IB Physics SL exam-day guide
IB Physics SL · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Admission ticket / candidate confirmation
Print or download the entry document your school or exam centre issued. Check the session, date, and start time on it. If you have not received one, contact your IB coordinator - do not assume the timetable you saw online matches your centre's schedule.
Photo identification
Bring the ID your centre specified (usually a passport or national ID card). Confirm with your IB coordinator which document is accepted and whether it must be the original - photocopies are commonly refused.
Approved calculator
A calculator is permitted in both papers. Use a model your school has approved, and confirm with the provider which models are allowed at your centre. Check the batteries and bring spares if the model allows them.
Spare pens, pencils, eraser, sharpener
Bring at least two black or blue pens for written answers, pencils for diagrams and graphs, and a good eraser. Rulers and a protractor are useful for graph work and ray or vector diagrams.
Clear pencil case or transparent bag
Many centres require stationery to be visible in a clear case. Confirm with the provider what container is acceptable.
Wristwatch (non-smart)
A simple analogue or non-connected digital watch helps you pace yourself if the room clock is hard to see. Smartwatches and any device with communication or storage capability are normally prohibited - confirm with the provider.
Know your formula booklet situation
IB Physics uses a provided data booklet containing equations and constants. Confirm with your coordinator whether a copy is supplied in the exam room or whether you must bring your own clean copy, and whether annotations are allowed.
Review the command terms and data booklet layout
In the last days, practise locating equations and constants quickly in the booklet and check you understand command terms such as state, outline, calculate, derive, and suggest, since marks depend on the depth of answer they demand.
Plan transport and arrival time
Work out the route and leave a buffer. Centres typically require arrival well before the start; confirm the exact reporting time with the provider rather than guessing.
Water and a light snack for before/after
Food and drink are usually not allowed at the desk during the exam. Confirm with the provider whether water is permitted in the room.
Leave prohibited items at home
Phones, smart devices, notes, and any unauthorised material should stay outside the exam room. Confirm the centre's policy on where bags and devices must be stored.
Rest and sleep plan
Do not plan to learn new content the night before. A normal sleep schedule protects the recall and calculation speed you need for Paper 1 and Paper 2.
Plan the day
Shift from learning to consolidating. Re-read your summary notes for the core topics - mechanics, thermal physics, waves, electricity and magnetism, circular and gravitational motion, atomic and nuclear physics, and energy production - plus your chosen option if you take one. Work through past-paper-style questions under time pressure, focusing on the two papers: multiple-choice Paper 1 and the short-answer and extended-response Paper 2. Rehearse the data booklet: find each equation by section quickly. Make a one-page list of your recurring errors (unit conversions, significant figures, sign conventions, graph axes) and review it daily.
Practise the skills that lose easy marks: converting units (cm to m, g to kg, mA to A), writing answers to the correct number of significant figures, showing substitution before the final value, and labelling graph axes with quantity and unit. For extended-response questions, practise planning a short structure - define, state the relationship, substitute, evaluate, and comment on the result - because marks are awarded for reasoning, not just the final number.
Do a light review only: your error list, key definitions, and the data booklet. Pack your admission document, ID, approved calculator with fresh batteries, spare stationery, and clear case. Confirm the start time, reporting time, and location with your coordinator. Set out clothes and transport details. Avoid intensive new-topic study; it raises anxiety without improving performance.
Eat normally, avoid late caffeine, and go to bed at your usual time. If you feel underprepared, spend no more than a short session on your strongest topics to build confidence rather than opening unfamiliar material.
Eat a proper breakfast and arrive at the centre with time to spare. Leave your phone and any smart device stored as the centre directs. Once seated, check that you have the question paper, answer booklet, data booklet, and any permitted materials before the start. Read the front-page instructions and check the paper's structure and mark allocations.
Scan the whole paper to see how many questions there are and where the high-mark questions sit. Note the time available and divide it by the number of marks to get a rough minutes-per-mark budget. Start with questions you can answer confidently to bank marks, then return to harder ones.
For calculations, write the equation, substitute values with units, then give the answer with a unit and sensible significant figures. Show working even when the final answer is wrong, because method marks are often available. For multiple-choice questions, eliminate clearly wrong options and be wary of answers that differ by a power of ten. For explanations, use precise physics vocabulary and refer to the relevant principle or law.
Leave time to check that every question has an answer, that units and significant figures are consistent, and that diagrams are labelled. Attempt every question - a blank scores nothing, and a reasoned partial answer can earn marks. Confirm your candidate details are on the answer booklet before handing it in.
Rules to check
Bring the identification document your centre requires and keep it on the desk if instructed. If you are unsure which document is accepted, confirm with the provider before exam day; being turned away for inadequate ID is avoidable.
Do not bring phones, smartwatches, or any device with communication, camera, or storage capability into the exam room. Follow the centre's instructions on where such items must be left. Unauthorised material in the room can lead to disqualification.
Calculators are permitted in both papers, but you are responsible for using an approved model and for its working order. Confirm the permitted model list with the provider, and do not rely on a device that also stores text or communicates.
Follow the invigilator's instructions at all times, including on seating, timing, and when you may leave. If you need to leave the room temporarily, raise your hand and wait to be accompanied; confirm the centre's policy on breaks and supervised absence.
Do not communicate with other candidates once the exam has started, and do not share or discuss paper content afterwards in a way that could compromise the session. If you believe there is an error in the paper, tell the invigilator rather than guessing.
Scoring is based on the marks available for each question and the command term used. Write answers that match the demand of the command term, show working for calculations, and give units and appropriate significant figures.
If you are ill or unable to attend, contact your IB coordinator as soon as possible. Do not attempt to arrange a retake or special consideration yourself; the process and eligibility must be confirmed with the provider.
Arrive at the reporting time your centre specifies. Late arrival may mean you are not admitted or that you lose time; confirm the exact policy with the provider rather than assuming a grace period.