How early should I begin preparing for a November IB Physics mock?

Begin structured preparation about 4 weeks before the mock if you have already studied most of the assessed content. Start earlier if your diagnostic test reveals several missing foundations, particularly in algebra, vectors, graph analysis, or units. The first week should identify and repair weaknesses rather than immediately testing full papers. Introduce timed sections during weeks 2-3, then complete a realistic simulation in the final week. Even with less time, preserve the same sequence of diagnosis, targeted practice, and timed rehearsal.

Should I revise every IB Physics topic for November mocks?

Revise the exact scope provided by your teacher because November mocks are school assessments rather than centrally administered IB examinations. Your school may assess the full course, the first year, or only the topics completed by November. Create a checklist that separates secure, developing, and weak syllabus areas within that scope. Give weak high-dependency topics priority because they can affect several later questions. If the scope is unclear, ask your teacher rather than assuming that a complete online syllabus list matches your mock.

How many Physics practice papers should I complete?

There is no official required number, and completing many papers badly is less useful than reviewing a smaller number thoroughly. A reasonable 4-week plan includes short topic sets in the first half, timed paper sections in week 3, and at least one realistic full simulation in week 4. Mark each attempt line by line and record the specific cause of every lost mark. Reattempt incorrect questions from a blank page after a delay. Add another full paper only if you have enough time to analyse and correct it properly.

How should I prepare for IB Physics Paper 1B?

Practise interpreting unfamiliar tables, graphs, and experimental descriptions rather than memorizing fixed responses. Train yourself to inspect axis labels, scales, units, uncertainties, and anomalous points before performing calculations. You should be able to determine gradients and intercepts, explain trends, propagate simple uncertainties where required, and evaluate limitations precisely. Avoid vague comments such as human error unless you identify the mechanism and its likely effect on the result. Short timed data sets are useful because they develop both accuracy and efficient scientific communication.

Can I use old IB Physics past papers for the current syllabus?

Older questions can support content practice, but they must be selected carefully because the current course was first assessed in 2025. The current assessment has Paper 1A, Paper 1B, and Paper 2, with no Paper 3 or option topics. Mechanics, waves, fields, thermal physics, and other overlapping content may still provide valuable calculations and explanations. Old experimental questions can also help develop data-analysis skills when they match the current syllabus. Use the official current specimen papers to understand the actual format of your November mock if your school is reproducing the modern structure.

What should I do the night before my Physics mock exam?

Use the evening for light retrieval and practical preparation rather than a full practice paper. Review your error log, essential definitions, common units, graph conventions, and the locations of frequently used relationships in the data booklet. Check your calculator settings and pack the equipment required by your school. Stop studying at a sensible time because sleep supports concentration, working memory, and careful calculation. If one topic remains weak, review its central principle and one representative example instead of attempting to relearn the entire chapter.

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IB Physics Mock Exam Prep for November

IB Physics Mock Exam Prep IB Exam Tips

• 27 Sept 2026•9

Join 650k+ students breezing through the IBReady to breeze through the IB?

IB Physics Mock Exam Prep for November | RevisionDojo

Back to all posts

IB Physics Mock Exam Prep for November

IB Physics Mock Exam Prep IB Exam Tips

• 27 Sept 2026•9

Your IB Physics mock exam prep should combine targeted topic repair, exam-style questions, and timed paper practice. For November mocks, confirm what your school will assess, then use a 4-week plan that progresses from diagnosis to realistic simulation.

The current IB Physics course uses Paper 1A multiple-choice questions, Paper 1B data-based questions, and Paper 2 short-answer and extended-response questions. A school mock is an internal assessment, however, so teachers may test only material covered by November or modify the official format.

Confirm the Scope of Your November Physics Mocks

Before revising, ask your teacher for:

The syllabus topics included
The papers or sections being tested
The duration and mark total for SL or HL
The permitted equipment and data booklet rules

Do not assume another school's November mock has the same scope. Some schools run full examination rehearsals, while others assess only completed topics.

Under the official assessment model first assessed in 2025, Paper 1 is worth 36% and Paper 2 is worth 44% of the final IB grade. The scientific investigation contributes 20%. These final-assessment weightings appear in the IB Physics subject brief, but schools can calculate mock grades differently.

Component	Official format	SL time	HL time
Paper 1	Paper 1A multiple choice and Paper 1B data-based questions	1 hour 30 minutes	2 hours
Paper 2	Short-answer and extended-response questions	1 hour 30 minutes	2 hours 30 minutes

Calculators and clean Physics data booklets are permitted in the official papers. The official specimen papers show the current question styles and instructions.

A Focused 4-Week IB Physics Mock Exam Prep Plan

Week 1: Diagnose and rebuild

Complete a mixed diagnostic set covering every assessed topic. Include calculations, definitions, graphs, experimental data, and explanations. Work without notes, but do not impose strict timing yet.

Classify every lost mark:

Knowledge: The principle or definition was missing.
Equation selection: You chose the wrong relationship.
Mathematics: Algebra, trigonometry, or calculator work failed.
Units: A unit was omitted or converted incorrectly.
Interpretation: You misunderstood a graph or context.
Communication: Your explanation lacked a physical link.

Identify three weak micro-topics instead of broad areas such as mechanics. For example, choose resolving forces on slopes or determining uncertainty from a graph. Repair each gap with IB Physics Study Notes, then complete a short Questionbank set.

Week 2: Train each paper separately

Paper 1A rewards quick recognition, accurate reasoning, and careful elimination. Complete short timed sets and explain why each rejected option is wrong. Because incorrect answers are not penalized, leave no question unanswered during simulations.

For Paper 1B, practise gradients, intercepts, uncertainty, units, significant figures, and evaluation of evidence. Read both axes before calculating and explain what a gradient represents physically.

For Paper 2, show complete working:

Identify the relevant physical principle.
Write the relationship before inserting numbers.
Rearrange symbolically where practical.
Substitute values using consistent units.
Check magnitude, direction, and significant figures.

Use the Physics data booklet resource regularly. Learn where equations appear, what their symbols mean, and the conditions under which each relationship applies.

Week 3: Mix topics and add time pressure

Move from topic-labelled exercises to mixed sets. In a mock, choosing the correct model is part of the challenge.

Complete one timed Paper 1 section and one substantial Paper 2 set. Use current-format predicted papers or teacher-approved material as simulations, not forecasts of exact questions.

Review attempts on the same day. Record each mistake's cause, the correction rule, and when you will attempt a similar question again. The guide to revising Physics with past papers explains this attempt, diagnose, repair, and reattempt cycle.

Week 4: Simulate, correct, and taper

Complete at least one realistic mock using your school's scope and timing. Work in silence, use only permitted materials, and do not pause the timer.

After marking, focus on the error patterns costing the most marks. Use Physics flashcards for definitions, assumptions, units, and conceptual distinctions, then test those weaknesses with unfamiliar questions.

Complete your final simulation several days before the mock. During the last 1-2 days, use brief retrieval, selected corrections, and normal sleep rather than trying to relearn entire topics.

Build a Practical Daily Routine

A focused 60-minute session can follow this structure:

10 minutes: Recall formulas, definitions, and assumptions.
15 minutes: Repair one conceptual weakness.
25 minutes: Answer exam-style questions independently.
10 minutes: Mark errors and schedule a reattempt.

If a solution remains unclear, ask Jojo AI to identify your first incorrect step or explain why a model applies. Use feedback after an independent attempt so that it improves your next unaided answer.

Common Mistakes Before November Mocks

Avoid spending most of your preparation rewriting notes. Physics requires applying models to unfamiliar situations, so question practice and careful review should eventually dominate your revision.

Common mistakes include:

Practising calculations while neglecting explanations
Ignoring Paper 1B until the final week
Using old Paper 3 material without checking relevance
Recording scores without analysing lost marks
Completing questions with notes open
Memorizing formulas without understanding units or assumptions

The current course has no Paper 3 and no option topics, as confirmed by the official curriculum update. Older questions can still develop transferable content and experimental skills, but they do not reproduce the current structure.

Exam-Day Physics Checklist

Bring an approved calculator, pens, pencils, a ruler, and equipment specified by your school. Check your calculator's angle mode and scientific notation settings beforehand.

Track time by marks rather than allowing one problem to consume an entire section. If stuck, write a relevant principle or equation, make reasonable progress, and return later. In explanations, connect cause and effect explicitly.

Conclusion

Effective IB Physics mock exam prep follows a clear sequence: confirm the scope, diagnose weaknesses, practise each paper style, mix topics, and complete a timed simulation. Analysing and reattempting mistakes matters as much as answering the original questions.

RevisionDojo can support this process through Study Notes, Flashcards, the Questionbank, Jojo AI, and Predicted Papers. Begin with targeted practice, then introduce timed work once your methods are reliable.

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Confirm the Scope of Your November Physics Mocks

Before revising, ask your teacher for:

The syllabus topics included
The papers or sections being tested
The duration and mark total for SL or HL
The permitted equipment and data booklet rules

Do not assume another school's November mock has the same scope. Some schools run full examination rehearsals, while others assess only completed topics.

Component	Official format	SL time	HL time
Paper 1	Paper 1A multiple choice and Paper 1B data-based questions	1 hour 30 minutes	2 hours
Paper 2	Short-answer and extended-response questions	1 hour 30 minutes	2 hours 30 minutes

Calculators and clean Physics data booklets are permitted in the official papers. The official specimen papers show the current question styles and instructions.