The IB Physics data booklet is one of the most important tools you have in your exams, and most students never learn to use it properly. This guide covers everything: what changed in the current syllabus, how to use it throughout the course, what to watch out for in each section, and which constants are worth memorising.
If you want to go further and see a fully annotated version with diagrams, missing formulas, and exam tips added to every section, the annotated data booklet is included in the GradePod Exam Pack.
What Changed in the Current Syllabus
The data booklet for the current IB Physics syllabus (first examined 2025) is organised into two sections.
Section 1 contains information useful throughout the whole course: mathematical relationships, fundamental constants, electrical circuit component symbols, and the electromagnetic spectrum.
Section 2 contains equations organised by theme and topic, directly aligned to the five themes of the current syllabus.
Here is what is new or different compared to the previous syllabus booklet.
More mathematical equations
Previously, students were expected to memorise standard mathematical relationships. The current booklet now includes all of the following, so you no longer need to learn them by heart:
- Area of a triangle, circle, and curved surface of a cylinder
- Circumference of a circle
- Volume of a cuboid, cylinder, prism, and sphere
- Vector trigonometric relationships (sin, cos, tan with labelled diagrams)
This is genuinely helpful. One less thing to memorise.
Uncertainties and vectors
The previous syllabus had a dedicated Topic 1 covering measurements, uncertainties, vectors, and units. That topic no longer exists in the current syllabus. You now learn these skills progressively throughout the course.
The equations are still in the booklet, in two subsections of Section 1: Mathematical equations and Uncertainties.
You are still expected to work with vectors and uncertainties in your exams. All the equations you need are in Section 1 of the data booklet.
New electrical symbols
The AC power supply symbol has been removed (AC content is no longer in the syllabus). Three new symbols have been added:
- LED (Light Emitting Diode): the standard diode symbol with two arrows pointing away from it, indicating emitted light
- Motor: a circle with the letter M inside
- Earth (ground): a horizontal line with descending shorter lines beneath it
Expect questions involving these components. The examiners added them because they intend to use them.
Electromagnetic spectrum
You no longer need to memorise the wavelength ranges for each region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Section 1 now includes a diagram showing all regions from gamma rays through to radio waves, with wavelengths labelled from around 10⁻¹⁶ m to 10⁸ m, and the visible light range (approximately 400 nm to 700 nm) highlighted.
How to Use the Data Booklet
Throughout the course
Use it from day one. The IB is explicit about this: the current booklet places more responsibility on schools to ensure students have a copy throughout the course, not just in the final weeks before exams. This is a deliberate change from the previous syllabus.
The reason is that the booklet is not just a formula sheet. It is a document you need to learn to interpret and apply. That takes time and practice.
Practical habits that work:
- Do all practice problems with the booklet open beside you. Get used to which section covers which topic.
- Note which constants and equations you reach for most often, and start to commit those to memory.
- Annotate your personal copy with diagrams, missing formulas, and reminders. (You get a clean copy in the exam, so your annotated copy is for learning throughout the year.)
- Discuss the booklet in study groups. Explaining to someone else why a particular equation applies to a problem deepens your own understanding.
During the exams
Use reading time. Before the exam starts, use the reading time to remind yourself where key formulas and constants sit in the booklet. This saves time once you are answering questions.
Link questions to topics. Most exam questions map directly to a named topic (A.2, B.5, D.1, and so on). When you read a question, identify the topic, then flip to that section of the booklet. You will find the right formula much faster than scanning from the beginning.
Write down the symbols. For any calculation question, write down the symbol for every quantity given in the question before you touch the booklet. Then match your symbols to the equations in the relevant section. This systematic approach prevents you from grabbing the wrong formula.
Estimate first on Paper 1A. For multiple choice questions, use the constants and relationships in the booklet to estimate the order of magnitude of your answer before calculating. This catches errors and saves time.
Key Points for Each Section
These are the things that students most often miss or misapply.
Vector notation
All equations in the data booklet relate to the magnitude of quantities only. Vector notation has not been used. You are not expected to use vector notation in your exam answers.
Constants worth memorising
These are all in the booklet, but knowing them by heart speeds up your problem-solving significantly:
- Acceleration of free fall: g = 9.8 m s⁻² (use g = 10 m s⁻² for Paper 1A multiple choice, where estimation is fine)
- Gravitational constant: G = 6.67 × 10⁻¹¹ N m² kg⁻² (note the difference between G, the universal constant, and g, the surface gravitational field strength)
- Coulomb constant: k = 8.99 × 10⁹ N m² C⁻² (equal to 1/(4πε₀), where ε₀ is the permittivity of free space; you can only use k when the system is in free space or vacuum)
- Speed of light: c = 3 × 10⁸ m s⁻¹
- Elementary charge: e = 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ C (also useful to remember that 1 eV = 1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ J)
A.2 Forces and Momentum: impulse
The impulse equation in the booklet is J = FΔt. Two things students often forget:
- F here is the average force, not the instantaneous force
- Impulse equals change in momentum: J = Δp = mΔv
So the full chain is: J = FΔt = Δp = maΔt. You can move between these forms depending on what the question gives you.
B.3 Gas Laws: linking constants
The Boltzmann constant (k_B), the universal gas constant (R), and Avogadro’s number (N_A) are all linked by:
R = N_A × k_B
This relationship connects the macroscopic gas constant to the microscopic Boltzmann constant. It comes up when switching between equations that use R (molar quantities) and equations that use k_B (per-particle quantities).
C.1 Simple Harmonic Motion (HL): maximum speed
A common HL exam question asks for the maximum speed of a particle in SHM. The booklet gives the general velocity equation, but to find the maximum you need to recognise that maximum speed occurs when displacement is zero. Substituting x = 0 into the velocity equation gives:
v_max = ωx₀
where ω is angular frequency and x₀ is the amplitude. This result is not presented prominently in the booklet, so you need to know to derive it.
C.5 Doppler Effect (HL): reflected waves
If a wave is reflected before reaching an observer, you need to apply the Doppler effect twice: once for the source moving relative to the reflecting surface, and once for the reflected wave moving relative to the observer. The booklet gives the equations but does not make this double application obvious. Watch for questions involving radar, sonar, or any scenario where a wave bounces back.
FAQs
Where do I get the data booklet? Your school should provide a copy for use throughout the course. For your exams, you will be given a clean copy by your school, which downloads it from the IB’s Programme Resource Centre. You can also find the current version on the IB’s public resources pages.
Can I use my annotated copy in the exam? No. You must use the clean copy provided by your school on exam day. Your annotated copy is a study tool for use throughout the year.
Are there formulas I need that are not in the booklet? Yes. There are equations the IB expects you to know that do not appear in the data booklet. Read the IB Physics formulas to memorise post for the full list.
How has the approach to vectors and uncertainties changed? The previous syllabus taught these as a standalone topic (Topic 1). The current syllabus integrates them throughout the course. The equations are still in the booklet under Section 1, but you learn to apply them in context rather than as an isolated unit.
The Annotated Data Booklet
Annotating your own copy of the data booklet is one of the highest-value things you can do in your exam preparation. Adding diagrams, missing formulas, graph sketches, and clarifying notes forces you to engage with every section of the booklet actively, and effectively reviews the majority of the syllabus in the process.
If you want a head start, the GradePod Exam Pack includes a fully annotated version of the data booklet: diagrams added to every section, missing formulas inserted, key constants highlighted, and exam-specific notes throughout.
Get the GradePod Exam Pack for £39 →
Sally Weatherly is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, author of 4 IB Physics books (two hit #1 on Amazon), and has been teaching IB Physics since 2004. GradePod has helped 30,000+ students since 2020.