IB · Physics · SL
IB Physics SL
Study IB Physics SL through connected ideas about motion, matter, waves, fields and modern physics.
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IB Physics SL at a glance
Follow the live SL knowledge tree across the five syllabus areas and their learning objectives.
- 6
- syllabus units
- 25
- mapped topics
- 7
- study tools
What you study in IB Physics SL
IB Physics SL develops physical understanding through models, evidence, mathematical reasoning and analysis.
Use the syllabus map to move from a physics area to Concepts, Mastery or Question Bank.
Explore the IB Physics SL syllabus
Follow the live SL knowledge tree across the five syllabus areas and their learning objectives.
IB Physics SL exam skills
Practise the command terms, data handling and extended reasoning used across IB assessment.
- Follow command termsMatch the depth and structure of the response to the exact instruction.
- Use data as evidenceRead units and uncertainty, identify patterns and support conclusions with values.
- Build mark-efficient explanationsLink cause, evidence and subject vocabulary without repeating the prompt.
SourceCurrent IB subject guide and assessment objectives.
IB Physics SL assessment
The SL course combines two external papers worth 80% of the final grade with a scientific investigation worth 20%.
Paper 1 contributes 36%, Paper 2 contributes 44%, and the scientific investigation contributes 20% of the final subject grade.
This page follows the IB Physics course with first assessment in 2025.
Paper 1 combines multiple-choice and data-based questions, while Paper 2 uses short-answer and extended-response questions.
It is an individual investigation marked out of 24, completed in about 10 hours and worth 20% of the final grade.