Caution: Don't repeat these 7 commons mistakes in your DP Physics

Two years of hustle are coming to an end! As always some students worry before they even encounter it, while others become lost in the complex web of calculations, experiments, and ideas and crave a way out.

Indeed, learning DP Physics is a thrilling but unforgettable experience. Now, because it's the FINAL if you're feeling a little bewildered when revising for the exams, don't worry! Blen brings you a list of 7 common mistakes to watch out for as you don’t want to waste your precious time and effort!

Mistake #1: Don’t just focus only on the topics you enjoy doing:

While studying DP Physics, definitely some concepts pique our interest. As a result, we devote the majority of our study time to certain concepts, and they eventually caught hold of the problem. At first, it does not sound all that horrible on the surface. But, eventually, this forces you to reduce the amount of time you spend on other concepts.
Although certain topics feature more than others in the exams, but the spread is fairly across all the topics accurately.

Mistake #2: Don’t ignore the command terms:

IBDP command words must be dealt with seriously. If the examiner requests that students exhibit calculations on the question paper, they must illustrate all of the needed procedures. Furthermore, the IB exam paper explains command phrases like identify, deduce, and assess in an acceptable manner. Couldn't you just dismiss all of those terms?

Mistake #3: Don’t mix up Degrees and Radians.

The most common blunder made by students is to mix up radians with degrees. Radians are only utilized for angular velocity and acceleration in Topic 6 whereas, degrees are used throughout the course. As a result, students must adjust their calculators to convert radians to degrees appropriately.

Mistake #4: Don’t give unfeasible numerical answers

Keep an eye on the numerical value you get as a result. Don’t give out unreasonable responses. Watch out for a calculator or a power of ten error. For instance, the speed of any object with mass should not be more than 3 x 108 m/s.

Mistake #5: Don’t understand that horizontal and vertical motion are independent

While attempting Projectile motion questions, students often mix up horizontal and vertical motion. Ideally, students must understand these motions are independent in a gravitational field and hence, ‘suvat’ equations are to be calculated separately. Only time is the common factor between both types of motions.

Mistake #6: Don't forget to brush up on your definitions.

It is critical to memorize definitions precisely as these account for 10-12% of DP Physics exam papers. Take full advantage of Blen Key Concept Notes for that perfect last-minute revision. If you are stuck, you can always refer to the formula booklet and write the definition on your own.

Mistake #7: Don’t show your working out

In numerical response questions, usually, marks are awarded for showcasing certain key steps. Even if you get the final answer wrong, don’t lose the opportunity to earn up to 3 out of 4 points if the intermediate steps are correct and presented in the solution. You never know if these 3 points are ensuring you the jump from a 6 to 7 on the IB Score!!

Blen wishes you all the very best for a great kick-start for your IBDP May 2022 Exams!!