Archived question lists - 2023-24
This page does not contain current information. For this year's questions see the homepage.
Easter Term 2024
| Date of Supervision | Work for IA Nat. Sci. Maths | Work for IB Physics A | Work for IB Physics B | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Course A) | (Course B) | |||
| 22nd-27th April | No supervision this week. | Holiday work. | ||
| 29th April - 4th May | Holiday work. | More holiday work. | More holiday work. | |
| 6th-11th May | Questions 1-10. Omit 4(d) and 9(a)(iii). | Questions 1-11. In question 3, only deal with the first three products (A^2, AB, AC). | Questions 1-5. | Questions 17-20. |
| 13th-18th May | Questions 11-17. | Questions 12-26, omitting 20 and 21. Optionally add X34 or X35. | Questions 6 and 7, then 1-4 from the new sheet. | Questions 22-25. Optionally add 21. |
| 20th-25th May | Questions 18-20 from question sheet 1, and 1-4 from question sheet 2. | Questions 27-31 from question sheet 1, and question 1 from question sheet 2. | All of the remaining questions on the question sheet. Also bring with you (but do not hand in) any questions that you have about the past papers that you are doing to prepare for the exam. | |
| 27th May - 1st June | Questions 5-9. Also bring with you (but do not hand in) any questions that you have about the past papers that you are doing to prepare for the exam. | Questions 2-6. Add X37 if you have nothing better to do. Also bring with you (but do not hand in) any questions that you have about the past papers that you are doing to prepare for the exam. | No supervision this week. | |
Maths B students who are very badly pressed for time due to impending exams may omit any of questions 2, 4, and 5 from the final week's work. It is important to attempt questions 3 and 6, however, as they cover material shared with course A.
I've produced hints and some solutions to the 2018 past papers in IA NST Maths which you can use if you want. There are worked solutions to several years' papers (including 2018 now for both Physics A and B) on the Cavendish's website.
Questions about Past Papers
I shall be in A45 at the following times; if you're stuck on particular past paper questions, or have any other last-minute revision queries, then come and see me.
- Friday 24th May, 11.30am-12.30pm and 2-3pm
- Wednesday 29th May 10.30am-12.30pm
- Thursday 30th May 10.30am-12.30pm
- Monday 3rd June 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-5pm
- Tuesday 4th June 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm
Easter Holiday 2024
As always---and especially this holiday with Tripos looming---it is important to do lots of revision over the holiday.
When doing past Tripos papers, I think it's always a good idea to try them under timed conditions first, to practise working under time pressure, and then to go back and spend longer---in some cases much longer---to fix what you couldn't do in the time and make the best answers that you can. (You don't need to tell me which bit is timed in the work that you submit, though; please make sure that all of your final answer to a question is in one place, and just submit that.)
At the end of lectures in the Easter term, I'll make available worked solutions to the 2018 past papers in IA NST maths and IB Physics B, so it might be a good idea to save those papers for revision shortly before the exams. (Those for the 2018 Physics A are on the TiS, as are solutions to both Physics A and Physics B for several other past papers.)IA NST Maths: Course A
The work is due in by 12 noon on Wednesday 24th April. Further details to follow.
- Complete questions 19-25 from the question sheet.
- From 2019 paper 1, complete all of section A, and questions 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17.
- From 2019 paper 2, complete questions 1-6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16.
- [Optional.] Any questions of your choice from the 2010 and 2014 past papers. I shan't mark these, but if you let me know you've made a serious attempt at the papers, and promise not to pass them on to anyone else, I'll send worked solutions.
IA NST Maths: Course B
The work is due in by 12 noon on Wednesday 24th April. Further details to follow.
- Complete questions 24-28 from the question sheet. Optionally add 29 and/or 30; they are good for you.
- From 2019 paper 1, complete all of section A, and questions 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 20.
- From 2019 paper 2, complete questions 1-6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, and 19.
- [Optional.] Any questions of your choice from the extension question sheet.
- [Optional.] Any questions of your choice from the 2010 and 2014 past papers. I shan't mark these, but if you let me know you've made a serious attempt at the papers, and promise not to pass them on to anyone else, I'll send worked solutions.
IB Physics A
Handing-in details to follow, but part of the work will be due in on Thursday 18th April, in electronic form if need be.
- Complete questions 3-8 and 10-12 from question sheet 4. Add 13 and/or 14 only if you feel enthusiastic about them.
- From 2019 paper 1, complete all questions apart from part (a) of D13.
- From 2019 paper 2, complete questions A1, A2, A3, B7, B8, B9, and D12.
IB Physics B
Handing-in details to follow, but part of the work will be due in on Thursday 18th April, in electronic form if need be.
- Complete questions 9-16 from the thermodynamics queston sheet.
- From 2019 paper 1, complete all questions apart from A4 and A5.
- From 2019 paper 2, complete questions A3, A4, A5, B6, B8, B9, C10, and C11.
Lent Term 2024
I plan to update this table on Tuesday evenings this term.
The start-of-term tests in IA NST mathematics and IB Physics A are now available for download.
| Date of Supervision | Work for IA Nat. Sci. Maths | Work for IB Physics A | Work for IB Physics B | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Course A) | (Course B) | |||
| 16th-20th January | No supervision this week. | Holiday work. | ||
| 22nd-27th January | Holiday work. | More holiday work. (Add Q1 if you like.) | More holiday work. | |
| 29th January - 3rd February | S1, S2, S3, S4, 5, 6, 7, 8. | {S1g or X24}, S1j, S2c, S2f, S3b, S4b, 5, 6a, 6b, 7, 8a, 8b, 8c. | Questions 1-6. | Questions 10-15. |
| 5th-10th February | Questions S9, S10, and 11-13. | Questions 9-13. Optionally add X26 (or even X25). | Questions 7-11. | Questions 16-21. |
| 12th-17th February | Questions S1 to 8. The second part of 8 is optional. | Questions S1a, S1c, S2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9. | Questions 12 and 13, then 1-5 from the new sheet. | Questions 22-27. |
| 19th-24th February | Questions 9-13. Part (ii) of 12 is difficult and optional. | S3 and questions 10-16. Optionally omit 13(ii) and 16(c). | Questions 6-12. | Questions 28-33. |
| 26th February - 2nd March | Questions 14-19, omitting 16(iii). | Questions 17-22. Question 20 is optional (but do attempt it if you can). Optionally add X30(a). | Questions 13 and 14, then 1-4 from the new sheet. | Questions 34-38. |
| 4th-9th March | S1 and questions 2-9. 8* and 9* are optional, but do attempt them if you can. | S1, S2, and questions 6-13. | Questions 5-9. | Questions 39-41 from fluids, and 1 and 2 from thermodynamics. |
| 11th-16th March | Questions S10-S13 and 14-18. | S3, S4, and questions 14-23. Omit 22, and optionally omit 15. | Questions 10-12 from question sheet 3 then 1 and 2 from question sheet 4. | Questions 3-8. |
Holiday Work: Christmas 2023/24
Whichever course you're doing, the first item of holiday work is to revise the work from the Michaelmas term. Many of you have tests coming up! And if there are questions that you didn't get right the first time, and you haven't re-attempted them yet, then it's good to do that over the holidays.
IA NST Mathematics
I'll begin supervisions for IA NST Maths from Monday 22nd January, but this work is due in by 10am on Wednesday 17th January.
- Complete questions from the question sheet: K3-6 (A-course) or R11-14 (B-course).
- Download the 2018 past papers for IA Nat. Sci. maths from the faculty's website. From paper 1, attempt questions 1-10, 11, 15, 16, and 17. Add 19 and 20 if you are following the B-course.
- From 2014 paper 2, attempt questions 1, 2, 4, 10, and 11.
- [Optional.] If you'd like to practise more Tripos questions, then attempt any questions of your choice from the 2010 papers. (I shan't mark these---so don't hand your answers in---but if you let me know you have made a good attempt at these papers I shall send worked solutions.)
- [Optional.] Anyone who would like a challenge can have a look at anything from X1-23 on this extra question sheet. Feel free to hand in anything you've done if you'd like feedback.
IB Physics A
I'll begin supervisions in IB Physics A from Tuesday 16th January. The first supervision will be for going through the examples sheet and 2018 paper 1, which must be handed in (or sent in online) by noon on Thursday 11th January. The rest of the holiday work must be handed in on paper by 10am on Wednesday 17th January; we shan't go through it in the first supervision.
- (Due in by 12 noon on Thursday 11th January, on paper or online.) Complete the rest of the OWO question sheet. Download the May 2018 IB physics A papers from the Cavendish teaching website. From paper 1, attempt questions A4, D12, and D13.
- (Due in by 10am on Wednesday 17th January, on paper.) From 2018 paper 2, attempt questions A1, A2, A3, B6, B7, B8, B9, and D13. [Optional.] If you'd like to practise more past paper questions (which is a very good idea), then attempt any of your choice from the 2012 past papers.
- Play with the wave interference demo on PhET, pating particular attention to the diffraction part. Don't hand anything in from this.
IB Physics B
I'll begin supervisions in IB Physics B from Tuesday 16th January. The first supervision will be for going through the examples sheet and 2013 paper 1, which must be handed in (or sent in online) by noon on Thursday 11th January. The rest of the holiday work must be handed in on paper by 10am on Wednesday 17th January; we shan't go through it in the first supervision.
- (Due in by 12 noon on Thursday 11th January, on paper or online.) Complete questions 1-9 from the Dynamics question sheet. Download the June 2013 IB physics A papers from the Cavendish teaching website. From paper 1, attempt questions A2, B6, B7, B8, and B9.
- (Due in by 10am on Wednesday 17th January, on paper.) From 2013 paper 2, attempt questions A1, A3, B6, and B7. [Optional.] If you'd like to practise more past paper questions (which is a very good idea), then attempt any of your choice from the 2012 papers.
- Play with the charges and fields demonstration from PhET, looking that the field and equipotentials for a dipole and two different kinds of quadrapole. Investigate any other relevant relevant simulations from PhET that look interesting, including, if you have nothing better to do, applying gratuitous electric shocks to John Travoltage. Don't hand anything in from this.
Work to Do: Michaelmas Term 2023
| Date of Supervision | Work for IA Nat. Sci. Maths | Work for IB Physics A | Work for IB Physics B | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Course A) | (Course B) | |||
| 16th-21st October | All questions from sections A and B on the question sheet, except that you may omit A1 and A3 if you like. | Questions A1, A3, A4, A5, A7, A8, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B10, B11, and B13. | Questions 1-7 from the OWO course. | Questions 1-6. |
| 23rd-28th October | Sections C, D, and E. | C1(iv), {C3(ii) or X2}*, C4, C5(i, ii, iii), C7, C9, C10, C12, D1, D2, E2, E3, E4, F1(b, e, g, h). | Questions 1-7 from the Experimental Methods course. | Questions 7-12. |
| 30th October - 4th November | Questions 1-13 from section F. If you are already good at complex numbers, omit question 1 completely, and only do parts (b), (d), (f), (h) and (j) from question 2. | {F3(c,d) or X4}*, F4(c), {F5(c) or X7}, F6, F7(b,d,e,f,g,h,i,k), F8, F10, F11, F13(b), F14(e), F15(d), F17, F18(c,e), F19, G1, G3(b,e), G4, H1(e,f,h), H2(a,c,e), H3. | Questions 8, 10, 11, 15, and 16 from the OWO course. | Questions 13-18. |
| 6th-11th November | F14-15, all of section G, and H1-7, optionally omitting H1(b,d,f,h), H2(b,d,f,h), and H5(d). | {H4 or X9}*, H5, I1, J1, K1, K2, L1, L2. | Questions 8-16 from the Experimental Methods course. Produce only a cursory attempt at question 10. | Questions 19-24. |
| 13th-18th November | H8 to H15. | M1, M2, M3, N1, N2, N4, O1, {P1(d,g) or X11}*, P2(c,d,e), P3(b), P4. | Questions 9, 12, 13, and 14 from OWO; and questions 17 and 18 from Experimental Methods. | Questions 25 to 30. |
| 20th-25th November | H16, H17, all of section I, J1, J2. | {P5(d) or X17}*,{P5(g) or X18}*, P6(all), P7, P9, P10, P12, P15, Q1, Q2, Q4, Q6. | Questions 17-21 from the OWO course, where 19(b) is optional. | Questions 31-37. |
| 27th November - 2nd December | The rest of section J, and questions 1 and 2 from section K. | P14, Q8, Q9, {R1 or X23}*, R2, R3, R4, R5, R7, R8, R9. (If you do X23, the starred parts are optional.) | Questions 22-29 from the OWO course, omitting (a) and (d) from question 24 (unless you are very keen to do them). | Questions 38-44. |