What the booklet is and which papers allow it
The data booklet is published by the IB for the current Physics course, first assessed in 2025. Its job is to remove the need to memorise constants and many standard equations, so exams can test whether you can interpret and apply them.
A clean copy is provided in the written papers, Paper 1A (multiple choice), Paper 1B (data-based questions) and Paper 2, at both SL and HL. A calculator is needed for these papers. If a teacher or website gives you different advice for a particular paper, check the assessment section of the official Physics guide or ask your IB coordinator, because rules have changed between courses.
Schools get the booklet through the IB's teacher resources, and the IB does not publish it openly. Ask your teacher or exams officer for the official copy rather than searching for unofficial copies, which may be out of date or altered.
What is inside, section by section
The booklet starts with material that applies across the whole course: mathematical relationships, a section on uncertainties, fundamental constants, SI multipliers, unit conversions, electrical circuit symbols and the electromagnetic spectrum.
After that, equations are grouped by the themes of the syllabus, from space, time and motion through to fields. Within each theme, equations needed by everyone are separated from those needed only at HL. For example, the equations for uniform acceleration are given, and so are standard wave and field relationships.
Equations are written for magnitudes, so you must handle direction and signs yourself. Symbols are defined only briefly, so you need to know what each quantity means.
What you still have to know
The booklet is a list, not a lesson. It will not tell you which model applies to a situation, how to rearrange an equation, or when an approximation is reasonable. Students who only hunt through the booklet in the exam lose time and marks.
- Definitions, laws and the reasoning behind them, such as what Newton's laws say and why energy is conserved.
- Which equation applies to which situation, and its conditions.
- How to read and sketch graphs, and how to use gradients and areas.
- Uncertainty methods: how to combine, propagate and state uncertainties in your own working.
- Units, significant figures and sensible estimates.
HL and SL differences
SL and HL students use the same booklet. HL-only equations are separated from the common ones, so the most common slip is using an HL equation in an SL question or missing one that an HL question expects you to find. Learn which block each equation sits in for your level.
HL papers cover more content and are longer, so fast, accurate lookup matters more. Practise finding equations by theme rather than scanning page by page.
How to practise with it under timed conditions
Work with the same clean copy you will use in the exam. Do not write on it and do not use your own formula sheet while practising, or you will build habits you cannot repeat on the day.
Start with topic-filtered questions to learn where things are, then move to whole papers against the clock. After each attempt, note whether a lost mark came from not knowing the equation, not finding it, or misusing it. Those three problems need different fixes.
On PastPaperPrep you can filter real IB Physics questions by topic, and whole papers are free to open without signing up. Many questions also have a worked explanation to compare with your own method.
IB Physics HL topic practice · IB Physics SL topic practice · Free IB Physics HL whole papers · Free IB Physics SL whole papers
Common mistakes
The biggest mistake is using a booklet from the old Physics course. The course first assessed in 2025 has a new structure and a different booklet, so old copies do not match the new syllabus or paper numbering. Check that your copy is marked first assessment 2025.
Other frequent slips are forgetting to convert units before substituting (for example grams to kilograms or electronvolts to joules), reading a constant from the wrong row, and quoting a final answer to the wrong number of significant figures. Write units at every step and check them at the end.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the data booklet in IB Physics Paper 1A?
Yes. Under the current course, first assessed in 2025, the booklet is provided in the written papers, including Paper 1A, 1B and Paper 2. Confirm details for your session with your school, as the IB can update guidance.
Is the IB Physics data booklet the same for SL and HL?
Yes, both levels use the same booklet. Equations needed only at HL are marked separately from the ones both levels use.
Where can I get the official IB Physics data booklet?
Through your school, which downloads it from the IB's teacher resources. The IB does not publish it openly, so ask your teacher or IB coordinator for the current version.
Does the booklet include every equation I need?
No. It gives many standard equations and constants, but definitions, conditions for using each equation, and your own uncertainty working are not given.