MYP Physics eAssessments are externally marked by trained IB examiners, not by the student’s physics teacher. Examiners assess saved responses against task-specific markschemes linked to the four MYP Sciences criteria. The marks are combined and converted into a final subject grade from 1 to 7.
Your school supervises the examination and submits the response file, while the IB manages marking and grade awarding. Local arrangements such as arrival times, devices, permitted materials, and contingency procedures are communicated by the school coordinator.
The MYP Physics eAssessment format
Physics is assessed through a two-hour on-screen examination in the final year of the MYP. The IB’s on-screen examination information lists Physics as a discrete Sciences examination available in English and French.
| Task | Main criteria assessed | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Knowing and understanding | Criterion A | 25 |
| Investigation skills | Criteria B and C | 50 |
| Applying science | Criterion D | 25 |
| Total | All four criteria | 100 |
Each task has a principal focus, although a question can involve another criterion when skills overlap. A calculation, for example, may require both physics knowledge and accurate interpretation of experimental data.
How the Sciences criteria affect marking
Students should distinguish classroom criterion levels from raw examination marks.
| Criterion | What examiners look for |
|---|---|
| A: Knowing and understanding | Accurate knowledge, application, problem-solving, and supported judgments |
| B: Inquiring and designing | Testable hypotheses, variables, justified methods, and suitable measurements |
| C: Processing and evaluating | Data processing, interpretation, conclusions, evaluation, and realistic improvements |
| D: Reflecting on the impacts of science | Evaluation of how physics affects real issues and their wider implications |
In school assessment, each criterion is commonly reported from 0 to 8. The external examination instead awards allocated marks for individual questions. The MYP Sciences subject brief indicates that each criterion contributes 25 marks overall, so all four are equally represented. RevisionDojo’s MYP Science criteria guide provides practical examples.
What happens after the examination
The software generates a response file containing the student’s answers. Depending on the technical setup, it may upload automatically or be submitted through the school’s administration system. The school must confirm that responses have been transmitted correctly.
IB-appointed examiners mark electronic scripts on screen using task-specific markschemes. Examiner training, qualification activities, and responses with predetermined marks help monitor consistency. Marks are based on the submitted evidence, not effort, classroom reputation, predicted grades, or comparison with classmates.
From raw marks to a grade from 1 to 7
Marks across the tasks produce the total examination mark. The IB then applies its grade-awarding process to report a final MYP Physics grade from 1 to 7.
Grade boundaries are not permanently fixed percentages. They can differ between sessions, so an unofficial boundary from an older examination cannot guarantee a particular grade. For Physics, the on-screen examination determines the externally awarded subject grade. This differs from an ePortfolio subject, where teachers mark work and the IB moderates that marking, as explained in the MYP assessment overview.
MYP Physics exam-day logistics
The school provides a secure, supervised environment and compatible computers. Continuous internet access is not necessarily required while students work because the examination runs locally, although connectivity may support saving and submission.
The software can include multimedia stimuli, text boxes, graphing tools, tables, simulations, and an equation editor. Students should use familiarisation or specimen materials beforehand so navigation is not new on exam day. The IB’s preparation guidance explains the general technical model, but the coordinator’s current instructions control local arrangements and approved inclusive access measures.
How to write answers examiners can reward
For numerical questions, show the relevant relationship, substitute values carefully, retain sensible precision, and include the unit. A correct final number may not reveal enough reasoning to earn every available mark.
In investigation questions, identify independent, dependent, and controlled variables precisely. Proposed improvements should address a specific limitation and explain how the change improves accuracy, reliability, or validity. Statements such as “use better equipment” are usually too vague.
Follow command terms carefully. Explain requires connected scientific reasoning, while evaluate requires a supported judgment considering strengths, limitations, or competing implications. Students can practise with the MYP Physics Questionbank, follow the 30-day eAssessment study plan, and review the broader MYP Physics resources.
Common misunderstandings
- The classroom teacher does not mark the final examination. IB-appointed examiners mark it externally.
- Physics is not assessed through factual recall alone. Investigation skills account for half the marks.
- Long answers are not automatically strong. Responses must provide relevant evidence addressing the question.
- Predicted grades do not replace the examination result. Examiners mark what the student submits.
- Logistics vary between schools. Students must follow their coordinator’s instructions.
Conclusion
MYP Physics eAssessments are externally marked using question-specific markschemes grounded in Criteria A to D. The 100-mark examination represents each criterion equally before performance is reported on the 1-to-7 scale. RevisionDojo’s Study Notes, Questionbank, and timed exam practice can help students strengthen both physics knowledge and criterion-linked response skills.
