Only 8 days remain until the BPhO Round 0 official exam on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 17:00 to 18:00!
Of the 3,500 exam slots in the China region, 3,400 have already been secured through the IPC/SPC preliminary competitions, leaving only the final 100 independent slots for high-scoring Round 0 candidates. The registration channel will officially close tonight (September 22) at 24:00, with no opportunity for late registration.
If you missed the IPC/SPC preliminary competitions, or participated but did not win an award, Round 0 is your only opportunity to obtain an entry ticket to the BPhO Round 1 main competition.
I. Why Is Round 0 the "Last Chance"?
In the 2026 season, BPhO Round 1 exam slots in the China region are strictly limited to 3,500, using a "3,400 + 100" allocation model:
3,400 slots: Allocated to students who won awards in the 2026 IPC/SPC preliminary competitions (first batch deadline August 1, second batch deadline September 1, both now closed)
100 slots: Reserved specifically for high-scoring candidates in Round 0 who exceed a designated score threshold
In other words, for students without IPC/SPC awards, Round 0 is the only pathway. Round 0 itself does not offer gold, silver, or bronze awards—it is purely a screening round: those who meet the score threshold advance to Round 1, while those who do not completely lose their eligibility for this year's BPhO main competition.
II. What Does Round 0 Test? How Difficult Is It?
Basic Parameters
Exam Duration: 60 minutes
Question Type: 25 multiple-choice questions, 1 point each, no penalty for wrong answers, maximum score 25
Language: Entirely in English
Proctoring: Dual-camera remote proctoring
Calculator: Prohibited throughout the exam
Content Coverage
The knowledge scope of Round 0 is strictly limited to core A-Level AS physics content, without involving advanced topics such as electric fields, magnetic fields, gravitational fields, or particle physics. The approximate proportions of the four major modules are as follows:
| Module | Proportion | Core Content |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanics | Approx. 40% | Kinematics, Newton's Laws, Work and Energy, Momentum, Circular Motion, Simple Harmonic Motion |
| Electromagnetism | Approx. 25% | DC Circuit Analysis, Ohm's Law, Electrical Power, Basic Capacitance |
| Waves and Optics | Approx. 20% | Mechanical Waves, Electromagnetic Waves, Reflection and Refraction, Basic Interference and Diffraction |
| Thermal and Nuclear Physics | Approx. 15% | Gas Laws, Basic Thermodynamics, Introductory Nuclear Physics, Photoelectric Effect |
Difficulty Characteristics
The exam paper difficulty is distributed in a gradient: it includes a small number of medium-difficulty A-Level questions from exam boards such as AQA/OCR, some A-Level extension problems, and more challenging advanced questions. The question style is consistent with BPhO Round 1, but with less computation, some questions are relatively easier, and specific knowledge points from systems such as IB/AP/AQA are interspersed.
With an average of only 2.4 minutes per question, the exam severely tests speed and accuracy.
III. Two Advancement Tracks—You Must Choose Before Registering
Round 0 offers two mutually independent tracks. Once selected during registration, the choice cannot be changed:
Overseas Region Track
Advancement Threshold: Meet the UK domestic advancement threshold (11 points in 2025)
Advantage: Lower threshold; achieving the score grants eligibility for the Round 1 online competition
Suitable for: Students studying overseas, or candidates applying through authorized institutions for the overseas track
China Region Track
Advancement Threshold: Rank in the national top 100 (the 2025 threshold was as high as 17 points)
Characteristics: Intense competition; the score threshold is significantly higher than the overseas track
Suitable for: Students studying at international high schools in China, aiming to compete for domestic rankings
Track Selection Advice: If the goal is simply to obtain Round 1 eligibility, prioritize the overseas track; if you want to prove yourself in domestic rankings, then aim for a high score in the China region track.
IV. From Round 0 to Round 2: Complete Season Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| September 22, 2026 | Round 0 registration closes (tonight! No late registration) |
| September 30, 2026 (Wednesday) 17:00–18:00 | Round 0 official exam: 60 minutes, 25 multiple-choice questions, entirely in English, calculator prohibited |
| November 10, 2026 (Tuesday) 17:00–19:00 | Round 1 main competition: 120 minutes of English proof-based questions, Section 1 choose 50 points + Section 2 choose 2 questions, total 100 points |
| February 21, 2027 (Sunday) 14:00–17:00 | Round 2: 180 minutes, only Top Gold high-scoring candidates are invited to participate |
Important Reminder: Individual direct registration is not accepted; registration must be submitted collectively through schools or via authorized institutions.
V. How to Sprint Efficiently in the Final 10 Days?
With only 10 days left until the exam, it is no longer suitable to systematically learn new knowledge. Focus on becoming familiar with question types + filling knowledge gaps + timed training:
Before Tonight
Complete Round 0 registration—this is the prerequisite for all subsequent preparation.
September 22–September 28 (Intensive Period)
Use an official sample paper to do a 60-minute timed diagnostic test and identify weak modules
Spend 30–40 minutes daily reviewing AS formulas, focusing on high-frequency topics: dimensional analysis, torque equilibrium, DC circuits, standing waves, refraction, nuclear decay
Create an error log, categorized into three types: "knowledge blind spots / calculation errors / misreading the question"
September 29 (Sprint Day)
Do a final full mock exam at the official time slot of 17:00 to adjust your biological clock
Before the exam, review only the error log and formulas; do not attempt new questions
Throughout the Entire Period
Practice mental calculation and estimation skills with calculators prohibited
Train to quickly read long English question stems to improve information extraction speed
Master answering techniques: approximately 60% of questions can be quickly answered using dimensional analysis + limit judgment + elimination method; when encountering a question with no idea at all, decisively pick an answer (no penalty for wrong answers)
Registration for the 2026 season BPhO R0 is currently in full swing! We can provide registration assistance services; scan the QR code to receive the registration form!
Scan the QR code to receive free BPhO past papers + recommended reading list PDF + essential formula sheet
