The short answer is: you may be able to drop MYP Physics, but the decision depends on your school, MYP year, science course structure, and assessment pathway. The IB requires students to study the sciences subject group, but it does not require every MYP student to take Physics as a separate course.
Some schools combine Biology, Chemistry, and Physics into Integrated Sciences, while others teach them separately. You must therefore establish what “dropping Physics” means within your school's curriculum.
Is MYP Physics compulsory?
The MYP contains eight subject groups, including sciences. According to the official IB MYP curriculum overview, schools generally provide learning across all eight groups, although limited flexibility is available in Years 4 and 5.
The IB explanation of MYP sciences allows schools to organize science through:
- Integrated Sciences, combining multiple disciplines
- Separate Biology, Chemistry, or Physics courses
- Modular courses that rotate between disciplines
- Other suitable courses, including environmental sciences
Physics may therefore be compulsory within your school's programme even though the IB does not universally require a separate Physics course.
When can you drop MYP Physics?
Your options depend on your year, timetable, local requirements, and available alternatives.
| Situation | Is dropping Physics likely to be possible? |
|---|---|
| Physics is part of Integrated Sciences | Usually not separately, because it is part of one course |
| Your school requires separate sciences | Only if the school approves an exception |
| Science choices are offered in Years 4 or 5 | Possibly, if another approved science replaces Physics |
| You want to stop studying science entirely | Usually not, particularly on the MYP certificate pathway |
| National rules require Physics | Only with an authorized alternative or exemption |
Years 1 to 3 emphasize broad participation across the subject groups. In Years 4 and 5, schools may sometimes offer courses from six of the eight groups, subject to IB and local requirements.
This is school-managed flexibility, not an automatic right to remove a subject. Your coordinator must consider graduation rules, staffing, timetable restrictions, course availability, and assessment registration.
How dropping Physics could affect MYP eAssessment
MYP eAssessment is optional for schools, although your school may use it in Year 5. Students pursuing the full MYP certificate need an eligible assessment in the sciences subject group.
The IB lists Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Integrated Sciences among its available MYP eAssessment subjects. Dropping Physics does not automatically prevent you from earning the certificate if your school can register you for another science examination.
Ask your coordinator:
- Which science would replace Physics?
- Would I still meet school completion requirements?
- Am I registered for eAssessment?
- Would the change affect MYP certificate eligibility?
- Has the course-change deadline passed?
Should you drop MYP Physics?
Dropping Physics may be reasonable if it is optional, another science better matches your interests, and persistent difficulty continues despite focused support. It may also be appropriate when the workload is seriously affecting your wellbeing or performance elsewhere.
Keeping Physics may be wiser if:
- You are considering engineering or physical sciences.
- Your school expects MYP Physics for entry into DP Physics.
- Your difficulties come from repairable gaps in algebra, units, or graph interpretation.
- You enjoy practical work and problem-solving despite inconsistent grades.
- Dropping it would remove your science or certificate pathway.
One poor assessment or difficult unit is not enough evidence that the subject is unsuitable. Equally, there is little value in retaining an optional subject that causes unmanageable strain and does not support your plans.
Check your future pathway
The IB does not publish a universal rule requiring separate MYP Physics before DP Physics. However, individual schools may impose entry expectations based on prior science study, mathematics performance, or MYP grades.
If you are considering DP Physics, ask the DP coordinator about the actual entry policy. The MYP-to-DP transition guide can help you anticipate changes in workload and assessment.
Dropping MYP Physics does not automatically prevent a STEM career. However, engineering and physics-based pathways usually require strong later preparation in Mathematics and Physics, so maintaining a foundation can preserve more options.
Test whether the problem is your study method
Before requesting a permanent change, complete a short diagnostic unless wellbeing concerns require immediate action:
- List the exact topics causing difficulty instead of writing “all of Physics.”
- Review one weak concept using the MYP Physics learning resources.
- Attempt unseen questions from the MYP Physics Questionbank without notes.
- Classify errors as missing knowledge, mathematical difficulty, misunderstood wording, or careless execution.
- Ask your teacher whether the pattern is realistically fixable.
The MYP Sciences curriculum breakdown explains how inquiry, data processing, investigation, and evaluation operate across the sciences. If focused support produces improvement, dropping Physics may be unnecessary.
Common mistakes
Students often assume that every MYP school follows identical subject-choice rules. In reality, schools adapt the framework to local curricula and timetables, so another student's experience may not apply to you.
Avoid confusing the sciences subject group with Physics, assuming Year 4 or 5 flexibility guarantees a choice, or changing courses without checking eAssessment registration. You should also avoid deciding solely from one grade or keeping Physics only because it appears impressive. The RevisionDojo guide to MYP subject choice explains how schools customize their programmes.
Conclusion
Dropping MYP Physics may be possible, but there is no single universal rule. Confirm your school's policy, replacement science, eAssessment consequences, and future DP expectations before deciding.
If academic difficulty is the main concern, use RevisionDojo's MYP Physics Study Notes, Questionbank, and Jojo AI for a focused diagnostic period before requesting a permanent change.
