How to get a Level 7 in IB Physics: 7 top tips

Don’t be fooled into thinking Physics is an easy subject – it is not!  That said, it is one of the subjects in which IB pupils obtain the highest percentage of grade 7.  In the May 2015 examinations, Physics had the second highest percentage of students achieving grade 7 at both Higher and Standard level for group 4 subjects; of those studying at Higher Level, 29.5% obtained a 7 (415 students out of 1,408) and for Standard Level 15.0% (193 out of 1,285 candidates).

The grade 7 IB descriptor for sciences says you must be able to do the following for the external assessment:

• Display comprehensive knowledge of factual information in the syllabus, with a thorough command of concepts and principles.
• Select and apply relevant information, concepts and principles in a wide variety of contexts.
• Analyse and evaluate quantitative and/or qualitative data thoroughly.
• Construct detailed explanations of complex phenomena and make appropriate predictions.
• Solve most quantitative and/or qualitative problems proficiently.
• Communicate logically and concisely using appropriate terminology and conventions.
• Show insight or originality.

And for the internal assessment:

• Demonstrate personal skills, perseverance and responsibility in a wide variety of investigative activities in a very consistent manner.
• Work very well within a team and approach investigations in an ethical manner, paying full attention to environmental impact.
• Display competence in a wide range of investigative techniques, pay considerable attention to safety, and be fully capable of working independently.

To ensure you can tick off each of these descriptors and obtain that magical grade 7 in Physics, try following these 7 top tips:

1. Know and understand your syllabus

Everything that can be examined is in the syllabus!  If a question is written and cannot be directly linked to the syllabus, then it is removed.  You need to know every aspect of the syllabus in great detail to avoid any nasty surprises in the exam.  Whenever you are studying, revising or attempting a past paper, ALWAYS have the syllabus open at the correct page.

2. Colour code and make comments on your syllabus

Print out your syllabus in sections containing all the different topics.  When you are studying, make notes on each part of the syllabus.  Highlight each section with a coding system to tell you if you are completely knowledgeable (green), partially understand (orange) or have no idea (red).  The colour system is for three areas; do you understand the notes, can you complete past paper questions and do you need to use it for your internal assessment.

3. Stop and think before you move to the next section

If your colour coding from the last point is orange or red, then STOP and THINK.  Why don’t you understand something?  Is it a principle, aspect or particular question? Or something else?  The physics syllabus builds on previous ideas as it is structured.  If you do not know or appreciate a fundamental feature, then the rest of the building blocks will be difficult to understand.  You must make sure the topic is coded green before you move on, which may mean asking for help.  Look in your guide, check out a book or the internet, ask your teacher or get external help.

4. Manage your time wisely

If you are organised and efficient with your time, then you will obtain better grades compared to other students.  Efficient time management can be the difference between two grades.  It is important to remove distractions and it is important to take breaks.  Your brain cannot function hour after hour without a break or refuelling.  Here is an idea that works for me:  I sit at my desk, get out my work and turn on my computer and mobile.  For the first ten minutes I check everything and anything on my computer and mobile.  My brain now tells me I do not need to worry about emails, text messages or social media because I have checked.  Unless I am using my computer to work I turn off my mobile and computer because I do not want any distractions.  You need peace and quiet to work properly.

Study hard and efficiently in blocks of 30-45 minutes then take a ten-minute break to walk about, have a snack or even check your dreaded mobile!  Get back to it and do not do more than 4 sessions before you stop for one hour and have a rest and something to eat.  Always keep a drink with you when you are working.  Parkinson’s law states a task will take as long as you have allowed – if you tell yourself it will take a day then it will take a day but if you are efficient and say it will take half a day then you will complete the task in half the time.  You also need to be disciplined – the cycle is: make notes, understand notes, attempt practice questions, attempt past paper questions with notes, revise, attempt past paper questions without notes.  If you get to the end and understand then tick green and move on.  If you do not understand then find out where the problem lies and repeat the cycle.

5. Complete at least 5 past papers

Do not be fooled into thinking you can get a 7 in physics without doing past paper questions.  You need to complete at least the last five years’ and preferably the last seven years’.  An important fact is that the syllabus can be changed and you may come across a question you cannot do.  You need to check the reason why and if it is because the syllabus has changed cross out the question and move on.  Remember your paper MUST be linked to the current syllabus and there are only so many question types and problems that can be written.  If you have completed and understood the last seven years of papers then most types of questions will be covered.  There is no substitute for attempting past paper questions and do not forget to complete a number of past papers in timed conditions.  If you get to a question you cannot do or get wrong remember the cycle in the last section and remember to get help.

6. Mark schemes and the examiner’s report

Perhaps mentioning the examiner’s report as number 6 is not a good place as it should be one of the first documents to read.  It is full of detail and importantly highlights areas where students make mistakes or did not understand.  Read it, print it and make notes on the examiner’s report.

Mark schemes need to be treated carefully.  It is no good looking at a question and then writing down the answer by using the mark scheme.  If you do this, you will not get a grade 7 in the examination.  You need to attempt the question, preferably in a timed environment, and then check your answer against the mark scheme.  If the answer is correct then move on but, if it is wrong, you need to understand your mistake and attempt a similar past paper question.  Check the answer and move on if correct but if it is wrong again then you need to get help.

7. Maximise your internal assessment

One of the easiest ways to maximise your grade is to get the highest possible mark in your internal assessment.  You do not have a time pressure and you will be given plenty of opportunities to improve your score.  Take full advantage of getting the highest possible mark.  You must check your guide carefully for the exact requirements and ask your teacher if you are not sure about anything.

In summary, Physics may be a tough subject but it is highly respected.  If you get yourself organised, motivated and disciplined there is no reason why, following the above points, you cannot obtain a grade 7 in Physics.