BPhO Round 1
A UK physics olympiad where students solve advanced written problems requiring full working and mathematical reasoning. Open mainly to Year 13 students through participating schools, with overseas participation available in some regions. Rated Expert Level, with difficulty mainly coming from challenging multi-step problems, broad physics knowledge and rigorous written solutions.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗OVERALL COMPETITION LEVEL
Expert Level
6 evaluation dimensions have source-backed automatic scores; 0 dimensions need conflict review.
Competition overview
Key information
Eligible ages
16–18
School level
Year 13 or below; entry now through BPhO Round 0
Registration method
School Only
Competition stages
Round 0 qualifier, Round 1 school sitting, marking by BPhO; high scorers may be invited to Round 2
Fee
GBP 18 per student; four free papers for UK non-fee-paying schools; later rounds free
Online / in-person
In-person
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
Not yet announced by the organiser
Registration closes
12 Nov 2026
Competition starts
12 Nov 2026
Competition ends
16 Nov 2026
Editorial perspective
Our Take
BPhO Round 1 changed character when Round 0 became its compulsory gateway. The official page explains that a field of roughly 3,800 students had become too large to mark, so the new first stage was introduced to reduce Round 1 to about 1,500–1,800 scripts. Entry is now by invitation from Round 0 results, with no alternative route. Round 1 is therefore no longer the place where an interested sixth-form student simply begins the Olympiad sequence. The paper itself is also shorter than in previous years. The 2026 sitting lasts two hours and combines short questions with a choice of longer thematic problems. Scripts are scanned by schools and marked by the BPhO team at Oxford. That central marking matters because the paper is doing more than awarding certificates: it identifies the group invited to Round 2 and forms part of the route toward UK selection for the International and European Physics Olympiads. Our view is that Round 1 should be approached as a problem-solving event, not as a more difficult version of an A-level paper. The organiser explicitly warns that even the highest predicted A-level grade does not predict a top result. Students who benefit most are those willing to spend months building range, writing complete solutions and learning from questions they cannot finish. Qualification is meaningful, but it is the beginning of a steeper task rather than evidence that the remaining rounds will feel familiar.
Read full guide →Preparation support
Recommended resources
BPhO Round 1 Papers
Open resource ↗Official multi-year paper and solution archive for core timed practice; normal browsers can access it despite crawler blocking.
Official · Free · Past-paper and solution archive · Essential
BPhO Question Bank
Open resource ↗Searchable official database for building targeted Round 1 practice by topic.
Official · Free · Searchable question database · Essential
Upgrade Your Physics
Open resource ↗Extension notes bridging A-level physics and olympiad problem solving.
Official · Free · Study notes and course · Recommended
Physics With Stefan: BPhO Round 1
Open resource ↗Convenient chronological index of official papers and solutions.
Third-party · Free · Curated paper index · Recommended