It’s tough at the top

July 25, 2014

This post is a short discussion of the problems with Physics which result in a relatively low proportion of top grades being produced.  The fear is that these problems will not go away with the new course and might even be worse! The pass-rates for all IB courses are...

Two for the price of one

The 2014/15 academic year is going to be really quite tough on IB teachers for Group 4, especially if you are the only teacher for the IB physics course in your school.  If you are the IB teacher, then you will need to teach both the last year of the old course and...

The New Course approaches

March 31, 2014

Preparations for the new Physics course starting this September MUST start now to avoid potential disaster. As all IB physics teachers should know, the revision of the Group 4 subjects has been essentially completed and the new syllabus for Physics begins this...

Gp 4 Project – Start Early to not be disappointed

December 1, 2013

  Planning of the Group 4 project is crucial if it is to be successful. This is the part of the year when we start to think about the organisation of the group 4 project.  I will be provocative and say that if you are not thinking about it now, you may not be...

Exam Advice – the Devil is in the Details

October 31, 2013

I know it may well seem that the exams are a long way off, but actually, they could be ‘just around the corner! The November exam session is about to start and already, some of my colleagues have got extended essays to mark.  Coupled to this, the subject reports have...

To Teach or not to Teach?

September 28, 2013

Teaching the IB HL Physics course can lead you into a massive but false sense of security! Being the best part of a month into the course, I am looking back at the few weeks I have had with the students and asking myself already … “Is it going well”.  In asking this,...