IBDP – SCIENCES – PHYSICS

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP) is a rigorous assessment programme for students aged 16-19. This course is well respected by universities worldwide and provides high quality education to students. It encourages students to be curious, knowledgeable, open minded, empathetic while inculcating values and attitudes in them.IBDP offers over 30 courses from six subject groups, from each of these subject groups; students have a choice to pick subjects that interest them.

Generally, three subjects are taken at the Higher Level (HL) and others are taken at the Standard Level( SL). HL subjects are studied in greater depth than SL subjects.In addition, three core elements, the extended essay, theory of knowledge and Creativity, Activity, Service are compulsory and central to the programme’s philosophy.

Physics curriculum overview:

Syllabus ComponentTeaching Hours (SL)Teaching Hours (HL)
Core
-Measurements and uncertainties
-Mechanics
-Thermal physics
-Waves
-Electricity and magnetism
-Circular motion and gravitation
-Atomic, nuclear and particle physics
-Energy production
9595
Additional Higher Level (AHL
-Wave phenomena
-Fields
-Electromagnetic induction
-Quantum and nuclear physics
60
Options
-Relativity
-Engineering physics
-Imaging
-Astrophysics
1525
Practical Scheme of Work
Practical activities
Individual investigation (internal assessment – IA)
Group 4 project
4060
Total Teaching Hours150240

Model of Assessment:

By the end of the Physics course HL/SL, the students should reflect the following:

  1. Knowledge and comprehension of key terms, concepts, theories and formulae.
  2. Application and analysis of numerical problems and solutions
  3. Evaluation of physical concepts and their relation to the world
  4. Appropriate use of skills in Physics for further studies

Assessment Summary

Assessment TypeNo. of hours(SL)No. of hours(HL)Final Grade weightage in SL(%)Final Grade weightage in HL(%)
External24.58080
Paper 10.7512020
Paper 21.252,254036
Paper 311.252024
Internal10102020

It is widely known that Physics is the most fundamental of all sciences and experimental studies. Fields and domains as vast and diverse as astronomy and genetics, neuroscience to sociology can be distilled down in their essence to the world of Physics. Every object in the universe, ranging from the smallest of bacteria to the largest stars and galaxies are made up of the same elementary particles – electrons, neutrons and protons. Since Physics is concerned at its most fundamental level with the study and interaction between these subatomic, fundamental particles, it is present and widely used in every single subject.

The subject of Physics has undergone major revolution from ancient Greek and Roman times. Astronomy and the study of the heavens was the major focus of those people, which lead to some remarkable breakthroughs, though it was the work of Isaac Newton which laid the foundations for modern study of Physics. Newton’s Laws will then remain the absolute truth until 400 years later, when they were challenged first by Einstein’s theory of Relativity and then the development of Quantum Mechanics. These ushered in a new era of discoveries and inventions, culminating in today’s digital age, where semiconductors and microprocessors carry our data, satellites transmit them, while we sit in air-conditioned buildings taller than ever before, enjoying these transmissions through various mediums, all made possible because of Physics.