Category: Blog

BPhO, as a top global high school physics competition, far exceeds standard school curricula in depth and breadth. Students from different international curriculum systems (A-Level, IB, AP) have their own strengths and weaknesses in knowledge coverage, mathematical tools, and thinking skills. This article analyzes the articulation between BPhO and each curriculum by system, provides targeted ability improvement suggestions, helping you precisely address weaknesses and efficiently sprint for awards.

I. A-Level Students: Broad Knowledge Coverage, but Needs Deepening + Supplementing Math

Strengths:

The A2 stage covers 90%+ of BPhO topics, including electromagnetic induction, AC circuits, simple harmonic motion, laws of thermodynamics, optical interference, etc.

Clear problem logic, emphasizes conceptual understanding, which is close to the style of some BPhO problem types.

Weaknesses:

Calculus is almost never involved: A-Level physics prohibits using calculus to solve problems, while BPhO has many problems requiring derivatives/integrals for modeling.

Primarily focuses on idealized models, lacking training in modeling real-world complex scenarios.

Improvement Suggestions:

Quickly supplement calculus applications and extend beyond the syllabus content.

Train "de-idealization" thinking: When practicing, actively ask: "How would the model change if friction/air resistance/non-linear factors were added?"

II. IB Students: HL Depth is Sufficient, but Needs Strengthened Modeling + Mathematical Tools

Strengths:

IB HL Physics depth > A-Level A2: Covers modern physics like relativity, quantum basics, wave-particle duality, even touching on conceptual precursors to Lagrangian formulations.

Strong in experiments & error analysis: IB IA training makes students more familiar with uncertainty, data fitting, directly corresponding to BPhO Section 1 experimental problems.

Weaknesses:

Calculus is still not a mandatory tool: Although it may be involved in the Option part, it's rarely used in problem-solving.

Weak in extracting information from long problem statements: IB problems usually give conditions directly, while BPhO often describes real-life scenarios in 2 A4 pages, requiring quick abstraction into a physical model.

Improvement Suggestions:

Systematically introduce calculus-based solving: Re-do kinematics and electromagnetism problems from IB using calculus methods (e.g., using integration to find displacement with variable acceleration).

Intensively read long problem statements: Each week, thoroughly analyze 1 BPhO Section 2 past paper problem, practicing summarizing its physical essence in 3 sentences.

III. AP Students: The C Series is a Springboard, but Needs Supplementing Modules + Enhancing Real-World Modeling

Strengths:

AP Physics C (Mechanics + E&M) includes calculus, naturally providing the core mathematical tool for BPhO.

Large calculation volume trains strong algebraic and symbolic manipulation skills.

Weaknesses:

Severe knowledge module gaps:

AP 1&2 lack: Rigid body rotation (beyond basics), second law of thermodynamics, optical diffraction, fluid mechanics.

AP C completely omits: Optics, thermodynamics, modern physics.

Problems are overly standardized: AP problems are mostly "frictionless incline," "ideal spring," lacking BPhO's multi-factor coupled real-world scenarios.

Improvement Suggestions:

Urgently supplement the three major missing modules:

Conquer long modeling problems: Focus on practicing BPhO 2018–2024 Section 2, summarizing strategies for deconstructing "multi-process comprehensive problems."

Strategic Note: If you have only studied AP 1&2, it is recommended to first self-study AP C Mechanics (core can be mastered in 1 month), then supplement optics/thermodynamics; otherwise, competitiveness may be insufficient.

BPhO, one of the most challenging high school physics competitions globally, is considered a "golden credential" for applications to top universities like Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College, MIT, and Stanford due to its high value, strong academic rigor, and broad coverage. However, precisely because of its extreme difficulty, many students, even those with excellent physics grades, feel "at a loss" when first encountering BPhO.

Difficulty One: Extremely Broad Exam Scope — A "Borderless" Physics Knowledge System

Coverage: Encompasses all classical and modern physics modules:

Mechanics: Newton's laws, momentum/angular momentum conservation, rigid body rotation, simple harmonic motion, astrophysics.

Electromagnetism: Gauss's Law, Ampère's circuital law, LC oscillations, electromagnetic waves.

Thermodynamics: Entropy change, Carnot cycle, heat engine efficiency.

Optics: Interference, diffraction, polarization, thin-film optics.

Modern Physics: Photoelectric effect, de Broglie waves, atomic energy levels, introductory relativity.

Experimental skills: Error analysis, uncertainty propagation, data fitting.

Coping Strategies:

Prerequisite knowledge must be solid:

AP students: Must complete AP Physics C: Mechanics & E&M (including calculus).

A-Level students: Finish AS + A2 and supplement with introductory university physics knowledge.

IB students: SL can provide entry, but HL is required for competitiveness.

Construct a "Knowledge Map": Create a mind map covering all high-frequency BPhO topics, mark your proficiency, and prioritize addressing weak areas.

Difficulty Two: High Mathematical Demands — Calculus is the "Entry Ticket"

Problems commonly involve:

Derivatives (e.g., rate of change of power over time)

Integrals (e.g., center of mass of a non-uniform rod, electric flux)

Differential equations (e.g., damped oscillations, RC circuits)

Vector operations (e.g., superposition of magnetic induction)

"Unfriendly" data: Answers are often expressions containing radicals, π, e, requiring strong manual calculation skills and patience with symbolic manipulation.

Coping Strategies:

Quickly supplement calculus fundamentals (can be mastered in 2 months): Master basic differentiation formulas, u-substitution, integration by parts. Become proficient in common physics integration models.

Specialized training on "Physics + Math" integrated problems.

Improve endurance for manual calculation: Do 1 long-derivation problem daily, without a calculator, training the ability to "stay clear within complex expressions."

Difficulty Three: Complex Problem Models — From an "Ideal World" to the "Real World"

Problems often start with real-world scenarios:

"A raindrop falls from a cloud, considering air resistance and evaporative mass loss..."

"Using laser interferometry to measure tiny displacements caused by gravitational waves..."

Conditions are non-idealized: Friction, energy dissipation, non-linear relationships, multi-variable coupling exist.

Requires modeling ability: To abstract a real-world problem into a calculable physical model.

Coping Strategies:

Cultivate a "Physical Modeling Mindset" with a 4-step method:
① Identify the core physical process → ② Simplify assumptions (keep main factors, ignore secondary ones) → ③ Establish equations (Newton's laws/energy conservation/Maxwell's equations, etc.) → ④ Solve + Discuss reasonableness.

Intensively study "real-life" problems from past papers:

2022: Using the heat conduction equation to estimate heat loss from an insulated cup.

2023: Analyzing the Coriolis force in a smartphone's gyroscope.

Always ask "Why make this assumption?": When practicing, consciously think about how the problem setter simplified complex reality into a solvable model.

Additional Advice: Build "Physical Intuition" and Stimulate Intrinsic Motivation

Driven by a sense of accomplishment: When you can explain "why airplanes fly" or "how WiFi signals pass through walls" using physical principles, learning transforms from a "task" into "fun."

Cross-disciplinary transfer: The physics modeling mindset can be applied to economics (supply-demand models), biology (diffusion equations), engineering (structural stress analysis).

Mental fortitude: When encountering a difficult problem, tell yourself: "It's not that I can't do it; it's that I haven't built this model yet." — With the methodology in hand, difficulties will be overcome.

BPhO, one of the most valuable high school physics competitions globally, is not only a "hardcore endorsement" for applying to STEM programs at Oxbridge, G5, and Ivy League schools but also an important benchmark for testing students' deep understanding of physics, modeling ability, and scientific literacy. However, its large volume, high difficulty, broad knowledge scope, and lengthy questions mean it is not a competition that can be won by "cramming at the last minute."

I. Why Must You Prepare Half a Year in Advance? — Two Core Reasons

Reason 1: Extremely Broad Exam Scope, Far Exceeding A-Level/IB/AP
It covers, but is not limited to:

Mechanics (rigid body rotation, simple harmonic motion, astrophysics)

Electromagnetism (intro to Maxwell's equations, LC circuits, electromagnetic induction)

Thermodynamics (entropy, Carnot cycle)

Optics (interference, diffraction, polarization)

Modern physics (relativity, quantum basics, atomic models)

Mathematical tools: calculus (derivatives, integrals, differential equations), vectors, complex numbers
Many topics are only briefly touched on in high school curricula, requiring independent study to introductory university physics levels.

Reason 2: Deep Understanding + Flexible Application ≠ Short-Term Cramming

BPhO tests modeling thinking, not memorization.

E.g., "Using calculus to derive the parabolic shape of a rotating liquid surface" → requires integrating calculus, fluid mechanics, and energy minimization concepts.

High computational complexity: A single problem often requires multiple derivation steps; an error in any intermediate step leads to failure.

Adapting to question length: A Section 2 problem statement can be up to 2 A4 pages long, containing diagrams, background info, and multiple sub-questions, requiring training to quickly extract key information.

II. Major Policy Changes Since 2025: Quota Limit + Qualifying Competitions

According to ASDAN China's official notice:

III. Core Preparation Strategies: Past Papers + Self-Awareness + Extended Reading

Past Paper Practice: At least 5 sets, do them thoroughly, don't just skim.

Focus on Round 1 (main round for Chinese students):

Section 1 (~15 short-answer questions), total ~50 points: Do the ones you know. Aim for 40+ points.

Section 2 (4–5 long problems, choose 2), each ~25 points: Choose the 2 topics you are best at.

How to judge "proficiency"? You are solid on over 80% of the problem's content, and the remaining 20% can be filled in through logical reasoning.

Practice rhythm:

Sets 1–2: No time limit, focus on understanding.

Sets 3–4: Strict 3-hour time limit, simulate exam conditions.

Set 5: One week before the exam, check for gaps.

Build "Problem Sense" and a "Module Strength Map"
Through past paper analysis, identify your 2–3 strongest topics. During the exam, decisively skip weak areas and concentrate firepower on your strengths to maximize scoring efficiency.

Extended Reading: Connecting the Cutting Edge with Life

Recommended resources: University Physics with Modern Physics (Young & Freedman); The Feynman Lectures on Physics (selected readings); Science journals like Physics World, Scientific American, Nature Physics.

Follow hot topics: Cultivate "physics eyes" — when seeing tech breakthroughs in the news, think "what's the underlying physics principle?"

IV. Half-Year Preparation Timeline

IPC and SPC Online are online physics competitions for global secondary school students, officially hosted by the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO). As qualifying events for the BPhO China region (implemented from 2025), their importance far exceeds that of a "practice test"—winners are prioritized for the valuable spots among the 3,500 BPhO exam seats.

I. First, Clarify: Core Differences Between IPC & SPC Online

Key Note: Although both are multiple-choice, SPC questions are longer, more information-dense, and require higher math skills (some need calculus or trigonometric functions).

II. Preparation Plan for the Sprint Phase

For IPC Candidates:

Systematically review core chapters of AS/A-Level AS or IB SL.

Focus training: Free-body diagrams, energy flow charts, circuit simplification.

Memorize core formulas (e.g., photoelectric effect cutoff frequency ν₀=W₀/h, ideal gas isothermal change p₁V₁=p₂V₂).

For SPC Candidates:

Supplement A2/IB HL new content (electromagnetic induction, thermodynamics, quantum basics).

Start familiarizing with simple applications of calculus in physics.

Master answering techniques (see below).

Memorize core formulas.

3 Days Before Exam: Technical Prep + Mindset Adjustment

Device Check: Camera, microphone, stable internet.

Familiarize with platform (e.g., Zoom proctoring + online answering system).

Prepare blank scratch paper (some platforms require photo upload).

III. High-Score Techniques for Multiple Choice (IPC & SPC Common)

IV. Pitfall Avoidance Guide: Don't Fall for These Misconceptions!