Every year, the world's most talented young physicists gather to compete in one of the most prestigious academic competitions on Earth — the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). Behind each medal-winning student stands a rigorous selection process, countless hours of dedicated preparation, and a supportive community of teachers, mentors, and peers. In this article, we follow the remarkable journey of the United Kingdom's physics olympiad programme — from the first spark of curiosity in a school classroom to the glory of standing on the international podium.
The Birth of a Champion: What Is the British Physics Olympiad?
The British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) is more than just a competition — it is a national institution that has been identifying and nurturing exceptional young physicists for decades. Administered by the BPhO Committee at the University of Oxford and supported by the Institute of Physics (IOP), the BPhO serves a dual purpose: it challenges the brightest pre-university students in the UK with problems that push the boundaries of school-level physics, and it selects the national team that represents the UK on the world stage.
Unlike standard examinations that test recall and routine problem-solving, BPhO questions are designed to assess deep physical understanding, creative reasoning, and the ability to apply fundamental principles in unfamiliar contexts. The problems often draw on topics well beyond the A-level syllabus, requiring students to think like university physicists while still in secondary school.
The Selection Pipeline: A Four-Stage Journey
The path from a curious student to an IPhO team member is structured as a carefully designed multi-stage pipeline. Each stage filters for excellence while also providing valuable learning opportunities at every level.
Stage 1: The AS Challenge — Where It All Begins
For most aspiring young physicists, the journey starts with the AS Challenge, typically held in January or February. Designed for students in Year 12 (approximately 16–17 years old), this round provides an accessible yet stimulating introduction to Olympiad-style physics. Many future gold medallists first cut their teeth on the AS Challenge, discovering both the thrill and the challenge of non-standard physics problems.
The AS Challenge is not just for the elite — it is open to any student with a passion for physics, and many participants use it as a learning experience, regardless of their final score. Teachers across the UK actively encourage their students to participate, recognising the educational value of tackling problems that require genuine thought rather than rote application of formulas.
Stage 2: Round 1 — The Senior Challenge
Hold annually in mid-November, the BPhO Round 1 is the flagship competition. Open to students in Year 13 and below (with exceptional younger students also welcome), this 90-minute examination carries 80 marks and consists of two sections:
Section A: Short-answer questions testing breadth of knowledge across mechanics, electricity and magnetism, waves, thermodynamics, optics, and modern physics.
Section B: Longer, more demanding problems requiring full derivations and proofs. Candidates typically attempt 3 out of 5 questions.
Performance in Round 1 determines eligibility for certificates (Distinction, Merit, or Certificate of Qualification) and, crucially, invitation to the next stage. Approximately the top 30 performers nationwide advance to Round 2.
Stage 3: Round 2 — The Invitational Round
Held in early February, Round 2 is a significant step up in difficulty. This 2-hour examination, carrying approximately 40–50 marks, features 3–4 extended problems that are comparable in standard to actual IPhO questions. Only by invitation, this round is where the future members of the UK IPhO team begin to separate themselves from an already elite pool.
Stage 4: The Training Camp — Forging the National Team
The top performers from Round 2 are invited to an intensive training camp, typically held at the University of Oxford in the spring. During this camp, students undergo a programme of advanced lectures, problem-solving workshops, laboratory sessions, and mock examinations. The atmosphere is one of intense intellectual engagement, but also of camaraderie — these are students who share an extraordinary passion for physics, and the camp provides a rare opportunity to connect with like-minded peers from across the country.
From this cohort, through a combination of camp performance, additional tests, and careful evaluation by the coaching team, the final 5-member UK team (plus reserves) is selected to compete at the IPhO.
Glory on the World Stage: The UK at IPhO 2024
The 54th International Physics Olympiad took place in Isfahan, Iran in July 2024, bringing together over 400 students from more than 80 countries. The competition consists of two demanding examinations:
Theoretical Examination: 5 hours to solve 3 complex physics problems covering a wide range of topics
Experimental Examination: 5 hours to design, execute, and analyse a sophisticated laboratory experiment
The UK team rose to the challenge magnificently, securing 5 medals in total:
🥈 Silver Medals (2):
Ivan Iakovlev — Exeter School (now at New College, Oxford)
Yingxuan (Alex) Wang — St Paul's Girls' School, London
🥉 Bronze Medals (3):
Dmytro Lutsiuk — Oundle School
Ewan McMillan — St Paul's School, London
Daniel Zhao — St Paul's School, London
🏆 Special Prize: Ewan McMillan was awarded the prestigious Experimental Prize, recognising the highest score in the experimental examination among all competitors worldwide — a remarkable achievement that highlights the depth of practical physics training in the UK programme.
The team was led by Dr. Ian Brooks (Head of Delegation) and Dr. Richard Pamm (Deputy Leader), whose dedication and expertise were instrumental in preparing the team for this high-pressure international competition.
Looking Ahead: IPhO 2025 in Tehran
The 55th International Physics Olympiad is scheduled to take place in Tehran, Iran, from 19–26 July 2025. This edition is expected to attract delegations from over 80 countries, with more than 400 students and 200 team leaders and observers gathering for a week of intense intellectual competition and cultural exchange.
The eligibility criteria remain consistent: students must have been born after 30 June 2005 and must not have commenced university studies before July 2025. The UK team for IPhO 2025 will be selected through the 2024/2025 BPhO cycle, with the training camp expected to take place in the spring of 2025.
The 2025/2026 BPhO cycle timeline is expected to follow the established pattern:
September–October 2025: Registration opens for schools and centres
Mid-October 2025: Registration deadline
November 2025: Round 1 (Senior Challenge) and AS Challenge
December 2025–January 2026: Round 1 results and invitations to Round 2
February 2026: Round 2 (Invitational Round)
Spring 2026: Training camp at Oxford and final team selection
July 2026: 56th International Physics Olympiad
What Makes the BPhO Special?
The BPhO is not merely a competition — it is a community. Participants often speak of the friendships forged during training camps, the inspiration drawn from meeting peers who share their passion, and the mentorship received from experienced physicists who genuinely care about nurturing the next generation.
For university admissions, a strong BPhO performance carries significant weight. Institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, and other Russell Group universities recognise BPhO achievements as evidence of exceptional analytical ability and genuine intellectual curiosity. Many successful BPhO participants go on to study physics, engineering, mathematics, and related subjects at the world's top universities, and some return to the olympiad programme as mentors and coaches themselves.
The programme also plays an important role in diversifying access to elite academic opportunities. By operating through schools and centres across the UK — including state schools and institutions outside the traditional centres of academic excellence — the BPhO helps to identify talent that might otherwise go unnoticed.
A Final Word of Encouragement
If you are a student with a passion for physics, the BPhO offers an unparalleled opportunity to challenge yourself, connect with a community of like-minded peers, and potentially represent your country on the world stage. The journey may be demanding, but it is immensely rewarding — and it begins with a single step: picking up a past paper and trying your first Olympiad problem.
The official BPhO website (www.bpho.org.uk) provides past papers, solutions, syllabus information, and registration details. Your physics teacher or school exams officer can also guide you through the registration process.
Who knows? The next gold medallist could be reading this article right now.
