The Physics Bowl, hosted by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), is a prestigious high school competition with over 500 participating schools from 11 countries worldwide each year, attracting significant attention from top universities. More than 37% of students from the world's top 100 high schools are admitted to the top 30 universities in the United States, and ranking in the top 30% is a major advantage for applications to prestigious universities such as Yale, MIT, Oxford, and Cambridge.
By having your students participate in the Physics Bowl, your school, your students, and your excellent teaching will gain international recognition.
Freebies! Past exam papers & answers (2007-2025) / Key points notes / High-frequency vocabulary / Recommended textbooks
New! Physics Bowl D1 & D2 Intensive Courses are now open! Seize the golden opportunity before the exam!
Registration for the 2026 Physics Bowl is now open!
We are an officially authorized Physics Bowl testing center. Scan the QR code to get a registration form ⇓
Students from non-ASDAN partner schools, independent applicants, and students from overseas regions in the China region can scan the QR code to obtain the registration form.
I. 2026 Physics Bowl Schedule
The 2026 exam will be held on March 17, 2026. The questions are based on themes and concepts covered in typical high school physics courses.
1. Schedule
Exam Date: March 6, 2026
Registration Deadline: March 17, 2026 (Tuesday) 17:00-17:45 (45 minutes)
Estimated Results Time: 4-6 weeks after the exam
2. Language:
English
3. Eligibility:
Current high school students in grades 9-12 worldwide, no nationality restrictions.
4. Location:
Online
5. Difficulty:
Contains 50 multiple-choice questions. Candidates do not need to select a level during registration; each candidate only needs to answer 40 questions.
During the exam, candidates can choose either Division 1 or Division 2 based on the questions.
Choose Division 1 to answer questions 1-40; choose Division 2 to answer questions 11-50.
Division 1: Recommended for Grade 10 students (IB Year 10, some outstanding Grade 1 students and Grade 2 students in A-Level), choose the D1 exam questions.
Division 2: Recommended for Grade 11 and 12 students (IB Years 11-12, A-Level AS and A2 students), choose the D2 exam questions.
6. Activity Format:
Individual, 40 multiple-choice questions, total score 40 points.
7. Regional Divisions
North China Region (Global Region 15): Beijing, Tianjin, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shandong
South China Region (Global Region 16): Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hainan, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan
East China Region (Global Region 17): Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang
Central China Region (Global Region 18): Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Henan
Western China Region (Global Region 19): Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Tibet, Xinjiang
Asian Countries (Global Region 20): All Asian countries except China
Middle Eastern Countries (Global Region 21)
II. Physics Bowl Exam Content
Physics Bowl D1 Knowledge Points
The knowledge points covered in Physics Bowl D1 mainly include:
Mechanics, electromagnetism, optics, waves, and modern physics such as atomic physics.
Mechanics: Fundamentals of surveying, kinematic calculations, Newton's three laws, momentum, impulse, kinetic energy, energy conversion, circular motion, fluid mechanics, etc.
Electromagnetism: Waves, Coulomb's law, electric field, electric potential, potential energy, capacitance, parallel-plate capacitor, Gauss's law, etc.
Thermodynamics: Molecular motion, internal energy and heat engines, ideal gas law, etc.
Optics: Reflection, refraction, diffraction, scattering, etc.
Modern Physics: Atomic structure, quantum mechanics, wave-particle duality, etc.
*Other knowledge points involve uniform circular motion, Newton's laws, linear motion, centripetal force calculation, circuits, electromagnetism, friction, convex lenses, conservation of energy, and other common exam topics.
Physics Bowl D2 Knowledge Points
The Physics Bowl D2 section is largely the same as D1, but it delves deeper into certain details. For example, it may test topics such as relativity, LC circuits, and wave point interference in physical optics, which are not covered in D1.
III. Physics Bowl Award Scores
2025 Physics Bowl Global Award Scores
| Division1 Average score | 18.7 |
| Division2 Average score | 19.7 |
| Minimum score required for the top 100 in Division 1 worldwide | 34 |
| Minimum score for the top 100 in Division 2 worldwide | 35 |
Physics Bowl Global Score Lines
| years | Global DIVISION 2 Top 100 | Global DIVISION 1 Top 100 |
| 2024 | 32 | 34 |
| 2023 | 32 | 30 |
| 2022 | 36 | 31 |
| 2021 | 32 | 30 |
| 2019 | 29 | 29 |
| 2018 | 32 | 33 |
| 2017 | 23 | 28 |
2025 Physics Bowl China Region Award Score Cutoff
| Group | Super Gold Award | Gold Award | Silver Award | Bronze Award |
| Division1 | 29 | 23 | 19 | 17 |
| Division2 | 32 | 28 | 24 | 21 |
Physics Bowl Award Scores in China over the Past Three Years
| score line | DI worldwide | DI East China | D1Central China | D1North China | D1South China | D1West China |
| 2021 | 30 | 32 | 26 | 29 | 31 | 28 |
| 2019 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 31 | 26 | 26 |
| 2018 | 33 | 33 | 30 | 33 | 30 | 31 |
| 2017 | 28 | 31 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 25 |
| 2016 | 25 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 28 | 27 |
| score line | D2 worldwide | D2 East China | D2Central China | D2North China | D2South China | D2West China |
| 2021 | 32 | 34 | 30 | 34 | 31 | 25 |
| 2019 | 29 | 31 | 25 | 29 | 24 | 20 |
| 2018 | 32 | 33 | 29 | 32 | 27 | 23 |
| 2017 | 23 | 25 | 17 | 22 | 19 | 18 |
| 2016 | 27 | 28 | 22 | 27 | 24 | 23 |
What score do you need on the physics exam to win an award?
Whether in Division 1 or Division 2, the percentage of students scoring 30 or higher is extremely small.
In most regions, a score of 30 or higher is enough to enter the top 10 in the region or even the top 100 globally. Therefore, to achieve a top 10 in your region or the top 100 globally, you basically need to score 30 or higher.
IV. Why Participate in the Physics Bowl?
1. The Physics Bowl competition has a 30-year history and is organized by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT). It is widely recognized globally, especially by top universities in North America, who consider it an important indicator of students' physics abilities.
2. Less competition, higher chance of winning: Compared to other STEM competitions, the Physics Bowl has relatively fewer participants. It offers a rich array of awards, including team and individual prizes, and Division 1 and Division 2 are judged separately, with a moderate level of difficulty. A score in the top 30% globally is sufficient to receive a Physics Excellence Award.
3. Globally unified ranking; winners have the opportunity to be invited to the US National Physics Olympiad Summer Camp and even represent the United States in the International Physics Olympiad. According to statistics, over 37% of Physics Bowl candidates ranked in the top 100 globally are admitted to the top 30 universities in the United States.
V. Physics Bowl Preparation Resources
Physics Bowl's meticulously compiled lecture notes are here!
The Physics Bowl covers a vast range of topics and has a very broad scope, making it difficult to find a completely matching textbook. Various international curricula have topics that are not covered at the high school level, while using university physics textbooks directly is often too advanced and difficult.
To help students have a better learning experience with the Physics Bowl, we have developed our own Physics Bowl lecture notes. These notes are based on Giancoli's *Physics Principles with Applications*, extracting the essential knowledge points from the Physics Bowl and organizing the content to simplify the material and make it easier for students to absorb the knowledge.
Physics Bowl Essential Reading List (Selected Edition)
Scan the QR code to receive a free Physics Bowl competition preparation package
(Includes past exam questions and answers from 2007-2025, Physics Bowl key points, and preparation materials)
Physics Bowl lecture notes are available for inquiry via QR code. First come, first served ⇓
VI. Invigilation Requirements for the PhysicsBowl Competition
The PhysicsBowl exam requires proctoring. Participants are expected to take the exam at their local school. Homeschooled students should contact their nearest high school, community college, or university to inquire about taking the exam there.
To verify proctor identity, we require email addresses that use official school email addresses whenever possible, ideally associated with a school district or accredited private school. If you cannot provide an official school email address, you will need to provide additional contact information for your organization to verify your identity and the organization's identity.
Proctors are required not to be relatives of the students taking the exam. Proctors should hold at least a two-year degree, but the degree does not need to be related to physics. Librarians will be suitable proctors; students can take the exam at the library, assuming the librarian will be able to observe the exam to ensure the integrity of the process. Parents can register and provide proctor information during registration.
Test centers will need to acknowledge that they are a test center and provide a website address to verify their status. Unfortunately, immediate parents of homeschooled students are not accepted as proctors; in this case, parents will need to arrange for a non-relative proctor, preferably a teacher from the local school.
Please note: AAPT will not recommend or arrange test centers, teachers, or invigilators for the PhysicsBowl competition.
Sponsors/Supporters
