Do universities ask for MYP Physics grades?

Universities do not usually list an MYP Physics grade as a standard entry requirement. They normally make decisions using final secondary qualifications, predicted grades, and required senior-level subjects. However, your MYP grades may appear on the official school transcript submitted with your application. This is more likely to matter in holistic admissions systems that review several years of academic work. Always check the application rules of the universities and countries you are considering.

Do I need MYP Physics to study engineering at university?

Universities normally specify senior-level Physics and mathematics requirements rather than requiring MYP Physics itself. However, your school may require previous MYP Physics study before permitting you to take DP Physics, particularly at Higher Level. Dropping Physics during the MYP could therefore close an engineering pathway indirectly. Ask your school for its DP entry rules and inspect several engineering course pages before deciding. If engineering remains a serious possibility, retaining Physics is usually the safer choice.

Will a low MYP Physics grade damage my university application?

A single low MYP Physics grade is unlikely to determine the outcome of an application by itself. Universities generally give greater weight to more recent and advanced academic evidence. Strong later results can demonstrate that your understanding, study habits, and scientific skills improved. You should still address the cause of the low grade, particularly if you intend to continue with Physics. Consistent difficulty across several years will be more significant than one isolated result.

Is MYP Physics harder than the other MYP sciences?

Physics is not objectively harder for every student, but it often demands confident mathematical reasoning and the ability to connect models with real situations. Biology may involve more terminology, while chemistry combines conceptual understanding with calculations and symbolic representations. Your experience will also depend on your teacher, course structure, and whether your school teaches integrated or separate sciences. Consider the kinds of tasks you handle well rather than relying on the subject’s reputation. Reviewing sample units and speaking to current students can make the choice more informed.

Can I take DP Physics without studying MYP Physics?

The IB does not impose one universal MYP Physics prerequisite for every student entering DP Physics. Individual schools decide their own placement and progression requirements. Some may accept strong performance in integrated sciences and mathematics, while others may expect a separate Physics course or a minimum MYP grade. DP Physics also assumes that students can work confidently with equations, graphs, data, and scientific models. Confirm your school’s policy before dropping Physics or selecting another MYP science.

Should I choose MYP Physics if I do not know what I want to study?

Physics can be a sensible choice if you enjoy it and want to preserve possible pathways into engineering, physical sciences, or technology. It is not necessary for every university degree, so uncertainty alone does not mean you must take it. Compare the subjects needed for several broad fields that interest you and check what your school requires for later DP courses. You should also consider your workload and likelihood of building a solid foundation across all subjects. The best choice preserves useful options without sacrificing your overall learning and wellbeing.

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Do Universities Care About MYP Physics Grades?

MYP Physics Subject Choice MYP IB Physics Study Guides

Michael R.

• 11 Sept 2026•9

Do Universities Care About MYP Physics Grades?

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

Do Universities Care About MYP Physics Grades? | RevisionDojo

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Do Universities Care About MYP Physics Grades?

MYP Physics Subject Choice MYP IB Physics Study Guides

Michael R.

• 11 Sept 2026•9

Universities rarely use MYP Physics grades as a primary admissions criterion. They usually give greater weight to your final secondary qualification, including IB Diploma Higher Level subjects, predicted grades, and final results. However, an MYP Physics grade may appear on your transcript and affect which science courses your school allows you to take later.

MYP Physics is therefore not a universal admissions requirement, but it is not irrelevant. Its importance depends mainly on your school’s progression rules and whether dropping Physics would prevent you from taking an advanced science course later.

How universities view MYP Physics grades

The MYP is designed for students aged 11 to 16, while universities normally make offers using qualifications completed near the end of secondary school. For IB Diploma applicants, admissions requirements usually specify the overall Diploma score and particular Higher Level subjects, rather than one earlier MYP grade.

For example, the University of Oxford’s international qualification requirements express IB requirements through total Diploma points and Higher Level grades. This illustrates the usual UK approach: the final school-leaving qualification provides the main evidence for admission.

Practices vary by institution. Universities using holistic admissions may review your complete secondary-school transcript. Yale’s application requirements, for example, include an official transcript of completed secondary-school courses. Earlier results may therefore provide context without becoming the decisive qualification.

Question	Practical answer
Is MYP Physics normally an entry qualification?	No. Final secondary qualifications carry more weight.
Can the grade appear on a transcript?	Yes, depending on the school and application system.
Can one weak grade prevent admission?	Usually not by itself, particularly if later results improve.
Can dropping Physics affect future options?	Yes, if it blocks access to DP Physics or another advanced course.

School grades and official MYP results

Not every MYP grade is an externally awarded IB result. Most MYP assessment is created and marked by teachers using subject-group criteria. Schools may also register students for optional MYP eAssessment, through which students can receive IB-validated course results or work towards the MYP certificate.

The IB’s explanation of MYP assessment distinguishes classroom assessment from optional external assessment. Official course results use the 1 to 7 scale. According to the IB grading and awards guidance, the MYP certificate has a maximum of 56 points and requires at least 28 points, plus a grade of at least 3 in each required component.

An eAssessment result and an internal report grade are not identical, although neither normally replaces the final school-leaving qualification. Ask your MYP coordinator which type appears on your records.

When choosing MYP Physics matters

The most important consequence of your MYP Physics subject choice is usually what it allows you to study next. Physics is particularly relevant for possible degrees in:

Physics or astronomy
Engineering
Some computer science and technology fields
Architecture programmes with science requirements
Certain natural sciences

Universities may require or prefer DP Physics, mathematics, or another senior science. The IB’s course selection guidance distinguishes between required, preferred, and recommended subjects. A required subject affects eligibility, while a recommended subject may simply provide useful preparation.

The crucial question is whether your MYP choice keeps open the senior subjects needed for degrees you may consider. Your school might require previous Physics study or a particular MYP Sciences result before allowing DP Physics HL. This is a school progression rule, not a universal IB requirement, so confirm it directly.

Should you choose MYP Physics?

Choose Physics when it supports your interests, strengths, or possible future pathways. Do not select it only because you assume competitive universities expect it.

Consider four factors:

Future prerequisites: Check representative university course pages for required senior subjects.
School progression rules: Ask what is needed to enter DP Physics SL or HL.
Interest and aptitude: Consider whether you enjoy mathematical modelling, experiments, and data analysis.
Overall workload: A balanced programme is usually better than a difficult subject chosen for appearances.

If engineering or physics is a serious possibility, retaining Physics is generally prudent. If you are firmly interested in a field without science prerequisites, it may provide breadth but is unlikely to be essential for admission.

What if your MYP Physics grade is low?

One low result does not define your eventual application. Stronger later grades in DP Physics, mathematics, or another science provide more recent evidence of your ability.

Identify the reason for the result before changing subjects. Weak conceptual understanding requires a different response from calculation errors, incomplete investigations, or answers that do not satisfy MYP criteria. Use teacher feedback to separate gaps in knowledge from problems with scientific communication.

RevisionDojo’s MYP Physics resources, MYP resource hub, and MYP syllabus browser can help you match practice to your course. The forces and energy resources and MYP Physics flashcards are useful for application and retrieval practice.

Common subject-selection mistakes

Avoid assuming that taking more sciences automatically strengthens an application. Universities care more about whether you meet the actual requirements for your intended degree and perform well in relevant later subjects.

Common mistakes include:

Treating an MYP grade as equivalent to a DP Higher Level grade
Choosing Physics only because it appears impressive
Dropping Physics without checking later prerequisites
Assuming every university evaluates transcripts identically
Focusing on one subject while overall performance declines

Requirements differ between courses and can change. Recheck them when selecting DP subjects and preparing university applications.

Conclusion

Universities generally care more about your final qualification than an individual MYP Physics grade. Nevertheless, MYP Physics can matter indirectly by appearing on your transcript, developing scientific skills, and determining access to advanced Physics courses.

Choose it when it preserves a pathway you value, not because it guarantees an admissions advantage. RevisionDojo’s MYP Physics Study Notes, Flashcards, and Questionbank can support targeted improvement and preparation for later science study.

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