IB past papers: where to find them and how to use them
IB past papers are the best practice there is, but unlike some boards, the IB does not post them free on its website. Here is where official papers come from, which ones to use for the current syllabuses, and how to get the most from each one.
On this page
Where official IB papers come from
- Your school. Start here. IB schools often hold licensed past papers and markschemes, and many subscribe to the IB's Questionbank, which lets teachers build practice papers from past questions.
- The IB's official online store. The IB sells past papers and markschemes for individual sessions, usually as digital downloads, for personal or school use.
- Specimen papers. When a syllabus changes, the IB publishes specimen papers so that schools can see the new format. These are especially useful for IB Physics, which changed for first assessment in 2025.
Be wary of websites that post complete archives of recent IB papers for free. IB papers and markschemes are copyrighted, and unofficial copies may be incomplete or wrong.
Which papers match your syllabus
- IB Mathematics AA and AI: the current courses were first examined in 2021, so papers from May 2021 onwards match the format. Older papers from the previous courses are still useful for topic practice.
- IB Physics: the current course was first examined in 2025. Use 2025 papers and the specimen papers for the new format, especially Paper 1B. Older papers are fine for topics that are still on the syllabus, such as kinematics, circuits and fields.
Our guide to the IB Physics syllabus lists every current topic, so you can tell which old questions still apply.
Time zones and variants
The IB sets different versions of some papers for different time zones, labelled TZ1, TZ2 and so on. They test the same syllabus at the same standard, so each one is a separate full practice paper.
How to use a past paper well
- Sit it under exam conditions: the right time, a clean copy of the formula or data booklet, and your calculator only when allowed.
- Mark it strictly with the markscheme. Read the notes on method marks, accuracy marks and follow-through.
- Keep an error log: the topic, why you lost the mark and what you will do differently.
- Redo every lost question a week later without looking at the answer.
- Save some papers for mocks: keep at least two full sets unseen for the final month.
Planning past paper practice for the final term
A student taking Maths AA HL and Physics HL has ten weeks before the May exams. How should past papers be spread?
- Weeks 1 to 4: topic-based questions from Questionbank or older papers, two sessions a week per subject.
- Weeks 5 to 8: one full timed paper per subject each week, marked and logged.
- Weeks 9 and 10: two unseen full sets as mocks, then only targeted practice on the error log.
- In Physics, include a Paper 1B practice every week, since data-based questions are new and need practice.
Marking with the markscheme
Your answer to a 4-mark Physics question gets the final value wrong because of an arithmetic slip early on. How many marks might you still earn?
- IB markschemes award marks for correct method and use “error carried forward” in many questions.
- If the physics is right and the slip is followed through correctly, you may lose only one mark.
- That is why showing every step matters in the exam: it protects marks when a number goes wrong.
When you run out of papers
- Use topic questions from textbooks and Questionbank to fill gaps.
- Borrow from similar exams for topic practice: Cambridge A Level papers are good extra practice for calculus, mechanics and fields.
- Use our free guides for the formula booklets and syllabus, and practise with the worked examples in them.
Paper-by-paper tips for Maths and Physics
- Maths AA Paper 1: practise without a calculator, and check exact values and surds.
- Maths Paper 2: practise using your calculator efficiently for graphs, statistics and equations.
- Maths HL Paper 3: practise the longer problem-solving questions as full papers, since their structure is different.
- Physics Paper 1A: time yourself, using the data booklet quickly.
- Physics Paper 1B: practise reading data, drawing lines of best fit and handling uncertainties.
More questions
How many past papers should I do before the exams?
Aim for at least four or five full sets per subject in the final term, plus topic questions earlier in the year. Quality of marking and follow-up matters more than the number.
Are markschemes sold with the papers?
Markschemes are usually available alongside the papers. Make sure you have the markscheme for every paper you sit, or the practice loses most of its value.
Common mistakes
- Using unofficial archives that may contain errors or missing markschemes.
- Doing every past paper early and having none left for final mocks.
- Marking generously instead of following the markscheme exactly.
- Practising Physics only on pre-2025 papers and missing the new Paper 1B style.
Practice questions
Try each one before opening the answer.
Q1. What does TZ2 on an IB paper mean?
Show answer
Q2. From which year do IB Maths AA and AI papers match the current course?
Show answer
Q3. From which year do IB Physics papers match the current course?
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Frequently asked questions
Are IB past papers free?
Not from the IB's website. Official papers and markschemes are sold through the IB's store, and many schools hold licensed copies. Specimen papers for new syllabuses are published for schools.
What is IB Questionbank?
An official IB service, usually subscribed to by schools, that lets teachers search past questions by topic and build practice papers with markschemes.
Can I use old IB Physics papers?
Yes, for topics still on the current syllabus. Use 2025 papers and specimen papers for the new structure.
Key takeaways
- Start with your school: licensed papers and Questionbank.
- Buy individual papers from the IB's official store.
- Use specimen papers for new syllabuses.
- Mark strictly and keep an error log.
- Keep two unseen sets for final mocks.