7 tips to score a 7 in IB Physics

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Physics program is renowned for its challenging nature, requiring students to possess a firm understanding of both theoretical and practical knowledge. To achieve a top score of 7 in IB Physics, students need to cultivate excellent study habits, grasp the fundamentals, apply critical thinking, and integrate their knowledge across various contexts. Here are seven tips to help you achieve this goal:

1. Understand the IB Physics syllabus:

The first step towards scoring a 7 in IB Physics is to familiarize yourself with the syllabus. The IB Physics syllabus covers a broad range of topics, from mechanics to electromagnetism, and includes both core and optional higher-level topics. Study the syllabus thoroughly and understand the learning objectives, outcomes, and assessment criteria. This will give you a clear understanding of what is expected of you and how you will be evaluated.

Physics was a whole package when I first saw the HL syllabus. It ranged from uncertainties to the stars in space. While it was a vast area to cover, it seemed pretty interesting to me. From what I understood from my seniors at school, if you’re not interested in Physics, don’t bother taking the subject as a higher level subject. If you are doing it only as a college requirement, consider taking it as a standard level subject. Before I started with my classes, I went through a comprehensively explained syllabus about what I should expect in the next two years. It really prepared me for what I would be taught. 

2. Master the fundamental concepts:

IB Physics is built on fundamental concepts that form the foundation of more complex topics. These include motion, energy, forces, and waves, among others. Ensure that you thoroughly understand these concepts and practice applying them to various situations. Utilize textbooks, online resources, and past papers to enhance your grasp of these topics.

This is by far the most important thing I learned in the course. If you don’t get your foundation right, it’s going to be really difficult. Since the physics foundation is primarily based on mathematical formulas, it amounts to a significant portion of understanding the subject. It might take you a while to get familiar but it is essential. In addition to the formula, there are the SI units and the constants. If you know when and where to use the constants (and the formula) half your worries are solved!

3. Cultivate problem-solving skills:

IB Physics requires strong problem-solving skills that go beyond mere memorization. Practice solving different types of problems and applying your knowledge to real-world scenarios. Aim to understand the underlying principles and concepts rather than just memorizing solutions. This approach will help you tackle unfamiliar problems on the exam and in real-life situations.

Problem solving skills are a necessity in Physics because it involves math heavily and a lot of real world applications. If you look around you, you’ll see physics applied one way or another. It was a real eye opener the first time I realized that. Once I came across that thought, I just began to try to understand how physics was applied in real life and not just through scenarios in the textbooks and exam papers. IB is all about understanding the concept and what better to do than to learn the application in the real world. Whenever you solve a problem, just don’t memorize the steps in the marking scheme for a specific kind of problem. In all honesty, that’s how I started off before I recognized two things. One, if I memorize one format, I will not be able to answer the question when the concept presents itself in a different way. Two, memorizing is just a waste of time. If you’re going to continue learning physics, might as well make the foundation stronger by learning than mugging up.

4. Use visual aids to enhance your understanding:

Physics can be an abstract subject, and visual aids such as diagrams, graphs, and videos can be invaluable in enhancing your understanding of complex concepts. Use these visual aids to visualize physical phenomena, understand the behavior of physical systems, and explain the properties of different materials.

Visual aids are always a bonus and some people definitely prefer it over reading a wall of text from the textbook (unless actually they don’t mind doing it). I, for one, always preferred visual aid whether it be in the form of videos, graphs, infographics or diagrams. They registered much easily in my head so I could just remember a distinct image rather than a page of text during an exam or test. Reading a textbook can be overwhelming with the amount of concepts you need to learn. But, once you condense them all down with a mix of some of your own notes and diagrams, you’ll be more comfortable with it and you can rely on these more because you wrote them.You’d just be reviewing your own understanding of the subject content and practically brushing up your memory. 

5. Practice past papers and understand the exam format:

The IB Physics exam includes multiple-choice questions, structured questions, and extended response questions. To perform well, you must familiarize yourself with the exam format and practice past papers to develop your exam-taking skills. Make sure to understand the marking scheme and assessment criteria so that you can structure your answers accordingly.

Past papers are a must-do. I cannot reinstate this enough. Like I mentioned before, IB tests your understanding skills and not memorization skills. So even if you have the entire textbook by heart, there is no point in knowing everything until and unless you are able to apply them during the exam. This is where the past papers will help you. They familiarize you with exam style questions and the kind of questions you can expect. And the best part, these IBDP past papers are almost available everywhere along with their marking scheme. So you can see how exactly they allocate marks in the question. For example, there might be some keywords that need to be mentioned or some key steps that are significant in a mathematical calculation. This is where you learn about the step marks and how you can score marks for the thought process rather than just the final answer. I did this from the very beginning alongside the textbook questions and they really helped me familiarize myself with the topic. I would strongly recommend that you make this a habit from the beginning. 

6. Seek help from teachers and peers:

IB Physics can be a daunting subject, and you may require assistance at some point. Do not hesitate to seek help from your teacher for clarification on a concept or topic, or to join study groups with your peers to discuss difficult concepts and practice problem-solving skills.

Physics can be a demanding subject. Especially for one student by themselves. I could never just understand everything on my own. I needed help, almost constantly. But I saw this as a positive opportunity because when someone taught me, I’d just go teach my peers. And when I repeat what I learn, it stays in my memory longer because I understand the reasoning behind why it is the way it is. Again, clarifying doubts and your questions is integral if you want a smooth sailing through your syllabus – even if that means breathing down your faculty’s neck. I sure did the same and it paid off. On another note, I’m not exactly sure as to how far ‘self-study’ goes or ‘study groups’ go, but it works in different ways for each person. Some people would like to sit with other people when they study so they can discuss and go through the material fast. I would recommend this method too until the group is probably limited to 3 people maximum. If more join, it tends to become noisy and distracting. As for self study, if you feel like you need the silence and the patience, this is the method to follow. Nevertheless, it depends on what you, as a student, would prefer doing and what you would find productive.

7. Stay organized and manage your time effectively:

IB Physics is a content-heavy subject that requires excellent time management skills. Create a study plan that includes time for reviewing notes, practicing problems, and completing past papers. Stay organized and keep track of your progress to ensure that you are staying on top of your workload and achieving your goals.

Effective time management skills. Making a study timetable. You and I have seen these phrases almost everywhere. I’m here to tell you that these methods need to be done and will give you effective results. You need to learn to prioritize, practice and allocate time, if you want to stay on top of the class. Being messy and chaotic could only lead to more confusion and that consequently wastes time. Therefore, in order to avoid this problem, instead of making an hour to hour study timetable, you could perhaps just allocate a subject a day so you’re not time bound to do your internals, practice questions or read the textbook. You’d be ahead if you don’t procrastinate. I have to agree, most students do but they fail to realize the severity of the consequences like sleepless nights and staring into tiny text all day long. 

In conclusion, achieving a 7 in IB Physics requires hard work, dedication, and perseverance. By following these seven tips, you can develop a deep understanding of the subject, cultivate strong problem-solving skills, and ace the IB Physics exam. Don’t be afraid to seek help when needed and remember to stay focused, organized, and determined. With these qualities, anything is possible. Good luck!