Marks-weighted analysis of 307 questions across 900 marks and 18 papers — every sitting of the redesigned IB Physics Higher Level course so far. Theme A–E weightage, the Paper 1A / 1B / 2 split, and the cross-topic synthesis that now dominates the exam.
Percentage of total exam marks allocated to each of the five syllabus themes across all 18 papers, with marks distributed among tags to avoid double-counting.
Every sub-topic ranked by its share of total exam marks. Bars are coloured by theme. HL-only sub-topics are marked "(HL)".
The single largest sub-topic by marks, and the most paper-agnostic — it carries 17.0 marks on Paper 1A, 35.8 on 1B and 49.2 on Paper 2. Mechanics is the backbone of the new course.
Theme A (kinematics, forces, energy, rigid-body HL, special relativity HL) is the heaviest theme by a clear margin — over a quarter of every mark on offer.
B.4 Thermodynamics, E.2 Quantum physics, A.5 Special relativity, D.4 Induction and A.4 Rigid-body mechanics are HL-only — together they carry roughly 17% of HL marks and are almost never seen on Paper 1A alone.
The smallest sub-topic by marks — but still examined every sitting, usually as a short data or definition item. Low weight does not mean skippable.
The new structure splits assessment three ways: Paper 1A (multiple choice), Paper 1B (data-based / experimental) and Paper 2 (extended response). This chart shows the marks each theme carries on each paper — Paper 2 is where almost all the depth (and synthesis) lives.
Across all five themes, Paper 2 (extended response) carries the majority of the marks. It is the paper that decides grades — and, as the next section shows, the paper that blends topics the hardest.
Theme A (forces, energy) and Theme B (thermal, gas laws, circuits) dominate the data-based Paper 1B, where experiments on motion, heating and electrical measurement are easiest to set. Fields (D) barely appear on 1B.
Unlike the old course, every theme shows up on all three papers. There is no "Paper 1A-only" or "Paper 2-only" theme to revise in isolation.
The redesigned exams were deliberately built to blend themes inside a single question. You are no longer answering "a mechanics question" or "a nuclear question" — you are answering one long question that starts in mechanics, moves through fields, and finishes in nuclear or quantum. Revising topics in isolation is no longer enough: the marks live in the connections.
Paper 2 is the clearest signal of the shift: nearly four out of five of its marks are in synthesis questions. A single 20-mark extended-response item can require energy conservation, a field equation, and a nuclear or quantum result — all chained together, where an early slip in one theme sinks the marks that follow. The examiners reward students who can connect themes, not just recall them.
| A + D Space, time & motion + FieldsOrbital & projectile motion meeting gravitational / electromagnetic fields. | ×11 |
| B + E Particulate matter + Nuclear & quantumThermal / internal energy tied to nuclear decay, fusion and quantum energy levels. | ×9 |
| B + C Particulate matter + Wave behaviourGas / thermal physics linked to sound, standing waves and resonance. | ×6 |
| A + C Space, time & motion + Wave behaviourOscillations, SHM and the Doppler effect built on kinematics. | ×6 |
| D + E Fields + Nuclear & quantumCharged particles in fields meeting atomic, nuclear and photon physics. | ×4 |
| A + E Space, time & motion + Nuclear & quantumMomentum & energy conservation applied to radioactive and stellar contexts. | ×4 |
Every one of the 307 questions rated for demand. Most of the paper is squarely mid-difficulty — but roughly one question in five is genuinely hard, and those hard questions are overwhelmingly the multi-topic Paper 2 items above.
Recall, single-step and "state / define" items — mostly on Paper 1A and the opening parts of longer questions. Reliable marks if fundamentals are solid.
Over 60% of questions need two or three linked steps. This is where most candidates win or lose their grade — through accuracy and setting-out, not exotic content.
These are the long synthesis questions that chain themes together. Handling them is what separates a 6 from a 7.
Official grade boundaries for the new syllabus.
Because the redesigned course has only just had its first sittings, we are still gathering and verifying the official IB grade-boundary documents for Physics HL. Rather than publish estimated or fabricated numbers, we are leaving this section blank until we have confirmed data. Check back — or ask your IB coordinator for the official boundaries in the meantime.
Full IB-style predicted papers for the new Physics HL course — Paper 1A, 1B and 2 with markschemes — modelled on the synthesis patterns above.
Our tutors are currently writing predicted paper sets for the redesigned Physics HL course, built to mirror the cross-topic Paper 2 style this analysis uncovered. They are not published yet. In the meantime, the fastest way to prepare for a synthesis exam is targeted, tutor-led practice on the exact theme combinations that keep recurring.