BPhO Round 1

This is the first of the selection papers for the UK team for the IPhO. However, it is also a paper about physics problem solving, and is taken by those who have a keen interest in rasing their problem solving skills. Last year the Round 1 competition was entered by 2800 students in UK schools. Competition date: Friday 10^th Nov 2023
Scanned scripts returned (uploaded) for marking to BPhO by Friday 17^th Nov 2023

Competition details

• Section 1 is a set of short questions, Section 2 is from a choice of long questions
• Length 2 hrs 40 min (the two sections can be sat separately)
• Sat within your school
• Scanned student scripts are uploaded to the BPhO office for marking

Cost: £18 per student (4 free papers for non fee-paying schools). All subsequent rounds are free.
Prizes: Certificates.

International schools sit the paper on Monday 13^th November 2023. The paper will be available on Saturday 11^th Nov 2023.

Purpose

This paper consists of a set of short answer (Section 1) and several long answer thematic questions (Section 2). They require the student to solve problems, hence the time allocation. Results determine if students will be invited to participate in the next round (Round 2 in late January), and ultimately onto the team for the IPhO and, if the dates of the competition fit, the European Physics Olympiad (EuPhO). Students at the team level typically achieve 70-80%, but considerably lower scores indicate a level of achievement that should in itself be considered by pupil and school as a profound depth of development, skill at the subject, and a determination to solve hard physics problems. About two and a half thousand students participate in the competition annually. This paper is a challenge and is not an A level replica or a guide to A level performance. Nor does an expected A* at A level indicate that a top result will be obtained here. It is a very tall ladder of skill, ability and preparedness which students climb until they grind to a halt. Good students should be encouraged to prepare for it by working through past papers over the months before; questions from past papers should also be integrated in to your teaching scheme of work. Participation itself reflects strongly on a student’s interest and determination.

• Students are entered for the Competition by their registered teachers, who can access the Competitions platform This can only be done by teachers and NOT by students.
• Security of the paper is a real concern. It should kept under lock and key as would a public exam paper, and not shown to any colleagues in advance of the exam sitting date.
• Papers are returned (scanned copies are uploaded) to the BPhO for marking. Details are available at Competitions platform.
• The BPhO Round 1 and later rounds are marked by a team of experienced markers at Oxford.
• Results are emailed out by late-December to the contact email address.
• Do not send in questions about results before then. We have had a substantial increase in particpants over the past two years and this has been difficult to cope with. Instructions are given on the Competitions platform. and it is important that teachers follow these and also check their submitted papers are the correct ones.

Award allocation

Certificates are awarded to the top students in approximately the following numbers:

• 50 Top Gold
• 100 Gold
• 200 Silver
• 300 Bronze I
• 300 Bronze II
• 1000 Commendations

Book prizes are generally awarded for Top Gold awards winners.

Students achieving a certificate of any colour in the BPhO are very able physics problem solvers. We would encourage schools to present these certificates in a manner that recognises the significant achievement of successful students at a national level.

Past papers can be found here.

Qualification for Round 2 and selection for the Oxford Training Camp at Easter

The top group of students eligible for Round 2 (see the Round 2 eligibility criteria) will be invited to take part in Round 2 in late January. This will be the Top Gold students who satisfy the requirements for Round 2 entry, and some invitees who have performed well in one or more questions of Round 1.

China schools

Schools in China must participate through ASDAN China. To register please visit ASDAN China, or contact info@seedasdan.org for more information.