IB Physics Best Learning Tips - Exam SL/HL

 

Have a read of an article that I wrote in 2010:

One of the most challenging subjects in the IB Diploma is IB Physics, especially at the Higher Level. Nevertheless, it is still very possible to reach a 7. In fact, 31 percent of standard level candidates and 20 percent of higher level candidates earned 7, according to the IB Statistical Report in November 2009. This means that in a class of 20 HL students, on average, 4 would get a 7.

And how are you breaking into the top 20%?

I have questioned many active past IB Physics students about their practises, as well as IB Physics professors, one of whom used to mark IB Documents, to find out. Combining this with my own insights, in terms of mastering the course and IB Revision, I have found 7 main items that active students do.

1) Know The Syllabus for IB Physics

The Syllabus is one of the finest elements of the IB Science subjects. The Syllabus comprises all the possible concepts that may theoretically be explored. I know a teacher who actually writes IB papers and he told me that, according to the Syllabus, any question that is written is carefully reviewed and if it is not applicable, it is omitted. This means that if you can do any point in the Syllabus, then in your final test, there is nothing that can surprise you. So, if you already have plenty of time to check your final tests, make sure that you have your syllabus next to you.

2) Annotate The Syllabus for IB Physics

One move forward, we will go. Printing out a copy of all the applicable parts of the Syllabus is something I highly suggest. Don't just write down notes in your diary, write your notes on your typed edition of the syllabus while you learn/revise! That way, you're cross-referencing your syllabus as you read. You'll be well aware of all the things you've discussed, the topics you've overlooked and, most notably, the subjects you're not even acquainted with when you do this.

3) Maximize Your Internal Appraisal (IA) Scores for IB Physics

Although it could be difficult for the IB Physics test, the Internal Examination is much simpler. This is because you can do them without some sort of time constraint. Most teachers will give you plenty of possibilities to maximise your IA ratings. And most notably, scoring high in your IAs indicates that in your final test, you will score lower and still get a 7. What I say is to look very carefully at your Physics Guide and look at what is expected of you for the IAs. If you're confused about it, make sure that you ask your instructor about it. Find out if you have missed points if you don't do as well as you'd hoped. In your IAs, there can be no reason for not ranking 40+. For better score, try IB physics sl/hl exam preparation courses.

4) Before you go on, make sure you grasp each point.

This is pivotal. When each point is clarified by your instructor, make sure you fully appreciate it before they move on to the next point. First of all, the majority of subsequent points would rely on an interpretation of the first few points, so you may get confused if you forget a term. Secondly, it saves a great deal of time for you. It means you're not going to fall behind and need to brush up with concepts you didn't previously understand.

5) Good time control

If you handle your time properly, in one day, you will do what will usually take three days for another student. In fact, I think one of the biggest distinctions between a candidate for 7 and a candidate for 5 is their ability to manage their time well. Removing distractions is the most important thing. Make sure you're not on Facebook while you're learning from a textbook, or doing past paper queries! And try to keep items out of reach that you want to fidget with or get quickly distracted by. Although, I confess, going to Facebook can also be enjoyable. So what I recommend is to delegate moments in which you encourage yourself to be overwhelmed.

I usually give myself ten minutes to look at Facebook, grab some food, etc. before working, before my first block of work. Place yourself under some kind of time constraint, if possible. Parkinson's Law states that it is equal to the time allotted to it that it takes to complete a mission. If you gave yourself a whole day to write a complete practise, odds are, it's going to take a day for you. But you'll find that 1500 word essays can be written in 90 minutes for those of you doing IB English A1. This is because you have set a time limit and your brain can concentrate on completing the job at that time naturally. One way through this is to work on previous revision articles and time yourself!

6) Do Past Paper Questions for IB Physics

I know a new Syllabus has just been announced, and the new Syllabus has not been published in several previous journals. You will find, though, that there is already still a lot of continuity with the old Syllabus, so there is no reason for not doing a lot of previous articles. If you encounter a topic that's not part of your lesson, just miss it. It is very helpful to answer previous paper questions, especially under timed conditions. It allows you to sink into the theory's comprehension - posing questions and really writing stuff down helps you preserve information.

Often, the interpretation exposes gaps. If you can't ask questions or sets of questions, go back to the Syllabus and see what you need to revise..

7) IB Physics Mark Schemes inspection

One of the reasons I've found that IB Physics is so complicated is that what's written in the textbook really doesn't reflect what's expected of you in your test. In fact, when I compared the definitions in the Hamper Text Book of Deep Inelastic Scattering (Particle Physics Option) to those in the mark scheme, I found that they did not fit the definitions in the mark scheme (The textbook definition would have gotten 0). Now this would be bad, especially if the student memorised the meaning of the text book and ended up having no marks in the exam for it. Your report and the label scheme are the only stuff the examiners have in front of them.

So make sure you have a good understanding of those mark schemes! So there you have it, the 7 key strategies that, I can guarantee, will be of enormous help to you in attaining that 7 in IB Physics!