conceptual understanding with substantial mathematics and written explanation. The hardest parts tend to be fields, relativity at HL and extended responses that require reasoning in clear steps. Regular problem practice, careful use of the data booklet and early feedback on written answers make the course far more manageable than cramming before exams.
What changed in the new IB Physics syllabus?
The current IB Physics guide, first assessed in 2025, reorganised the content into five themes, running from space, time and motion to nuclear and quantum physics. Paper 1 now combines a multiple-choice section with a data-based section, and Paper 2 holds the short-answer and extended-response questions. Students using older revision resources should check that topics and question styles match the current guide.
What is the IB Physics IA?
The IB Physics IA is a scientific investigation that you design and carry out yourself, and it counts for 20% of the final grade at both SL and HL. You choose a focused research question, collect and process data, evaluate uncertainties and reach a justified conclusion. Tutors can help you test ideas and understand what is expected, while the investigation and report remain your own.
How do I get a 7 in IB Physics?
No approach guarantees a 7, but secure understanding of every theme, fluent calculation skills and a well-planned investigation give you a strong foundation. Practise data-based questions regularly, since they reward careful reading of graphs and tables. Mark your own past-paper answers against mark schemes to learn the expected wording, and revisit weaker themes repeatedly rather than only once.
Do I need IB Maths AA to take IB Physics?
You do not need Maths AA to take IB Physics, but you must be comfortable with algebra, trigonometry, graphs and logarithms. Students taking Maths AI can succeed in physics at either level with extra practice on rearranging equations and resolving vectors. If you are aiming for engineering, check whether your target universities also specify a particular mathematics course and level.
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