IB Diploma Programme · Physics SL · First year
Your child is starting IB Physics SL
What the IB Diploma involves, what Physics SL covers and how it is assessed — everything a parent needs to know, in one place.
examinerprep.com1The IB Diploma at a glance
6
subjects
Three at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL)
3
core elements
Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS
45
maximum points
6 subjects × 7, plus up to 3 from TOK and the EE · Diploma from 24 points*
2Physics SL or HL: what is the difference?
| Feature | Standard Level (SL) | Higher Level (HL) |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended teaching time | 150 hours | 240 hours |
| Final written examinations | 2 papers · 3 hours in total | 2 papers · 4 hours 30 min |
| Content | Themes A–E (common core) | A–E plus additional HL material |
| Internal assessment (IA) | 20% · same requirements | 20% · same requirements |
Both levels are graded on the same 1–7 scale and count equally towards the 45-point total.
3What is taught: five themes SL teaching hours
Experimental programme: 20 hours of practical work · 10 hours for the Collaborative Sciences Project · 10 hours for the individual investigation (IA). Course total: 150 hours.
* Further conditions also apply for the award of the Diploma. Source: IB Physics guide, first assessment 2025.
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