Intermediate Physics Challenge Past Papers & Solutions
BPhO Intermediate Physics Challenge (IPC)
Intermediate Physics Challenge past papers and solutions, 2004–2024 — direct PDF links to every paper and solution booklet on the BPhO ladder.
- Eligibility
- Year 11 students (England & Wales) and equivalent
- Format
- Short-answer and structured written physics questions
- Duration
- About 1 hour
- Scoring
- Bronze, Silver and Gold certificate tiers
The Intermediate Physics Challenge rewards students who can reason from first principles with GCSE physics rather than recall a formula. The archive below runs back two decades, with each year linking straight to the official PDF. Sit one timed, mark against the solutions, then rewrite full working for anything you missed.
Intermediate Physics Challenge past papers and solutions by year
Every link below opens the official BPhO PDF directly. Sit the paper timed, mark it against the solutions, then read the extended solutions once you have written up your own attempt.
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What the paper tests
Forces & motion
Energy
Electricity
Thermal & waves
Estimation
Where it leads: Feeds into the Senior Physics Challenge and then BPhO Round 1. See our coaching programme.
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Frequently asked questions
- How hard is the Intermediate Physics Challenge?
- The content is GCSE-level, but questions are unfamiliar and multi-step, so students who only recognise textbook formats find it demanding. Past-paper practice removes exactly that unfamiliarity.
- Are IPC solutions available?
- Yes — each year on this page links to the official solution booklet alongside the problem paper where BPhO has published one.