IB physics SL exam - some questions

How long is it? (some say 45 min, some say 1 hour).
How many questions? (some say 30, some say 40).
Can you use a calculator? You could previously, but now our teacher says you can't.

Reply 1

akk713

2

Linda

How long is it? (some say 45 min, some say 1 hour).
How many questions? (some say 30, some say 40).
Can you use a calculator? You could previously, but now our teacher says you can't.

Paper 1 for SL lasts for 45 mins I think
Yes you can use a calculator why not? it's not allowed in chemistry paper 1 exam though (dunno about biology)

Reply 2

Linda

OP

3

As of 2004 we are no longer allowed to use a calculator in paper one physics exams according to our teacher, and I think he is right, I just want confirmation.

Reply 3

akk713

2

Linda

As of 2004 we are no longer allowed to use a calculator in paper one physics exams according to our teacher, and I think he is right, I just want confirmation.

Are you sure? I've never been told.
Can we use the formula booklet then?

Reply 4

Linda

OP

3

You can use the formula booklet.
The questions will be made so that it is easy to calculate them (g=10 instead of 9.81 for instance) and there will be more formula manipulation questions where you don't have plug in numbers.

Reply 5

DrSoySauce

1

I'm sure that you can't use a calculator, since we did a practice paper in class the other day and it said on the bottom that they're not allowed.

And there are 30 questions which you have 45 minutes to do.

It's scary how hard it is, and how low the grade boundaries are, or at least have been for the past couple of years: if you get 50 percent right, that's a 5.

Reply 6

Thirty-Nine

Scanning my mock papers, I find that...

Paper 1 is 30 multiple choice questions and lasts 45 minutes.
Paper 2 is general problems, and lasts 1 hour 15 minutes.
Paper 3 is the options paper, and lasts 1 hour.

I'll also throw in my tips for Physics:
Waves are notably easy, and there always appears to be a section on them for Paper 2. Don't miss easy points like this.
All you need to know is in the "Physics for the I.B. Diploma book put out by Oxford.
Many questions can be answered by writing down the variables involved and scanning the formula booklet for something that uses them all.
History of Physics is a much easier option, especially if you're not a big Mathematics fan.
If you're not good at Math, Physics is going to be a lot harder, I'm afraid...

And yes, the grade boundaries are very low. Apparantly paper 2 from May 2003 was hard, despite being virtually void of mechanics questions.

Reply 7

sarahwhatevver

6

Linda

As of 2004 we are no longer allowed to use a calculator in paper one physics exams according to our teacher, and I think he is right, I just want confirmation.

yeah calculators are not allowed because we couldnt use them for our mocks, and neither were data booklets!!!!!! Please tell me that was a mistake because a calculator isnt that biga deal since the calculations are all simple, but a data booklet is a separate issue...

Reply 8

Linda

OP

3

sarahwhatevver

yeah calculators are not allowed because we couldnt use them for our mocks, and neither were data booklets!!!!!! Please tell me that was a mistake because a calculator isnt that biga deal since the calculations are all simple, but a data booklet is a separate issue...

you're gotta be kidding! I can hardly memorize all the equations of motion, there's no way I can memorise all the formulae...

Reply 9

sarahwhatevver

6

Linda

you're gotta be kidding! I can hardly memorize all the equations of motion, there's no way I can memorise all the formulae...

I got a 3 on Paper 1 because I didnt know we werent supposed to have the data booklet and I didnt know half the formulae!! *sob*

Reply 10

Linda

OP

3

sarahwhatevver

I got a 3 on Paper 1 because I didnt know we werent supposed to have the data booklet and I didnt know half the formulae!! *sob*

omg! well I can remember the kinematic equations and energy conservation, simpe stuff like that butequations for waves on the other hand...

Reply 11

DeathIncarnate8

sarahwhatevver

yeah calculators are not allowed because we couldnt use them for our mocks, and neither were data booklets!!!!!! Please tell me that was a mistake because a calculator isnt that biga deal since the calculations are all simple, but a data booklet is a separate issue...

WTF!!!!!

Here paper 1 calculators arent allowed...frankly they arent even needed...
BUT DATA BOOKLETS ARE AN ABSOLUTE MUST FOR ALL IB EXAMS ACCORDING TO THE IBO!!!!!
Perhaps they just want you to memorise the equations to save time :rolleyes:

IB physics SL exam - some questions

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