European Baccalaureate Physics key terms

The central claim a candidate defends in an essay or oral exam; it must be arguable, not a plain fact, and the whole argument is built to support or qualify it.

An essay structure moving through thesis, antithesis and synthesis. It suits questions asking whether a claim is true, letting the candidate concede counter-arguments before reaching a balanced position.

The ordered presentation of reasons and evidence that makes a position convincing. In L1 exams it is assessed separately from grammar, and each claim should be linked to the question asked.

A word or phrase such as 'however', 'therefore' or 'moreover' that signals the logical relation between two ideas. Examiners reward accurate use because it shows clear reasoning rather than a list of points.

The quality of a text whose parts fit together: ideas follow logically, pronouns refer clearly and the conclusion matches the introduction. It is graded alongside correctness in L1 and L2 writing tasks.

The level of formality of language, from colloquial to formal. Written exam answers require a neutral or formal register; slang and contractions are inappropriate unless quoting dialogue.

A short passage quoted from a text to support an interpretation. It must be copied accurately, placed in quotation marks and followed by comment explaining what it shows.

A structured analysis of a literary or non-fiction passage, examining themes and style rather than summarising content. It requires a personal reading supported by precise references to the text.

The listening component of a language exam, where candidates answer questions on a recording played once or twice. Notes should be taken during playback, focusing on names, numbers and the speaker's attitude.

A written summary combining information from several documents into a new, organised text. It must not add personal opinion and should show how sources agree, differ or complement each other.

Restating a source's meaning in your own words without copying its phrasing. It is essential in summaries and essays, and must be accurate enough that the original author would accept it.

The spoken assessment, usually a short presentation followed by questions. Candidates are judged on fluency, range of vocabulary, pronunciation and the ability to respond spontaneously.

A word that looks similar in two languages but means something different, such as 'actual' in English versus 'actuel' in French. Misusing them is a common source of lost marks in translation tasks.

The instantaneous rate of change of a function, written f'(x). Geometrically it is the slope of the tangent line, and it is used to find maxima, minima and rates in physics problems.

The accumulated total of a function over an interval, interpreted as the signed area under its curve. It reverses differentiation and computes quantities such as displacement from velocity.

A function whose derivative is the given function. Finding one is the key step in integration, and in physics it converts acceleration into velocity and velocity into position.

The value a function approaches as its input approaches a point or grows without bound. Limits underpin continuity, derivatives and the behaviour of sequences.

A line that a curve approaches ever more closely without necessarily meeting. Vertical asymptotes arise where a function is undefined; horizontal ones describe long-term behaviour.

A quantity with both magnitude and direction, represented by an arrow or a column of components. Forces, velocities and fields in physics are all vectors and add by components.

An operation on two vectors producing a scalar, equal to the product of their magnitudes and the cosine of the angle between them. It measures how much one vector acts along another.

The probability of an event given that another event has occurred, written P(A|B). It is computed by dividing the probability of both events by the probability of the condition.

The probability distribution for the number of successes in a fixed number of independent trials, each with the same success probability. Its mean is np and its variance np(1-p).

Any surviving trace of the past, such as a document, image or object, used as evidence. Historians assess its origin, purpose and reliability before drawing conclusions from it.

The systematic evaluation of a document's author, date, audience and bias. In exam questions it means explaining what the source shows and, equally, what it cannot show.

The ordering of events in time. Accurate dates and periods anchor any historical argument, and confusing decades or centuries is a frequent cause of lost marks.

Development meeting present needs without compromising those of future generations, balancing economic, social and environmental dimensions. It is a standard framework for geography questions on resources and inequality.

The growing interconnection of economies, cultures and societies through trade, communication and migration. Geography answers should cite concrete flows, actors and uneven effects rather than only defining the term.

An individual or organisation that shapes a territory or process, such as a state, firm, NGO or citizen group. Identifying actors and their conflicting interests strengthens geography analysis.

The design and interpretation of maps. Candidates should read scales, legends and projections critically, since every map selects and therefore emphasises certain information.

A testable proposed explanation stated before an experiment. A good hypothesis predicts a measurable outcome and can be shown false by the results.

A factor kept constant during an experiment so that any change in the results can be attributed to the independent variable alone. Identifying controls is a standard marking point.

The written procedure for an experiment: equipment, steps, quantities and safety measures. It must be detailed enough for another student to repeat the work and obtain comparable results.

The estimated range within which a measured value probably lies. It is reported with units and significant figures, and it determines whether a difference between results is meaningful.

The digits in a measurement that carry real information about precision. Answers should be rounded to match the least precise input, and trailing zeros after a decimal point count.

The energy required to separate a bound system into its free components, such as a nucleus into nucleons. It is related to mass defect through E = mc² and explains nuclear stability.

The spontaneous transformation of an unstable nucleus emitting alpha or beta particles or gamma radiation. Activity decreases exponentially with a characteristic half-life.

The time for half the nuclei in a radioactive sample, or half a reactant in a chemical reaction, to decay or react. It is constant for a given process and independent of starting quantity.

A reasoned position on a philosophical question, defended with arguments rather than asserted. It should be stated precisely, anticipate objections and be revisited in the conclusion.

A counter-argument raised against a position and then answered. Engaging seriously with the strongest objection, rather than a weak one, is what distinguishes a strong philosophy essay.

An imagined scenario used to test a philosophical claim, such as a hypothetical case probing the nature of identity or justice. It must be analysed, not merely described.