Ultimate Guide to Using an IB Physics HL Question Bank by Topic
Simple Harmonic Motion (SHM) and Wave phenomena. Fields: Gravitational, Electric, and Magnetic fields.
. Note that Paper 3 has been removed for 2025 onwards; experimental design is now assessed in Paper 1B. Difficulty Scaling
Which is giving you the most trouble right now?
Attempt the questions under exam conditions without your data booklet or notes first. This forces your brain to retrieve information actively, which strengthens long-term memory retention. Step 2: The Open-Book Correction
Many Paper 1 questions ask how a variable changes if another is doubled (e.g., "If the distance is halved, what happens to the electrostatic force?"). Practice setting up ratios quickly without needing exact numbers. Pacing: Aim for roughly 1.5 minutes per question. Paper 2 (Extended Response) Topical Practice
When you finally check the markscheme, look for the exact phrases required to earn marks. IB examiners look for specific "marking points" (MPs). For instance, in thermodynamics questions, omitting the phrase "at constant temperature" can cost you an entire mark. Core HL Topics to Prioritize in Your Question Bank
Before diving in, take a checkpoint quiz on a few topics to identify weak areas.
An effective topic-based question bank follows the IB’s prescribed structure, which includes both Core and Additional Higher Level (AHL) topics: