One of the defining characteristics of the November 2018 Paper 1 was the return to fundamental mechanics in the early questions, contrasted with a surprisingly heavy emphasis on Waves and Thermal Physics in the later stages. For HL students, the specific section proved particularly testing, with questions on Astrophysics and Quantum Physics requiring deep conceptual clarity rather than rote memorization.
| Feature | Standard Level | Higher Level | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | None beyond Topic 8 | Topics 9-12 (Wave Phenomena, Fields, EM Induction, Quantum) | | Notable HL Question | N/A | A multi-step reasoning question on Lenz’s Law involving a falling magnet through a copper pipe. | | Time Pressure | High (40 sec/question) | Extreme (45 sec/question plus longer calculations) | ib physics november 2018 paper 1
In this article, we will dissect everything you need to know about that specific paper: its structure, difficulty curve, common pitfalls, topic distribution, and how to use it effectively in your revision. One of the defining characteristics of the November
Question: A stone is thrown vertically upward. Air resistance is negligible. At the top of its flight, the stone’s: | | Time Pressure | High (40 sec/question)
While the SL and HL papers share the first ~25 questions, the HL extension questions (Nos. 31–40 in November 2018) were noticeably more demanding.
The IB Physics November 2018 Paper 1 was a comprehensive assessment that tested students' knowledge and understanding of various physics concepts. By reviewing the paper and practicing similar questions, students can improve their performance and build confidence for the actual exam. If you have any questions or need help with IB Physics, feel free to ask!
While Paper 1 is multiple choice, the answers often include distractors that differ only in the last digit. In one question involving Ohm’s law, using rounded intermediate values led to a wrong answer 0.1 away from the correct one.