The most competitive national physics Challenge in the UK

Top students from UK and China compete together for the top awards

Win advantages to apply for science majors in top universities

IPC&SPC Online: Jan. 31, 2025 (Fri.) 17:00-18:00

IPC&SPC: Mar. 8, 2024 (Fri.) 17:00-18:00 (60 mins)

IPC&SPC Final: Jun. 15, 2024 (Sat.)

Introduction

The British Physics Olympiad is a charitable trust overseen by a committee of trustees. It was initiated in 1979,and hasbeen used as a qualifier for the selection of the UK Physics Team for the International Physics Olympiad since 1983.
The Senior Challenge is an exciting opportunity for students to stretch their lateral thinking skills and apply fundamental physics principles to novel situations. The paper includes short answer questions that provides an excellent tool to assess and challenge student's ability to work at Key Stage 5 and beyond. This is not merely for the very top students, but for all those who like to engage in problem solving questions and developing those skills. The best preparation is through working through part of past papers.

The Intermediate Physics Challenge is a single, one-hour paper that is suitable for Grade 9-10 students (Standard Grade or equivalent level). The paper includes traditional problem based set of questions that aim to test students knowledge and understanding of basic physics principles. The paper is suitable for students who have studied GCSE Science + Additional Science or GCSE Physics or equivalent.
Official website: https://www.bpho.org.uk/

Supported Organizations

Administration
The University of Oxford

Institute of Physics (IOP)

Sponsorship
Rolls-Royce

Event and training
The University of Cambridge

The University of Oxford

National Physical Laboratory

Texas Instrument

List of events

Event Name Event Time Form Type Suitable for grade
Intermediate Physics Challenge Online Jan. 31, 2025 (Fri.)

17:00-18:00

Online Multiple Choice Questions Recommended for Grade 9-10 or other equivalent grades
Senior Physics Challenge Online Jan. 31, 2025 (Fri.)

17:00-18:00

Online Multiple Choice Questions Recommended for Grade 10-11 or other equivalent grades
Intermediate Physics Challenge Mar. 8, 2024 (Fri.)
17:00-18:00
(60 minutes)
Onsite/Online Multiple Choice Questions, Free Response Questions Recommended for Grade 9-10 or other equivalent grades
Senior Physics Challenge Mar. 8, 2024 (Fri.)
17:00-18:00
(60 minutes)
Onsite/Online Multiple Choice Questions, Free Response Questions Recommended for Grade 10-11 or other equivalent grades
Intermediate Physics Challenge Final Jun.15, 2024 (Sat.) Online Experimental questions Recommended for Grade 9-10 or other equivalent grades
Senior Physics Challenge Final Jun.15, 2024 (Sat.) Online  Experimental questions Recommended for Grade 10-11 or other equivalent grades

Intermediate & Senior Physics Challenge(Online)

Unlike the Intermediate & Senior Physics Challenge, Online Challenge is a new activity that is a preliminary challenge to the IPC&SPC, and students can take both the Intermediate & Senior Physics Challenge (Online).

Unlike the Intermediate & Senior Physics Challenge, the Online Challenge is a new online activity, all questions are multiple-choice and online only, and is a preliminary challenge to the IPC&SPC.Intermediate & Senior Physics Challenge (online) The exam is primarily about physics, but some wider extension of physics knowledge is also encouraged to stimulate interest in physics. This challenge creates an opportunity for students to take part in a national physics thinking challenge and to develop their confidence in the subject. The Challenge is not just for students who are very good at studying physics, but for all students who are interested in studying and developing in physics.

Time: Jan. 31, 2025 (Fri.)17:00-18:00

Location:Online
Language:English
Tpye:40 multiple choice questions, one point for each question, no deduction for mistakes
Qualifications:
Intermediate Physics Challenge (online):recommended for grade 9-10 or other equivalent grades
Senior Physics Challenge (online):recommended for grade 10-11 or other equivalent grades

Awards:(IPC&SPC separate awards)
• Gold
• Silver
• Bronze

Deadline:Jan. 20, 2025

IPC&SPC Online Performance Report/Award List

IPC&SPC Rules

Language

English

Date

Mar. 8, 2024 (Fri.) 17:00-18:00 (60 mins)

Participants
  • Intermediate Physics Challenge: Grade 9 - 10 or other equivalent grades
  • Senior Physics Challenge: Grade 10 - 11 or other equivalent grades
Format

Individual test

Type of Questions

multiple choice questions, free-response questions

Academic materials
  • Problems and solutions from the past years for
    Intermediate Challenge
  • Problems and solutions from the past years for
    Senior Challenge
Exam locations

Paper-based in partnering school

 

Awards

Global awards:
• Gold
• Silver
• Bronze I
• Bronze II

(For judging the global awards, British competitors will be ranked first by their overall scores, creating boundaries for the gold, silver, bronze I, bronze II awards. Competitors from other countries are not ranked together with their British competitors, but are compared by boundaries.).

Deadline

Feb. 26, 2024

IPC&SPC Final Rules

Language

Question Language: English,
Answer Language: Both English and Chinese

Date

Jun.15, 2024 (Sat.)

Location

Online

Participants
  • IPC&SPC global gold, silver and bronze awards
Type of Questions

Physics experiments. Each round will focus on a different aspect of the experiment, such as the application of physics knowledge, logic, standardization and results of the experiment.

Global Awards 
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Bronze

 

 

Deadline

Jun. 2, 2024

IPC&SPC Winners

Exam Centers

ASDAN EPQ Scholarship

3000RMB/std

Gold

2000RMB/std

Silver

1000RMB/std

Bronze

Noted:The ASDAN Scholarship is only available to Year 10, 11 and 12 students for participating ASDAN Extended Project Qualification(EPQ). EPQ is recommended by the G5 group and many leading universities as a competitive academic experience. Scholarships cannot be exchanged for cash. For further details see:http://www.seedasdan.org/epq/

Sample Problems

FAQ

1、Can the students bring a calculator to GCSE & AS?
Students can use calculators, but not programmable calculators (ones which include 'solve' or 'integration' functions or the display shows more than 3 lines)
2、Can the students bring a dictionary to GCSE & AS?
The students can bring a printed version dictionary.

3、Refund policy
If, for some reason, the student is unable to attend after paying the fee, please contact us. If you apply before the registration deadline, 25% of the registration fee will be deducted as academic materials and service fees. If you apply after the registration deadline, no refund will be given.
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