IB Physics
Should You Take Physics in IBDP or Not?
By Photon Academy | June 2024
By Photon Academy | June 2024
From over 12 years of teaching IB Physics to students across Singapore's international and local IB schools, one of the most common questions we receive at Photon Academy is straightforward: "Should I take Physics in the IBDP?" The honest answer is that it depends on several key factors — your university aspirations, your current academic background, and how Physics fits within your overall subject combination. Here is a practical breakdown to help you decide.
This is the single most important consideration. If you are aiming for engineering at a competitive university, Physics HL is almost always a prerequisite — alongside IB Math AA HL. Universities such as Imperial College London, NUS, NTU, and ETH Zurich explicitly require Physics HL for their engineering programmes. There is no way around this requirement; it must be planned from the start of Year 1.
For medicine, the picture is more nuanced. Most medical schools require Chemistry HL, and many accept Physics at SL. However, having Physics — even at SL — demonstrates a breadth of scientific understanding that strengthens your application. Some universities, particularly in the UK and Australia, view IB Physics favourably as it shows quantitative reasoning ability.
Even if Physics is not strictly required for your chosen course, there is an important point that students often overlook: IB Physics grade boundaries are relatively accessible. A grade 7 in Physics typically requires marks in the mid-60s range — lower than many other Group 4 subjects. This means that for students who approach the subject with the right strategy, Physics can actually be a strong contributor to their overall IB points total.
Your preparation before entering the IBDP plays a significant role in how smoothly you transition into IB Physics. Students who have completed IGCSE Double Science (or IGCSE Physics as a standalone subject) generally arrive with a solid foundation in mechanics, electricity, and waves — the core pillars of IB Physics. These students are typically well-positioned to handle both SL and HL from the outset.
Students coming from Coordinated Sciences, however, should be aware that the physics component is less comprehensive. Key topics — particularly in energy, forces, and electromagnetism — may have been covered at a surface level, leaving gaps that need to be addressed early in Year 1. This is not a reason to avoid Physics, but it does mean that proactive revision of foundational concepts is essential.
Students from Singapore's local IB schools — including SJI, ACSI, and SOTA — generally benefit from stronger pre-IB mathematics and science programmes. The rigour of the local curriculum provides a natural bridge into IB Physics, and students from these schools tend to transition more confidently into both SL and HL.
The choice between SL and HL is not simply about difficulty — it is about alignment with your goals and your overall IBDP balance. Here are the key considerations:
At Photon Academy, we understand that subject selection is one of the most consequential decisions a student makes at the start of the IBDP. That is why we offer diagnostic assessments to evaluate a student's current readiness for IB Physics — identifying strengths, pinpointing gaps, and providing a clear recommendation on whether SL or HL is the right fit.
For students who need additional preparation, we run bridging programmes designed to strengthen foundational physics concepts before the IB curriculum begins. These programmes are particularly valuable for students transitioning from Coordinated Sciences or schools with less rigorous pre-IB science tracks.
We offer specialist tuition for both SL and HL, with small group and one-on-one formats available. Our tutors are IB-certified and familiar with the specific demands of Singapore's IB schools — from UWC South East Asia and Tanglin Trust to SJI and ACSI. Explore our full range of IB programmes or learn about the admissions process to get started.
Whether you need a diagnostic assessment, a bridging programme, or specialist IB Physics tuition, we are here to help you make the right choice and achieve your best grade.