Links to resources for IB Physics students

Learning IB Physics

• For learning online, your school may choose to purchase one of these systems. They are not sold to individuals.

  • • InThinking

    • Kognity

    • GrowHall / EdQwest

• A good textbook is essential, if you don't have an online system that includes an eBook. Most have associated online resources, workbooks, etc.

  • • Tsokos/Pearson

    • Homer, Heathcote, and Pietka/Oxford

    • Hamper and Mitchell/Pearson

    • Allum and Morris/Hodder

Reviewing IB Physics

• There are two printed review guides:

  • • DP Physics Study Guide by Tim Kirk

    • IB Prepared: Physics 2023 Edition by David Homer and Maciej Pietka

• YouTube videos (these are all free, although associated resources might not be):

  • Chris Doner on YouTube (look for the playlists with the format "A.1 Kinematics")

  • Go Physics Go (IB physics worksheets and video solutions)

  • Sirius Revisions on YouTube (look for the physics playlists)

  • Andy Masley on YouTube (SL only; look for the playlists with the format "A.1 Kinematics")

  • Sally Weatherly / GradePod 

  • Dr PhysicsA (A-levels, not IB) 

  • Dr Brown on YouTube

  • IB Physics with Rao

  • Joe Cossette - Passionately Curious

• Revision websites (not free unless indicated):

  • Joe Cossette - Passionately Curious (Free! SL only)

  • IBits of Physics Videos Bilingual English/Spanish (audiobook)

  • Revision Village

  • Revision Dojo

  • Physics Study Town

  • Save My Exams

  • Grade Gorilla

  • IB Physics Revision Notes at ibphysics.org (aligned with old curriculum, use the "Past Papers" conversions below)

• Various revision tools:

  • IB Physics Terminology Flashcards

  • IB Physics Formula Trainer

Things that I won't link here:

• Pirated versions of past exams

  • • Your teacher will make these available to you when you need them

• Tools to give you IA feedback using AI

• The official IB policy is that they are "strongly discouraged"

Advice:

AI-generated materials and practice questions tend to ignore higher-level thinking, which makes up 50% of the final exam, so don't rely on expensive revision websites written by non-experts. Watching videos is a poor substitute for thinking: take notes while you watch, and invest the majority of your time into working on practice problems. 

Using Past Papers and Resources:

There are lots of resources available that are aligned with the previous iteration of the IB physics curriculum. Likewise, past papers from May 2016 to November 2024 (which you might be able to access via a teacher, etc) can also be useful for practice. Here's what to look for:

• Unit A.1 to A.5 -- look for Topic 2 (mechanics), Topic 6 (circular motion), Option B.1 (rigid body rotation), Option A (relativity)

• Unit B.1 to B.4 -- look for Topic 3 (thermal physics), topic 8 (thermal energy transfer), Option B.2 (thermodynamics), 

• Unit B.5 -- look for Topic 5 (electric circuits)

• Unit C.1 - C.5 -- look for Topic 4 (waves), Topic 9 (wave phenomena), Option B.4 (resonance)

• Unit D.1 to D.4 -- look for Topic 6 (Newton's law of gravitation), Topic 5 (electric fields), Topic 10 (fields), Topic 11 (Induction)

• Unit E.1 to E.5 -- look for Topic 7 (atomic, nuclear, particle physics), Topic 12 (quantum and nuclear physics), Option D (stars)