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IB Physics HL Paper 1A Drilling Mock: 20 Multiple-Choice Questions with Worked Answers
TUTORZONE ORIGINAL DRILLING MOCK · IB PHYSICS HL PAPER 1A
Built to the IB Physics assessment structure (first assessment 2025): Paper 1 runs 2 hours for 60 marks and 36%, made up of Paper 1A, 40 multiple-choice questions for 40 marks, and Paper 1B, 20 marks of data-based questions. Paper 2 runs 2 h 30 min for 90 marks and 44%, and the scientific investigation carries 24 marks and 20%. This mock demonstrates 20 Paper 1A questions for 20 marks across Theme A motion, Theme B matter, Theme C waves, Theme D fields and Theme E quantum and nuclear physics, each with its working and the formula used. Every question and answer is an original TutorZone item, not an IB past paper or markscheme.
How is IB Physics HL assessed?
Direct answer: Paper 1: 2 hours, 60 marks, 36% (Paper 1A, 40 multiple-choice marks, plus Paper 1B, 20 marks of data-based questions); Paper 2: 2 h 30 min, 90 marks, 44%; internal assessment (scientific investigation): 24 marks, 20%. The three components total 100%, with 80% externally assessed.
Assessment at a glance (2027)
| Component | Content | Weighting | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1A (Multiple Choice) | 40 questions, SL + AHL content | 40 (Paper 1 = 60, 36%) | 2 h for Paper 1 |
| Paper 1B (Data-based) | 20 marks of data analysis | 20 (Paper 1 = 60, 36%) | 2 h for Paper 1 |
| Paper 2 (Short answer and extended response) | SL + AHL, 90 marks | 90 (44%) | 2 h 30 min |
| Internal assessment (scientific investigation) | one investigation, 24 marks | 24 (20%) | 10 hours of class time |
Split the two hours of Paper 1 in two: 48 minutes for the 40 Paper 1A items (72 seconds each, flag and move on when unsure), then 72 minutes for the Paper 1B data questions. Half of the multiple-choice marks come from unit and order-of-magnitude sense, so read the units first and two options often fall away.
How this paper was built
Written by TutorZone’s tutor team: stems, four options, answers and working are all original, in the shape of the IB Physics Paper 1A (40 multiple-choice items, one mark each, no penalty for a wrong answer) under the syllabus first assessed in 2025. This page demonstrates 20 of them.
Every numerical answer is computed and asserted in Python from the data printed in the stem, and the option letters are placed by a hash in code, so the key cannot drift from the question. Items cover Theme A (motion), B (matter), C (waves), D (fields) and E (quantum and nuclear).
Copyright and originality: this is not an IB past paper or markscheme, and no IB examination paper, specimen paper or markscheme text is reproduced. The paper shape follows the publicly documented assessment structure; the content is 100% original and every data set is written for this page.
Pacing
| Section | Marks | Suggested time | What to do first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1A (Multiple Choice) | 40 (Paper 1 = 60, 36%) | 48 min recommended (72 s per item), delete the impossible options first | concepts, graphs, units and orders of magnitude |
| Paper 1B (Data-based) | 20 (Paper 1 = 60, 36%) | 72 min recommended, graphs and uncertainties first | gradients, intercepts, uncertainties and conclusions |
| Paper 2 (Short answer and extended response) | 90 (44%) | about 1 min 40 s per mark, extended response in the last 30 min | derivations, graph interpretation and extended responses |
| Internal assessment (scientific investigation) | 24 (20%) | fix the research question and variables before collecting data | design, data processing, evaluation and extension |
What does Paper 1A actually test?
Concepts, graphs, units and orders of magnitude across the whole SL and AHL content, one mark per item with no penalty for a wrong answer, so guessing beats leaving a blank. The marks that separate candidates are unit conversion, formula shape and choosing which formula applies.
Paper 1A Multiple Choice (20 questions, 20 marks)
IB Physics HL Paper 1A carries 40 multiple-choice questions for 40 marks; this mock demonstrates 20 of them with original questions and answers. One mark each, no penalty for a wrong answer, about 72 seconds per question.
Question 1
A ball is thrown vertically upwards at 12 m s⁻¹. Air resistance is negligible. How long does the ball take to return to the point of release?
A. 4.9 sB. 1.2 sC. 2.4 sD. 2.6 s
Question 2
A ball leaves a table horizontally at 15 m s⁻¹ from a height of 20 m. Air resistance is negligible. What is the horizontal range?
A. 45 mB. 30 mC. 20 mD. 60 m
Question 3
A 0.50 kg ball hits a wall perpendicularly at 8.0 m s⁻¹ and rebounds at 6.0 m s⁻¹ in the opposite direction. What is the magnitude of the impulse on the ball?
A. 1.0 N sB. 4.0 N sC. 7.0 N sD. 3.0 N s
Question 4
A 2.0 kg block slides 5.0 m from rest down a 30° incline against a constant friction force of 4.0 N. What is its speed at the bottom?
A. 7.0 m s⁻¹B. 5.4 m s⁻¹C. 9.9 m s⁻¹D. 3.2 m s⁻¹
Question 5
A car travels at a constant 20 m s⁻¹ around a bend of radius 80 m. What is its centripetal acceleration?
A. 5.0 m s⁻²B. 0.25 m s⁻²C. 2.5 m s⁻²D. 20 m s⁻²
Question 6
A particle has a proper lifetime of 2.2 μs. It travels at 0.95c relative to the laboratory. What lifetime does the laboratory measure?
A. 7.0 μsB. 2.3 μsC. 22 μsD. 2.2 μs
Question 7
0.50 mol of an ideal gas occupies 2.0 x 10⁻³ m³ at 300 K. What is the pressure?
A. 1.2×10⁶ PaB. 6.2×10⁵ PaC. 3.1×10⁵ PaD. 6.2×10² Pa
Question 8
0.40 kg of water is heated through 25 K. The specific heat capacity of water is 4.2 x 10³ J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹. How much energy is required?
A. 1.1×10⁴ JB. 1.7×10³ JC. 4.2×10⁴ JD. 4.2×10⁵ J
Question 9
An ideal heat engine operates between a hot reservoir at 600 K and a cold reservoir at 300 K. What is its maximum theoretical efficiency?
A. 67%B. 50%C. 33%D. 25%
Question 10
Two 6.0 Ω resistors are connected in parallel across a 12 V supply of negligible internal resistance. What is the total current from the supply?
A. 2.0 AB. 4.0 AC. 24 AD. 1.0 A
Question 11
A simple pendulum of length 1.5 m oscillates with small amplitude where g = 9.81 m s⁻². What is its period?
A. 3.8 sB. 0.39 sC. 1.2 sD. 2.5 s
Question 12
A sound wave in air has frequency 250 Hz and speed 340 m s⁻¹. What is its wavelength?
A. 1.4 mB. 85 mC. 0.74 mD. 2.7 m
Question 13
A string of length 1.2 m is fixed at both ends; transverse waves travel at 120 m s⁻¹. What is the first harmonic (fundamental frequency)?
A. 50 HzB. 144 HzC. 100 HzD. 25 Hz
Question 14
A source emitting 500 Hz approaches a stationary observer at 30 m s⁻¹. The speed of sound is 340 m s⁻¹. What frequency does the observer hear?
A. 590 HzB. 460 HzC. 500 HzD. 548 Hz
Question 15
The gravitational field strength at the Earth’s surface is 9.81 N kg⁻¹. What is it at a distance of 3 Earth radii from the centre?
A. 3.3 N kg⁻¹B. 2.5 N kg⁻¹C. 0.98 N kg⁻¹D. 1.1 N kg⁻¹
Question 16
A satellite orbits at 7.0 x 10⁶ m from the Earth’s centre. The Earth’s mass is 5.97 x 10²⁴ kg. What is the orbital speed?
A. 5.6 km s⁻¹B. 9.8 km s⁻¹C. 11 km s⁻¹D. 7.5 km s⁻¹
Question 17
A proton enters a uniform 0.50 T magnetic field at 2.0 x 10⁶ m s⁻¹, perpendicular to the field. What is the magnetic force on it?
A. 1.6×10⁻¹⁹ NB. 1.6×10⁻¹³ NC. 3.2×10⁻¹³ ND. 8.0×10⁻¹⁴ N
Question 18
A 200-turn coil of area 0.010 m² per turn. The flux density through it rises uniformly from 0 to 0.50 T in 0.10 s. What is the magnitude of the induced emf?
A. 1.0 VB. 100 VC. 10 VD. 5.0 V
Question 19
A metal has a work function of 2.0 eV. Light of wavelength 500 nm is shone on it (take hc ~ 1240 eV nm). What is the maximum kinetic energy of the photoelectrons?
A. 2.0 eVB. 4.5 eVC. 0.48 eVD. 0.24 eV
Question 20
A radionuclide has a half-life of 8.0 days. A sample contains 64 g initially. How much remains after 24 days?
A. 16 gB. 8.0 gC. 32 gD. 2.0 g
By topic or by year first?
By topic first, theme by theme (A motion, B matter, C waves, D fields, E quantum and nuclear), eight to ten years of the same theme back to back; only then 48 minutes of timed Paper 1A, and the Paper 1B data questions last.
Answers and working (Paper 1A)
Question 1
Answer: C (2.4 s) Rise time is u/g = 12/9.81 = 1.22 s; the full flight is rise plus fall, so 2 x 1.22 ~ 2.4 s.
Question 2
Answer: B (30 m) Fall time t = sqrt(2h/g) = sqrt(40/9.81) = 2.02 s; range = 15 x 2.02 ~ 30 m.
Question 3
Answer: C (7.0 N s) Velocity changes from +8.0 to -6.0, so dv = 14 m s⁻¹; impulse = m dv = 0.50 x 14 = 7.0 N s.
Question 4
Answer: B (5.4 m s⁻¹) Net work = (mg sin30 – f)d = (9.81 – 4.0) x 5.0 = 29 J; v = sqrt(2 x 29 / 2.0) ~ 5.4 m s⁻¹.
Question 5
Answer: A (5.0 m s⁻²) a = v²/r = 20²/80 = 5.0 m s⁻².
Question 6
Answer: A (7.0 μs) gamma = 1/sqrt(1 – 0.95²) = 3.20; t = gamma x tau = 3.20 x 2.2 ~ 7.0 μs (time dilation).
Question 7
Answer: B (6.2×10⁵ Pa) p = nRT/V = 0.50 x 8.31 x 300 / 2.0 x 10⁻³ ~ 6.2 x 10⁵ Pa.
Question 8
Answer: C (4.2×10⁴ J) Q = mc dT = 0.40 x 4.2 x 10³ x 25 = 4.2 x 10⁴ J.
Question 9
Answer: B (50%) eta = 1 – T_c/T_h = 1 – 300/600 = 0.50, i.e. 50%.
Question 10
Answer: B (4.0 A) Parallel resistance = 3.0 ohm; I = V/R = 12/3.0 = 4.0 A (2.0 A in each branch).
Question 11
Answer: D (2.5 s) T = 2π sqrt(l/g) = 2π sqrt(1.5/9.81) ~ 2.5 s; independent of amplitude and mass.
Question 12
Answer: A (1.4 m) lambda = v/f = 340/250 = 1.36 ~ 1.4 m.
Question 13
Answer: A (50 Hz) Fundamental wavelength = 2L = 2.4 m; f = v/lambda = 120/2.4 = 50 Hz.
Question 14
Answer: D (548 Hz) Approaching: f’ = f v/(v – v_s) = 500 x 340/310 ~ 548 Hz; the wavelength is compressed.
Question 15
Answer: D (1.1 N kg⁻¹) g is proportional to 1/r²; tripling r divides g by 9: 9.81/9 ~ 1.1 N kg⁻¹.
Question 16
Answer: D (7.5 km s⁻¹) v = sqrt(GM/r) = sqrt(6.67 x 10⁻¹¹ x 5.97 x 10²⁴ / 7.0 x 10⁶) ~ 7.5 x 10³ m s⁻¹.
Question 17
Answer: B (1.6×10⁻¹³ N) F = qvB sin90 = 1.60 x 10⁻¹⁹ x 2.0 x 10⁶ x 0.50 = 1.6 x 10⁻¹³ N.
Question 18
Answer: C (10 V) emf = N dPhi/dt = 200 x (0.010 x 0.50)/0.10 = 10 V (Faraday’s law).
Question 19
Answer: C (0.48 eV) Photon energy = 1240/500 = 2.48 eV; maximum kinetic energy = 2.48 – 2.0 = 0.48 eV.
Question 20
Answer: B (8.0 g) 24 days is three half-lives; m = 64 x (1/2)³ = 8.0 g.
How should the two hours of Paper 1 be split?
48 minutes for Paper 1A (40 items at 72 seconds each, flag and move on when unsure) and 72 minutes for Paper 1B, taking the graph, gradient and uncertainty parts first. The two booklets are sat without a break, so the rhythm has to be fixed in practice.
Where these marks are usually lost
| Mistake | What it looks like | What it costs | Instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Answering from the picture, not the units | Writing 30 because 30 looks right | The options are in cm or km, a factor of 100 out | Write the required unit first, then convert |
| Reciting the formula in the wrong form | a = v/r instead of v²/r | The whole calculation is wrong downstream | Write the formula in the margin before substituting |
| Ignoring stated conditions | Adding drag or mass that the stem excluded | One layer too many, the answer drifts | Circle every condition in the stem |
| No units or uncertainty in Paper 1B | Just a number and a conclusion sentence | The data-question marks sit in units, gradients and errors | A unit in every cell, uncertainty at the end |
How to use this paper
Use it once as a real Paper 1A: 20 items in 24 minutes (72 seconds each), data booklet closed. When marking, do not just count right and wrong – name the cause: units, formula shape, a missed condition, or the concept itself.
Or split the 20 items by theme, one theme a week, and after each set write out that theme’s formulas and constants from blank paper. Themes A and D are calculation-heavy, B and E are order-of-magnitude judgements, C is graphs and phase.
How many years of past papers is enough?
IB Physics first assessed the current course in 2025, with Paper 1 split into 1A and 1B, so only papers from 2025 follow this shape. Older papers still drill the topics (mechanics, waves and electricity are largely unchanged) but their structure and marks need converting to the current guide. Do every session of the new shape, and eight to ten years of the old papers theme by theme.
FAQ
Is this an IB past paper?
No. Every question, option, answer and line of working is a TutorZone original; no IB paper or markscheme is reproduced. The paper shape (Paper 1A 40 marks, Paper 1 60 marks for 36%) follows the publicly documented assessment structure, but the content and data are written for this page.
Why 20 questions rather than 40?
The live Paper 1A has 40 items for 40 marks inside a two-hour Paper 1 shared with Paper 1B. Twenty items are enough to rehearse the 72-second decision cycle end to end; after that, run the same process on a full set of 40.
Can SL students use this?
Yes, but the numbers differ: the SL Paper 1 is 1 h 30 min for 45 marks (Paper 1A 25 marks plus Paper 1B 20 marks), still 36%. Some items here are AHL content (for example relativistic time dilation), which SL students can skip while spending the time on the SL core of Themes A to C.
Official references
| Resource | What to check |
|---|---|
| IB Physics subject page (IBO) | Confirm the weighting of Paper 1, Paper 2 and the IA |
| https://www.tutorzone.com.hk/en-ap-physics-1-mock-2027/ | AP Physics 1 drilling mock (same mechanics topics) |
Related: practice area · A-Level Physics 9702 drill guide (same mechanics and fields)
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