IB Physics formula booklet 2026: What is provided and what you must memorise
The IB Physics formula booklet, officially called the IB Physics data booklet, provides students with key equations, physical constants, and conversion information used throughout the course. However, using it effectively requires more than simply locating a formula; students must understand what each symbol means, when an equation applies, and which concepts, definitions, and relationships are not provided. Familiarity with the booklet can also save valuable time during calculation-heavy questions and reduce avoidable errors.
This guide explains what the IB Physics formula booklet contains, what students still need to memorise, and how to use it efficiently during revision and exams.
- What is the IB Physics data booklet and what does it contain?
- What formulae, constants and tables are included in the IB Physics data booklet
- Which formulae and values you must memorise for IB Physics that are not provided
- How to navigate the IB Physics data booklet quickly under exam conditions
- Common mistakes students make when using the IB Physics data booklet
- How to build data booklet familiarity into your IB Physics revision routine
- Frequently asked questions
What is the IB Physics data booklet and what does it contain?
The IB Physics [1] data booklet, commonly referred to as the IB Physics formula booklet, is an official document produced by the International Baccalaureate Organization. It is provided to every candidate during specific examination papers and serves as the primary reference for equations, constants, and conversion tables throughout the course.
For the current IB Physics curriculum, the booklet is organized around five core themes labeled A through E. These themes are Space, Time, and Motion; The Particulate Nature of Matter; Wave Behaviour; Fields; and Nuclear and Quantum Physics. The structure is consistent whether you are sitting SL or HL, though HL content is clearly flagged within each section.
One critical detail often overlooked is that the booklet is permitted during Paper 1 Section B and Paper 2, but not during Paper 1 Section A, which consists of multiple-choice questions. Students who assume they have access to the booklet for every part of the exam create a serious risk for themselves on those multiple-choice items.
>>> Read more: IB Physics : Syllabus, Exam Structure & Roadmap to an 7 in 2026
What formulae, constants and tables are included in the IB Physics data booklet
The booklet opens with a constants and conversion page that most students glance at and move past. This is a mistake. The constants page contains values that appear repeatedly across questions, including the speed of light in a vacuum (c), the gravitational constant (G), Planck’s constant (h), the elementary charge (e), and Coulomb’s constant (k). Metric prefix tables and unit conversions are also included here.
Below is a structured overview of what is provided across the five themes:
| Theme | Core (SL/HL) formulae provided | HL extension formulae provided |
|---|---|---|
| A: Space, Time, and Motion | SUVAT equations, F = ma, W = Fs cosθ, Ek = ½mv², p = mv | Rotational torque τ = Iα, angular momentum L = Iω, rotational kinetic energy |
| B: Particulate Nature of Matter | Q = mcΔT, Q = mL, pV = nRT, ideal gas relationships | Advanced thermal cycles, entropy relationships |
| C: Wave Behaviour | v = fλ, I ∝ A², Snell’s Law n₁sinθ₁ = n₂sinθ₂ | Single-slit diffraction θ = λ/b, thin-film interference, Rayleigh criterion |
| D: Fields | g = F/m, Coulomb’s Law F = k(q₁q₂/r²), F = qvB sinθ | Faraday’s Law, Lenz’s Law, emf = BvL, AC power equations |
| E: Nuclear and Quantum Physics | E = hf, radioactive decay equations, ΔE = Δmc² | Photoelectric effect Emax = hf − Φ, Heisenberg uncertainty principle |
The mechanics and fields formulae in the IB Physics data booklet cover the vast majority of calculation-heavy topics. However, knowing a formula is in the booklet is not the same as knowing when and how to apply it, which is a distinction that many students miss entirely.
Which formulae and values you must memorise for IB Physics that are not provided
The given formulae in IB Physics cover a broad range, but the booklet has deliberate gaps. The IBO expects students to demonstrate conceptual understanding, not just equation retrieval. Certain relationships and definitions must be committed to memory because they will not appear in the IB Physics data booklet.
Key items that are NOT provided and must be memorised include:
- Definitions of physical quantities: The definition of electric field strength as force per unit positive charge, or the definition of gravitational potential as work done per unit mass, are expected knowledge that the booklet will not spell out for you.
- Condition-based criteria: For example, the conditions under which SUVAT equations are valid (constant acceleration only) or when the thin-lens formula applies must be understood, not looked up.
- Graph shapes and proportionality relationships: A question asking you to sketch a graph of gravitational field strength against distance from a planet’s centre expects you to know the inverse-square relationship without needing to rederive it from the formula on the spot.
- Unit analysis and dimensional reasoning: The booklet provides equations but not unit derivations. You must be able to confirm that your answer carries the correct SI unit independently.
- Standard model particles and their properties: Quark compositions of common hadrons, lepton number conservation, and baryon number rules are tested conceptually and are not listed in the booklet.
In our experience working with international students preparing for IB exams, the formulae to memorise for IB Physics are not numerous, but they are specific. Building a personal “gap list” alongside the data booklet is one of the most productive revision habits a student can develop.
How to navigate the IB Physics data booklet quickly under exam conditions
Speed matters in an IB Physics exam. Paper 2 involves extended-response questions worth significant marks, and fumbling through the booklet for two minutes searching for a formula is time that cannot be recovered. Learning to navigate the IB Physics data booklet under pressure is a skill that must be practised, not assumed.
Step 1: Learn the booklet’s structure before the exam.
Spend 30 minutes early in Year 2 reading the booklet cover to cover. Do not study equations at this stage; simply learn which theme is on which page range. Write a personal index card noting page numbers for major topic clusters.
Step 2: Use the theme headings as your primary navigation tool.
Every section in the booklet is headed by its theme letter and title. If a question involves electric fields, you know immediately to open to Theme D. If it involves nuclear reactions, go to Theme E. Train this association until it is automatic.
Step 3: Practise using the booklet during timed mock papers.
A common mistake we see at Times Edu is students who complete revision problems without the booklet open, then are surprised during the exam when they reach for it and feel disoriented. Always sit past papers under real exam conditions, including having the booklet available exactly as it will be on exam day.
Step 4: Mark up a practice copy, not your clean exam copy.
During revision, use a personal copy of the booklet to annotate lightly. Write small reminders about when a formula applies, or circle the constants you use most often. On exam day, your copy will be unmarked, but your memory of those annotations will remain.
Step 5: Cross-reference formulae from different themes for complex questions.
Paper 2 questions regularly require combining equations from multiple themes. A question might require Coulomb’s Law from Theme D alongside kinetic energy from Theme A to find a charged particle’s speed. Practising these cross-theme combinations in advance removes hesitation during the exam.
Common mistakes students make when using the IB Physics data booklet
One critical detail often overlooked is that having access to the IB Physics formula booklet does not mean a student knows how to use it. The following mistakes are consistently observed in IB Physics exam scripts.
Misreading the symbol definitions. The booklet lists every symbol used in each equation. Students who skip the symbol definitions and assume they know what each letter means frequently substitute the wrong quantity. Always read what I, L, or τ represents in the specific context of the equation on that page.
Using HL formulae on SL questions. The IB Physics SL HL data booklet is used by both cohorts. SL students who accidentally apply an HL extension formula to an SL question may arrive at a technically correct numerical answer but demonstrate a misunderstanding that can affect method marks and create confusion in their working.
Assuming the booklet contains everything needed. As outlined above, definitions, graph behaviour, and conceptual knowledge are not in the booklet. A common mistake we see is students who spend all their revision time drilling equations and neglect the written-response components of Paper 2, which test exactly those non-booklet items.
Not checking units after applying a formula. The booklet provides equations in their standard SI form. If you have converted values inconsistently (using kilometres instead of metres, for instance), the formula will produce a wrong answer even if you applied it correctly. Always verify units before and after substituting values.
Panicking during the lookup process. Students who have not practised with the booklet under timed conditions sometimes freeze when they cannot immediately locate a formula. This panic compounds the time lost. Systematic practice is the only remedy.
How to build data booklet familiarity into your IB Physics revision routine
Familiarity with the IB Physics data booklet exam is not built in a single revision session. It is developed incrementally across months of structured practice. Here is a practical routine that Times Edu recommends to students in both Year 1 and Year 2 of the IB Diploma.
During Year 1 (Building the Foundation):
- After each topic is taught in class, open the booklet to the corresponding theme and read every formula listed. Ask yourself: What does each symbol mean? What are the units? Under what conditions does this apply?
- Create a personal “formula vocabulary” document where you write each equation in plain English alongside its booklet version. This bridges the gap between abstract notation and conceptual meaning.
- Take short 20-minute quizzes where you are given a physical scenario and must identify which formula in the booklet you would use, without actually solving it. This builds lookup habits early.
During Year 2 (Exam Preparation):
- Sit at least one full past paper per topic under timed conditions, booklet in hand. After marking, note every instance where you either looked up the wrong formula or took more than 60 seconds to find one.
- Dedicate one revision session per fortnight specifically to cross-theme practice. These sessions should involve questions that deliberately combine equations from two or more themes.
- In the final six weeks before exams, complete a full booklet review. Read every page, confirm you understand every symbol, and verify your personal “gap list” of non-booklet items is fully memorised.
Drawing on years of experience at Times Edu, the students who score highest on IB Physics Paper 2 are not necessarily those who know the most physics. They are the ones who waste the least time during the exam because every page of the booklet feels familiar.
Frequently asked questions
Is a formula booklet or data booklet provided in IB Physics exams?
What mechanics and fields formulae are in the IB Physics data booklet?
Which fundamental constants are included in the IB Physics data booklet?
Which formulae are missing from the IB Physics data booklet that you must know?
How do you find information quickly in the data booklet under timed exam conditions?
Does the IB Physics HL data booklet contain more than the SL version?
Where can I download the official IB Physics data booklet?
Conclusion
At Times Edu, our IB Physics specialists work with students one-on-one to build exactly this kind of strategic fluency, covering not just equation mastery but exam technique, cross-theme problem solving, and personalised revision planning. If you want to understand precisely where your IB Physics preparation stands and what needs to be done to reach your target grade, we invite you to book a personalized academic roadmap consultation with our team. The difference between knowing physics and performing in an IB exam is a skill set that can be taught, and we are here to teach it.
