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    BPhO Round 1 2023 Past Paper & Solutions

    British Physics Olympiad Round 1 2023 — Two sections of long-answer physics problems (Section 1 short questions, Section 2 extended problems), Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes. Scoring: Marked by written working; certificates awarded from Participation up to Top Gold.

    Download the BPhO Round 1 2023 PDFs

    Official BPhO files — each link opens the PDF directly.

    Question paper (PDF)Solutions (PDF)Section 2 problems (PDF)

    Papers in this sitting

    • BPhO Round 1 2023 — Two sections of long-answer physics problems (Section 1 short questions, Section 2 extended problems), official answer key included
    Open the official archive

    How to work through this paper

    1. Sit the full paper timed at Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes, no calculator or notes.
    2. Mark it against the official key before you look at any solution.
    3. Rewrite complete solutions for every question you missed or guessed — writing it out is what moves the technique into recall.
    4. Tag each loss by topic (Mechanics, Electricity & magnetism, Waves & optics, Thermal & gas physics, Astrophysics & estimation, Symbolic algebra).
    5. Re-sit the same paper one week later and compare the time to your first attempt.

    Topics tested in BPhO Round 1 2023

    MechanicsElectricity & magnetismWaves & opticsThermal & gas physicsAstrophysics & estimationSymbolic algebra

    Stuck on a BPhO Round 1 2023 question?

    Send us the question number. A mentor who has sat and medalled in BPhO Round 1 will reply with a step-by-step walkthrough and the faster competition method.

    Free to ask. No spam, ever — we only reply about your question.

    View the BPhO Round 1 course

    FAQs

    Where can I find the BPhO Round 1 2023 paper and answers?
    The official BPhO Round 1 2023 question paper and solutions are published free by BPhO, and the download buttons on this page open those PDFs directly. We link the official files rather than re-hosting them, and our mentors walk through every question with you step by step.
    How hard was the BPhO Round 1 2023 paper?
    Like every year, the first section is speed-and-accuracy work and the final third carries the discrimination. Sit it timed (Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes), mark it against the official key, then rewrite full solutions for anything you missed or guessed.
    Can I get worked solutions for BPhO Round 1 2023?
    Yes. Book a free trial session and bring the questions you are stuck on — a mentor will work through the full solution and the faster competition method, then set targeted practice on the same archetype.