Physics
Students following the IB, who achieve a grade B or higher in their GCSE physics, can opt to study Physics to Standard or Higher Level. Both Standard and Higher level courses feature coursework and internal assessment which represents 24% of the final mark. Higher Level Physics students would benefit from completing IB Mathematics to a Higher Level.
Standard Level
All students, studying Physics to the Standard Level, study a core of material, consisting of six topics, and two option topics, during the two-year course. Standard students attend three 50-minute lessons a week for the duration of Years 12 and 13.
Core Topics
• Physics and Physical Measurements
• Mechanics
• Thermal Physics
• Oscillations and Waves
• Electric currents
• Fields and forces
• Atomic and nuclear physics
• Energy, power and climate change
Option Topics
• Sight and wave phenomena
• Astrophysics
Students complete three examinations at the end of the course in Year 13. In total these three papers represent 76% of the final IB marks.
| Paper | Duration | % | Content |
| 1 | 3/4 hour | 20% | A mutiple choice, non-calculator paper assesing the Core. |
| 2 | 1 1/4 hours | 32% |
A calculator paper assesing the Core. |
| 3 | 1 hour | 24% | A calculator paper assesing the two Option topics. It consists of a mixture of short and extended response questions. |
Higher Level
All students, studying Physics to the Higher Level, study a core, consisting of six topics, and two option topics, during the two year course. Higher Level students attend five 50 minute lessons a week for the duration of Years 12 and 13. For three of these five lessons, all Standard and Higher Level students will be taught together due to the overlap between the Standard and Higher Level courses.
Core Topics
• Physics and Physical Measurements
• Mechanics
• Thermal Physics
• Oscillations and Waves
• Electric currents
• Fields and forces
• Atomic and nuclear physics
• Energy, power and climate change
Option Topics
• Astrophysics
• Relativity
Students complete three examinations at the end of the course in Year 13. In total these three papers represent 76% of the final IB marks.
| Paper | Duration | % | Content |
| 1 | 1 hour | 20% | A multiple choice, non-calculator paper assesing the Core. |
| 2 | 2 1/4 hours | 36% | A calculator paper assesing the Core. Section A contains a data analysis question and a number of short response questions. Section B consists of four extended response questions for candidates to choose from. Only two questions from section B must be completed. |
| 3 | 1 1/4 hour | 20% | A calculator paper assesing the two Option topics It consists of a mixture of short and extended response questions. |
Internal Assessment
Internal Assessment for Standard and Higher students is made up of two components: Practical Investigations and the Group 4 Project. Students complete practical investigations or experiments throughout the course. The marks from the best two investigations count towards the final internal assessment mark. Investigations are assessed in terms of a student’s ability to design, collect data, process data, present data, draw conclusions and complete an evaluation. Manipulation and personal skills are also assessed.
The Group 4 Project is completed at the beginning of Year 13. During the project students work in small groups consisting of Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Design & Technology students and they investigate a topic suggested by the Science Department. The Group 4 Project typically takes between 10 and 15 hours of timetabled time and results in a presentation of findings.