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What is BPhO Junior Physics Challenge ?

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The British Physics Olympiad is a charitable trust overseen by a committee of trustees. It was initiated in 1979, and has been used as a qualifier for the selection of the UK Physics Team for the International Physics Olympiad since 1983.


The topic of the questions will be ranging from Dynamics, Electricity, Optics, Heat, Units, Waves, to astronomy. The Junior Physics Challenge is designed to engage and challenge students by offering them a range of problems to solve. They might be shown some pictures of famous physicians and asked to identify one (For example, Hawking, Galileo or Newton). Hence, some general knowledge and interest in physics would be an advantage. The main objective is to create fun, encourage involvement and inspire passion for physics among students. Junior Physics Challenge is composed of written and experiments. It aims to inspire middle school students to learn physics, observe, practical skills and critical thinking.

Exam date and time

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Preliminary: November 23, 2024

19:00-19:50 (NZ time)

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Close date of registering Preliminary:

5th November, 2024

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Final: May 18, 2025（TBC）

Question Setting

Fees for the JPC First Round is $180 per student, the Final Round is $860 per student.

Eligible year groups: This is aimed at Year 10 (NZ), although we do allow participants from Year 11 and below.

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Exam format: Online​

  • Exam Length - 2 x 25 minutes (50 minutes)

  • 30 questions per paper.

  • Marked online and results returned to schools with the award boundaries.

BANK: ANZ

Name of Account: Pinnacle Education Group

Account: 06-0241-0684634-00

 

Please make payment with the students 'full name + JPC ' as reference.

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⚠️ Please note that any fees and payments made are non-refundable.

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⚠️ Before you make any payment, make sure you read through the refund policy on our website to avoid misunderstandings.

(Terms and conditions apply).

Preliminary: 60 multiple-choice questions
Final: The final examination includes 3 rounds of experiment-based challenges

PGA reserves the right to interpret all competition and course arrangements.

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Exam date and time

Preliminary Round Competition: November 23, 2024

19:00-19:50 (NZ time)

14:00-14:50 (Singapore, China, Perth-Australia time)

17:00-17:50 (Melbourne & Sydney-Australia)

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Final Round Competition: May 18, 2025（TBC）

Preliminary: Middle school students
Final: Only Preliminary global Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners can participate Final.Preliminary: Middle school studPreliminary: Middle school students

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Suitable for students:

​​The Junior Physics Challenge (JPC) is an entry-level competition in the BPhO series, primarily aimed at New Zealand Year 10 students, though students below Year 11 are also welcome to participate. This competition is designed to spark students' interest in physics through engaging and interesting questions that combine basic physics principles with everyday knowledge, making it an ideal starting point for students who are new to physics competitions.

Topics covered in 

The main topics assessed include Dynamics, Electricity, Optics, Thermodynamics, Wave Classification, and Astronomy, primarily based on the GCSE curriculum. Most questions are derived from the current IGCSE syllabus, with some requiring elimination methods and others involving general knowledge rather than classroom physics.

 

The Junior Physics Challenge aims to engage and challenge students by offering a variety of problems. For example, students might be shown photos of famous physicists and asked to identify one of them (such as Stephen Hawking, Galileo, or Newton). Therefore, having a general knowledge of and interest in physics would be an advantage. The primary goal is to create a fun experience for students, encourage participation, and spark their enthusiasm for physics.

Competition Format

Preliminary: Individual, Multiple Choice
Final: Experiment (The final includes 3 rounds of experiment-based challenges. Each round focuses on different topics, such as experiment design, scientific phenomena presentation etc. Judges will grade teams on every experimental step.)

Why choose JPC?

The Junior Physics Challenge (JPC) is an excellent opportunity for young students to explore and deepen their interest in physics. Here are a few compelling reasons to participate:

  1. Early Exposure to Competitive Physics: JPC provides an early introduction to physics competitions, allowing students to experience the thrill of solving physics problems in a competitive environment. It’s an ideal starting point for those who are new to physics contests.

  2. Foundation Building for Future Competitions: Participating in JPC helps students build a solid foundation in key physics concepts. This experience can be incredibly valuable as they progress to more advanced competitions like the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO).

  3. Engaging and Accessible Problems: The problems in JPC are designed to be both engaging and accessible, blending fundamental physics principles with real-world applications. This makes it a fun and educational experience that encourages creative thinking.

  4. Recognition and Achievement: Excelling in JPC is a significant achievement that can boost a student’s confidence and academic profile. It provides recognition for their efforts and can inspire them to pursue further studies and competitions in physics.

  5. Developing Problem-Solving Skills: JPC challenges students to think critically and develop problem-solving skills that are essential not only in physics but also in many other academic disciplines and real-life situations.

  6. Encouraging a Passion for Physics: The primary goal of JPC is to ignite a passion for physics in young students. By participating, students can discover the joy of understanding how the physical world works and may be inspired to continue studying physics at higher levels.

Awards

Preliminary Global awards

  • Gold

  • Silver

  • Bronze

Preliminary National awards

  • Regional Honorable ：Top 10% in each region  (Except for Global award winners)

(For Global awards: British participants will be ranked firstly by their overall scores, which help set the thresholds for each award. Subsequently, participants from other countries outside the UK will be awarded on the basis of the thresholds for each award.))

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