Physics subject report · May 2013

May 2013 extended essay reports Page 1 Physics Overall grade boundaries Grade: A B C D E Mark range: 29-36 23-28 16 - 22 8-15 0-7 The range and suitability of the work submitted A quite diverse range of topics were submitted for assessment with a good number of relevant topics, covering all areas of physics. Irrelevant topics were seldom encountered . Many essays were well researched and of good quality , as well as being well-executed. Candidates make an effort to demonstrate personal engagement and opinion, rather than simply manag ing and reordering collected information. Essays on sport often lacked some control of variables as well as solid physics background, or were too ambitious. Bio -mechanics is a complex domain. Many essays involve aerodynamics or hydrodynamics, highly complex topics of physics. A realistic and achievable choice of topic here i s critical if superficiality is to be avoided. The best essays usually require theory that is already familiar to the candidate. The essays should usually be accessible to their peers, the EE supervisor and the examiner. A good strategy is to avoid attempt ing an investigation above one's academic ability. On the other hand, some essays are simply an extended "internal assessment" investigation not in line with the objectives of an extended essay in physics. Purely empirical essays do not do well , and nor do essays with too broad a research question. Among the best essays are essays investigating an original (for the candidate) phenomenon, present ing a theoretical model and then perform ing an experimental test of the proposed model . Some experiments that are poorly designed, bound to fail or produce unusable results suggest that the students are clearly not thinking while they are performing the practical work. Candidate performance against each criterion Criterion A: research question While it is rare that t he topic and research question (RQ) are completely unsuitable, often the RQ is too broad