Paper 1 guide

Paper 1 has two parts in one sitting: Paper 1A, multiple-choice questions, and Paper 1B, data-based questions from experiments. This page shows how the paper is built and what the papers so far show. Then choose a part for its own guide and practice papers.

2 hfor 1A and 1B together at HL (1 h 30 min at SL)

60marks at HL: 40 in 1A + 20 in 1B (45 at SL: 25 + 20)

36%of your final mark, at HL and at SL

Databooklet and calculator allowed in both parts

How Paper 1 is built

Paper 1A

Multiple choice: 4 options, 1 mark each.
HL: 40 questions, 40 marks
SL: 25 questions, 25 marks
Marks come from knowing every topic and one method for every question.

Paper 1B

Two or three questions on data from experiments.
HL and SL: 20 marks
Marks come from data skills: uncertainties, graphs, gradients and conclusions.

Together

One sitting, one shared time.
HL: 60 marks in 2 hours
SL: 45 marks in 1 hour 30 minutes

Plan your time: 2 minutes per mark

80 + 40minutes at HL: 1A then 1B

50 + 40minutes at SL: 1A then 1B

0marks lost for a wrong answer in 1A: never leave a blank

The time is shared, but use 2 minutes per mark in both parts: that is exactly the time you have. Check the clock as you go so 1A does not take time from 1B.

What the papers show

We studied every paper set for the new syllabus so far: 8 HL Paper 1A papers (320 questions) and 5 Paper 1B papers (100 marks), from May 2025, November 2025 and May 2026.

Paper 1A: questions per theme (HL)

The questions always go in theme order, A to E. Question 1 has always been kinematics and question 40 has always been stars. SL has the same order with 25 questions.

Paper 1A: kinds of question

Share of all 320 questions.

No letter trick

The right answers are spread almost evenly: A, B, C and D are each about 25%. Guessing a "favourite letter" does not help.

Every topic counts

22 of the 24 sub-topics came up in at least 6 of the 8 papers. Skipping a topic is a real risk.

Paper 1B: where the marks are

Marks per skill across the five Paper 1B papers, 100 marks in total.

Numbers beat words

About 54% of 1B marks are calculations, 40% are short written answers and 6% are drawing on a graph.

Any context

The experiments came from many topics, and any equation beyond the core course is given. The marks come from handling the data.

These counts come from a small number of papers. Use them to decide what to practise most, not to guess what will come.

Choose a part

Paper 1AMultiple choice: how to score higher (method, timing, traps, rules) and full practice papers at HL and SL.Open Paper 1A → Paper 1BData-based questions: how to score higher (the route, a 40-minute plan, a checklist) and full practice sets.Open Paper 1B →

📄 Free PDF: 50 answers that get 0 marks, and what to write instead.