The Most-Tested Topics in IB Physics HL
Every IB Physics HL past-paper question, tagged to its syllabus topic — ranked by how often each is tested (2016–2025).
All topics (HL) ()
42 papers analysed · top 15 of 24 topics
| # | Topic | % of all HL questions | Questions | Avg marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Transverse and longitudinal waves; wavelength, frequency, amplitude, speed | 15.6% | 145 | 3.4 |
| 2 | Newton's laws; forces; momentum; impulse; conservation of momentum | 14% | 130 | 2.8 |
| 3 | Work, kinetic energy, potential energy, power, efficiency | 12.8% | 119 | 2.3 |
| 4 | Reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, superposition | 12% | 111 | 4.1 |
| 5 | Electric field; Coulomb's law; magnetic field; field lines | 11% | 102 | 2.6 |
| 6 | Current, voltage, resistance, Ohm's law, series/parallel circuits, internal resistance, power | 10.3% | 96 | 2.8 |
| 7 | Alpha, beta, gamma radiation; half-life; decay equations; binding energy | 9.4% | 87 | 3.5 |
| 8 | Kinematics: displacement, velocity, acceleration, projectile motion | 8.4% | 78 | 2.7 |
| 9 | Temperature, internal energy, specific heat, latent heat, conduction, convection, radiation | 6.6% | 61 | 2.9 |
| 10 | Gravitational field strength; Newton's law of gravitation; orbits; potential | 6.4% | 59 | 3 |
| 11 | Galilean and special relativity; time dilation; length contraction; mass-energy equivalence | 6% | 56 | 5.2 |
| 12 | Electromagnetic induction; Faraday's law; Lenz's law; AC generators; transformers | 5.8% | 54 | 2.5 |
| 13 | SHM: displacement, velocity, acceleration, energy; pendulum, spring | 5.7% | 53 | 4.2 |
| 14 | Atomic models; emission spectra; energy levels; photoelectric effect | 5.6% | 52 | 2.1 |
| 15 | Ideal gas law PV=nRT; kinetic model; pressure; moles | 5.5% | 51 | 4.2 |
How this was measured
Based on OwlsPrep's database of IB Physics HL past papers (2016–2025), 928 questions each tagged to its syllabus topic. “% of all HL questions” = the share of all tagged IB Physics HL questions that test the topic. Because one question can test several topics, shares do not sum to 100%. HL papers include both core and AHL (HL-only) content. Figures are aggregate statistics from question metadata — no exam questions or mark schemes are reproduced.
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