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International Olympiad

Representing Nepal on the world stage.

What it is

The final international competition — IPhO or a regional olympiad such as APhO — with a demanding theory paper and a full experimental exam. [TO VERIFY — which international olympiad does Nepal currently send a team to?]

Eligibility

  • Members of the national team selected after the camp. [TO VERIFY — selection rules]

Format & timeline

  • Theory exam: ~[TO VERIFY — 5 hours, marks].
  • Experimental exam: ~[TO VERIFY — duration].
  • Excursion day, opening/closing ceremonies, team leaders' grading meeting. [TO VERIFY]

When: Usually [TO VERIFY — month] each year.

Syllabus & topics

The official IPhO syllabus (published in the contest regulations) covers classical physics at advanced-undergraduate level plus modern physics and experimental competencies. [TO VERIFY — attach the current official syllabus link]

Mechanics
Everything in the official syllabus, including coupled oscillations and rigid-body motion.
Electromagnetism
Full electrostatics, magnetostatics, induction, circuits, fields in materials.
Optics
Wave optics, interference, polarization.
Thermodynamics
Laws, kinetic theory, basics of statistical distributions.
Modern physics
Quantum physics, atomic, nuclear, particle physics basics.
Experimental
Full lab exam: design, measure, analyse, report.

Preparation strategy

  1. 3–6 months before

    15–20 h/week
    • Solve IPhO/APhO past papers: 1 theory + 1 lab every 2 weeks, timed.
    • Analyse marking schemes — learn how partial credit is awarded.

  2. Final weeks

    10–12 h/week
    • Simulate full exam days (morning theory, afternoon lab).
    • Logistics: passport, travel, calculator rules. [TO VERIFY]

Resources for this stage

  • The Feynman Lectures on Physics (free online)

    The complete three-volume classic, free and legal online. Excellent for building physical intuition beyond the school syllabus.

    BookIntermediateAll levelsMechanicsElectromagnetismThermodynamicsModern physics
    Caltech / Feynman, Leighton, Sandswww.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu ↗

  • Problems in General Physics, I. E. Irodov

    A classic collection of hard problems. Try it after finishing a university-level textbook.

    Problem setAdvancedSelection roundsGeneral
    I. E. IrodovBook: borrow from a library or buy from a bookstore

  • Physics Cup — online physics contests archive

    Multi-round online contest with beautiful, hard problems. Archive rounds are excellent national-camp practice.

    Past paperAdvancedSelection roundsNational campMechanicsElectromagnetismMath methods
    Physics Cup

  • IPhO & Asian Physics Olympiad past papers (official compilations)

    Theory and lab papers from past international olympiads, with marking schemes where published. The single best indicator of final-round style.

    Past paperAdvancedNational campInternationalMechanicsElectromagnetismOpticsThermodynamicsModern physicsExperimental
    IPhO / APhO organizing committees

  • Classic experimental physics setups: error analysis guide

    A practical primer on uncertainty, significant figures, graph linearisation and how to write a lab report that earns marks.

    NotesIntermediateSelection roundsNational campInternationalExperimental
    [TO VERIFY — source]
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