: Look for questions that combine mechanics with thermal concepts, such as a falling mass generating heat upon impact. 2. Fields & Electromagnetic Induction
A comprehensive HL question bank must cover the entire syllabus, but HL students must pay special attention to the "Additional Higher Level" (AHL) topics. These are the topics that separate the 5 from the 7.
Gravitational potential, orbital motion, Faraday’s Law, Lenz’s Law, and alternating current (AC).
This includes radioactivity, fission, fusion, and the HL-specific quantum topics like the photoelectric effect, Bohr’s atomic model, and Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. Questions here are often highly conceptual or require precise calculations using electron-volts (eV). Types of Questions to Master
Filter your bank by "Difficulty: Hard" or "HL Only." Ignore the easy SL cross-over questions. IB Physics HL questions often combine two topics (e.g., a particle moving in a magnetic field and undergoing SHM). Force yourself to solve those multi-concept monsters.
Do you have a favorite IB Physics HL topic bank? Share it in the comments below. Good luck with your May or November exams!
: Offers a modern interface with topical questions that mirror the Paper 1A, 1B, and 2 structure. It is particularly useful for new syllabus topics like Fields and Relativity .
Use topic banks to isolate “HL only” questions (e.g., Rocket motion in Topic 2 or Quarks in Topic 12 ). These are the grade-7 differentiators.
Ensure the questions reflect the current IB Physics curriculum assessment models.
: Provides over 2,000 video explanations for past paper questions, specifically updated for the new syllabus.
Coulomb’s law, electric fields, and electric potential energy. Magnetic forces on moving charges and currents. 5. Nuclear and Quantum Physics
Remember: HL Physics is not about memorizing answers—it’s about recognizing patterns. Topic banks build that pattern recognition, one chapter at a time.
The jump from Standard Level (SL) to Higher Level (HL) in Physics is significant. The HL content is not just "more physics"; it is deeper, more complex physics.
3. Fields and Electromagnetic Induction (Topics 5, 10, & 11)
The markscheme is your best teacher. Do not just check if your final answer is correct. Verify that your step-by-step working matches the examiner's expectations. Note where explicit marks are awarded for state equations or substituting units. Step 4: Track Your Mistakes
| Week | Focus | Question bank target | |------|-------|----------------------| | 1 | Mechanics (Topic 2) + Thermal (Topic 3) | 40 questions total | | 2 | Waves (Topic 4 + 9) + SHM | 30 mixed | | 3 | Fields (Topic 5 + 10 + 11) | 25 questions, timed | | 4 | Quantum & Nuclear (Topic 7 + 12) + Mixed HL review | 35 questions, exam conditions |
Once you’ve mastered 3–4 topics, do a custom mixed quiz from those topics. This mimics the unpredictability of the real exam.
: Gravitational and electric potentials, Faraday’s Law, Lenz’s Law, and alternating current (AC) generators.
Instead of wasting time on concepts you already know, you can target your weakest areas. Core IB Physics HL Topics to Focus On