Intermediate & Senior Physics Challenge
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. 6, 2025 (Thur.) 17:00-18:00 (60 mins)
IPC&SPC Final: Jun. 14, 2025 (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-RoyceEvent and training
The University of Cambridge The University of Oxford National Physical Laboratory Texas InstrumentList 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. 6, 2025 (Thur.) 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. 6, 2025 (Thur.) 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.14, 2025 (Sat.) | Online | Experimental questions | Recommended for Grade 9-10 or other equivalent grades |
Senior Physics Challenge Final | Jun.14, 2025 (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. 6, 2025 (Thur.) 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. 24, 2025
IPC&SPC Final Rules
Language
Question Language: English
Answer Language: English
Date
Jun.14, 2025 (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. 3, 2025
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/。