IPhO Speedrun: NNO Top 20 Battle Plan

Build a 7-month IPhO prep system with gap analysis, calculus, and a study roadmap.

Introduction

30 Second Summary

Missing a competition cutoff by a single point is both devastating and motivating. It means you are already almost there, and a structured plan is all that separates you from qualifying.

In this project, you will build a personal IPhO preparation system. You will assess your current knowledge against the full IPhO syllabus, solve your first Olympiad-level physics problem, and create a 7-month week-by-week study plan targeting top-200 in the January 2027 NNO eerste ronde.

What You'll Build

A complete self-study system that maps your knowledge gaps, proves you can tackle Olympiad-caliber problems right now, and gives you a structured training roadmap built entirely from free world-class resources.

By the end of this project, you'll have:

A filled-in IPhO syllabus self-assessment grid covering all 11 topic areas, each rated 0-3 against competition level.
A worked solution to a real Olympiad-caliber statics problem from Jaan Kalda's mechanics handout.
A 7-month study schedule broken into weekly blocks with specific handout references, problem targets, and milestone checkpoints.
Secret Mission: Solve a dynamics problem using calculus you teach yourself during this session.

Are there any prerequisites?

You need high school physics at VWO 3 level and basic algebra and trigonometry. You should also have your BINAS, a pen and paper, and a web browser with a PDF reader.

No calculus knowledge is required. You will learn the calculus essentials you need during the project itself.

Map Your Knowledge Against the IPhO Syllabus

You scored 31 out of 32 on the eerste ronde while still in VWO 3. That tells you something important: you are close. But "close" only matters if you know exactly which topics pushed you below the cutoff.

In this step, you will map your current knowledge against every topic the IPhO expects you to master. By the end, you will have a clear picture of your strengths and a ranked list of gaps to attack first.

In this step, get ready to:

Rate yourself on all 11 IPhO theoretical physics areas (0-3).
Assess your math readiness against IPhO calculus requirements.
Identify your top 3 priority gaps for focused study.

Download and read the IPhO syllabus

The IPhO syllabus defines exactly what physics and math you need to know. It covers 11 theoretical areas and a dedicated math section. Your self-assessment starts here.

Open https://www.ioc.ee/~kalda/ipho/ in your browser.
Click Syllabus of IPhO to open the official syllabus PDF.
Read through all 11 theoretical areas listed in the syllabus.

On your paper, create a grid with each of the 11 areas listed below. Rate yourself 0-3 on each one:

0 = Never seen this topic.
1 = Heard of it, cannot solve problems.
2 = Can solve basic textbook problems.
3 = Can solve tricky/non-standard problems.

The 11 theoretical areas to rate are:

Mechanics (kinematics, Newton's laws, energy, momentum).
Mechanics of Rigid Bodies (torque, moment of inertia, angular momentum).
Hydromechanics (pressure, buoyancy, Bernoulli).
Thermodynamics and Molecular Physics (gas laws, Carnot, entropy).
Oscillations and Waves (SHM, standing waves, interference).
Electric Charge and Electric Field (Coulomb, Gauss, capacitors).
Current and Magnetic Field (circuits, Lorentz force, induction).
Electromagnetic Waves (Maxwell, polarization).
Quantum Physics (photoelectric effect, energy levels).
Relativity (Lorentz transforms, relativistic energy).
Matter (crystal structure, semiconductors).

Why rate yourself honestly?

A "2" that should be a "1" means you skip foundational work and hit a wall later. Be brutally honest. A low score is not a failure. It is a target.

Identify the math gap

The IPhO syllabus has a dedicated math section (Section 4.7, "Mathematics") that defines exactly what calculus you need. This goes beyond VWO 3 math.

Find Section 4.7 in the syllabus PDF.
On your paper, add a "Math" section below the 11 physics areas.
Rate yourself 0-3 on each of these four required math skills:

Finding derivatives of elementary functions, their sums, products, quotients, and nested functions.
Integration as the inverse of differentiation (finding definite and indefinite integrals in simple cases).
Taylor series and linear approximations.
Concept of gradient vectors.

Why does math come first?

If you are at 0-1 on derivatives, that becomes your first priority before any physics. Olympiad mechanics problems are written in the language of calculus. Without it, you cannot even set up the equations, let alone solve them.

Identify your top 3 priority gaps

Now turn your grid of ratings into a prioritized action list. You will focus your first month on exactly three areas.

Look at your math ratings. Write down your #1 math gap (the lowest-rated math skill). If you are at 0-1 on derivatives, that is it.
Look at your ratings for the "core four" physics areas: Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electric Charge and Field, and Oscillations and Waves. Write down your #1 core-four physics gap (the lowest-rated one among these four).
Look at your ratings for the "secondary four": Rigid Bodies, Quantum Physics, Relativity, and Electromagnetic Waves. Write down your #1 secondary-four physics gap (the lowest-rated one among these four).

When two areas tie

If two areas share the same rating, pick the one that appears more frequently on past NNO eerste ronde papers. Mechanics and circuits are the most heavily tested.

Circle these three gaps on your paper. These determine your first 4 weeks of study in the battle plan you will build in Step 4.

✔️ I've rated all areas and identified my gaps

Excellent. Your assessment grid should have 11 physics ratings, 4 math ratings, and 3 circled priority gaps. Keep this paper next to you for the rest of this project.

ⓧ I'm unsure how to rate myself

Use this quick test for each topic: can you solve a problem from it without looking anything up? If yes, you are at least a 2. If you need to look up the formula but understand the concept, you are a 1. If the topic name means nothing to you, that is a 0.

For the "core four" physics areas, pull up a past NNO eerste ronde paper from natuurkundeolympiade.nl/opgaven/ronde-1 and try to identify which questions fall under which area. If you can solve the question, rate that area a 2 or 3.

You now have a clear map of where you stand. Next up, you will close the most critical gap on that map: calculus. In 30 minutes, you will learn enough derivatives and integrals to unlock Olympiad mechanics.

Learn Calculus Essentials

Your self-assessment grid now shows exactly where you stand across all 11 IPhO syllabus areas. If your math section shows a 0 or 1 for derivatives and integrals, that is the single biggest blocker between you and Olympiad-level physics.

The good news: you only need a subset of calculus to unlock Olympiad mechanics. In this step, you will learn derivatives and integrals through 3Blue1Brown's visual approach, then immediately prove to yourself that calculus works by deriving the equations of motion from scratch.

In this step, get ready to:

Watch the 3Blue1Brown derivatives videos and verify you can differentiate power and trig functions.
Watch the 3Blue1Brown integrals videos and verify you can integrate power functions.
Derive the full equations of motion on paper by integrating acceleration twice.

Watch the derivatives videos

Derivatives are the language physics is written in. Velocity is the derivative of position. Force is related to the derivative of momentum. Every IPhO problem assumes you speak this language fluently.

Open YouTube and search for 3Blue1Brown Essence of Calculus.
Watch Chapters 1-3 (approximately 30 minutes total).

What do these videos cover?

Chapter 1 explains what a derivative means geometrically and physically. Velocity is the derivative of position. Chapter 2 covers how to differentiate power functions, trig functions, and exponentials. Chapter 3 introduces the chain rule, which lets you differentiate nested functions.

After watching, grab your pen and paper. You need to verify that three key rules have clicked.

Write down the power rule: d/dx(x^n) = nx^(n-1).
Write down the trig derivative: d/dt(sin(ωt)) = ω cos(ωt).
Verify that if x(t) = ½at², then v(t) = dx/dt = at. Apply the power rule to confirm this.

The physics connection

That last verification is not just an exercise. The formula x(t) = ½at² is the position of a uniformly accelerating object. You just proved that differentiating position gives velocity. This is the foundation of kinematics.

Feeling lost during the videos?

If the chain rule (Chapter 3) feels unclear, move on. You will not need it until later in your study plan. The power rule and the concept of "derivative = rate of change" are the only pieces required for the rest of this step.

If the power rule itself is unclear, pause the video at the geometric explanation and re-draw the slope diagram on your own paper. Drawing forces your brain to process it differently than just watching.

Watch the integrals videos

Integration is the reverse of differentiation. In physics, it means "summing up infinitesimal pieces." When a force varies over a distance, you integrate it to find the total work done.

Return to the 3Blue1Brown Essence of Calculus playlist on YouTube.
Watch Chapters 7-8 (integration and the fundamental theorem of calculus).

Why integration matters for physics

Three physics relationships depend directly on integration:

Work = ∫F·dx (force integrated over distance).
Impulse = ∫F dt (force integrated over time).
The area under a velocity-time graph equals displacement.

After watching, verify the key integration rule on paper.

Write down the power rule for integration: ∫x^n dx = x^(n+1)/(n+1) + C.
Test it: integrate x² and confirm you get x³/3 + C.
Differentiate your answer to confirm it gives back x². This is the ultimate check that integration and differentiation are inverses.

Not sure what the +C means?

The constant C represents initial conditions. When you integrate acceleration to get velocity, C is the initial velocity. When you integrate velocity to get position, C is the initial position. You will see this in action in the next substep.

Derive the equations of motion on paper

Time to combine both skills on a real physics problem. A ball is thrown straight up with initial velocity v₀. You will derive the complete equations of motion using only calculus and the fact that gravity pulls downward.

Write at the top of a fresh page: a(t) = -g (acceleration is constant and downward).
Integrate a(t) = -g with respect to time to get velocity. You should get v(t) = -gt + C₁.
Apply the initial condition: at t=0, v=v₀. This means C₁ = v₀, giving v(t) = v₀ - gt.
Integrate v(t) = v₀ - gt with respect to time to get position. You should get x(t) = v₀t - ½gt² + C₂.
Apply the initial condition: at t=0, x=0. This means C₂ = 0, giving the final result: x(t) = v₀t - ½gt².

What did you just prove?

You derived the same equations you memorized in VWO physics. The difference is that you now understand WHERE they come from. In your VWO textbook, these formulas appeared as given facts. You just showed they are logical consequences of a single assumption: acceleration is constant.

This is how Olympiad physics works. You start from principles and derive what you need. No formula sheet required.

✔️ I got the correct result

You have enough calculus to start Olympiad mechanics. The remaining pieces (Taylor series, partial derivatives) will come naturally as you encounter problems that need them.

ⓧ I got stuck on the integration

The key insight is that integrating a constant gives a linear term. Since a(t) = -g is just a constant, its integral is -g × t plus a constant. Think of it as the power rule applied to x⁰: integrating gives x¹/1 = x.

Re-watch 3Blue1Brown Chapter 8 (the fundamental theorem section) and then try again. Focus on the idea that integration "undoes" differentiation.

Write the three key rules at the top of your derivation page for quick reference: d/dx(x^n) = nx^(n-1), d/dt(sin(ωt)) = ω cos(ωt), and ∫x^n dx = x^(n+1)/(n+1) + C.
Return to your self-assessment grid and update your math ratings for derivatives and integrals. They should now be at least a 2.

You just taught yourself calculus and used it to derive physics from first principles. Next up, you will put these skills to the test on a real Olympiad-level problem from Jaan Kalda's mechanics handout.

Solve Your First Olympiad-Level Problem

You now have the calculus toolkit to read the language of physics at the Olympiad level. Derivatives and integrals are no longer foreign symbols.

Time to put that toolkit to work on a real competition problem. In this step, you'll download the single most efficient problem collection for Olympiad mechanics and solve your first Olympiad-level statics problem on paper.

In this step, get ready to:

Download Jaan Kalda's Mechanics handout and read the Statics ideas.
Attempt and solve Problem 1 using equilibrium conditions and torque.
Reflect on the difficulty gap between this problem and the NNO eerste ronde.

Download Kalda's Mechanics handout

Jaan Kalda is a physics professor at Tallinn University of Technology who created a set of handouts that compress Olympiad problem-solving techniques into numbered "ideas." His Mechanics handout contains 86 problems and 74 ideas that claim to cover more than 95% of all Olympiad mechanics problems.

Why Kalda over a textbook?

Standard physics textbooks spend hundreds of pages on gentle introductions you don't need. Kalda's handouts jump straight to the solving techniques and immediately apply them to competition problems.

Each numbered "idea" is a reusable strategy. Once you internalize 74 mechanics ideas, you have a mental toolkit that handles nearly any Olympiad mechanics problem you'll encounter.

Open https://www.ioc.ee/~kalda/ipho/ in your browser.
Find the row labeled Mechanics in the handout list.
Click the English PDF link for Mechanics (ver 1.2 Eng) to download the handout.
Open the downloaded PDF in your PDF reader.

You should see a document with numbered problems, ideas, and facts organized into sections.

Read Section 2 ("First Laws") to refresh Newton's laws in Kalda's compact notation.
Read Ideas 1 through 5 in the Statics section.
Pay attention to how each idea is stated as a general principle you can reuse across many problems.

What are these numbered ideas?

Each idea is a reusable solving technique. For example, an idea might state a general principle about choosing a reference frame or simplifying forces. The problems that follow each idea require that technique to solve.

Problems are color-coded by difficulty: simple (green), normal (blue), and difficult (red). Problem 1 is a "normal" difficulty statics problem.

Attempt Problem 1 from Kalda Mechanics

This is a statics problem. Statics means nothing is accelerating. The entire challenge is figuring out how forces and torques balance.

Set a timer for 15-20 minutes.
Read Problem 1 carefully.
Draw a clear force diagram on paper with all forces labeled (weight, normal forces, tension, friction).
Write the equilibrium conditions: sum of forces equals zero, sum of torques equals zero.
Choose a smart pivot point for your torque equation. Pick the point where unknown forces pass through, so those forces vanish from the equation.
Solve the resulting equations.

Choosing a pivot point

The torque equation is only useful if it eliminates unknowns. If you pick a pivot where two unknown forces intersect, both produce zero torque and drop out. This turns a messy system into a single equation with one unknown.

If you get stuck after 10 minutes, that is completely normal for your first Olympiad problem.

If stuck: read the hint for Problem 1 in Section 6 of the handout (the Hints section near the end of the PDF).
If still stuck after reading the hint: open https://physoly.tech/kalda/ and find the full solution to Mechanics Problem 1.
Whether you solved it independently or needed the solution, write out the complete solution in your own handwriting so you internalize the method.

What if I needed the solution?

Needing to look at the solution on your first Olympiad problem is not failure. It is data. The goal right now is to learn the technique, not to prove you already know it. After seeing the solution, close it and redo the problem from scratch to confirm you understood the method.

Reflect on the difficulty gap

You now have a data point. You know what an Olympiad-level problem feels like compared to the NNO eerste ronde problems you took in January.

On your paper, write answers to these three questions:

Was this problem harder, easier, or about the same difficulty as what you saw on the NNO eerste ronde?
What technique did you need that you did not have before reading Kalda's ideas? (For example: choosing a specific pivot point, or decomposing forces along a non-obvious axis.)
After practicing 10 similar problems, how long do you estimate this type of problem would take you?

Why write this reflection?

This reflection calibrates the intensity of your study plan in the next step. If Problem 1 felt manageable, your roadmap can move faster through statics and into dynamics. If it felt overwhelming, your roadmap allocates more time to foundational mechanics before advancing.

Be honest with yourself. The eerste ronde cutoff is 32 points out of a maximum score, and you scored 31. You are close. This reflection tells you exactly how much closer you need to get.

You have just proven something important to yourself. You can solve problems at a level above the eerste ronde. Next up, you'll turn this momentum into a full 7-month battle plan with weekly targets and milestone checkpoints.

Build Your 7-Month Battle Plan

You just solved your first Olympiad-level problem and measured the difficulty gap between where you are and where you need to be. That honest reflection is your starting compass.

Now you need a map. In this step, you'll assemble a library of free world-class resources and build a 28-week study schedule designed to push your NNO score well above the 32-point cutoff by January 2027.

In this step, get ready to:

Bookmark all 7 primary free resources in your browser.
Write a week-by-week study schedule spanning 5 training phases.
Set concrete milestone checkpoints for each phase.

Set your resource stack

Every resource on this list is free and covers what you need at Olympiad level. You don't need expensive textbooks to reach the top 20.

Open each of the following 7 resources in your browser and bookmark them in a folder called IPhO Prep (or similar).

Your primary resources, in order of importance:

Jaan Kalda's Handouts (https://www.ioc.ee/~kalda/ipho/). Your main problem source. Includes Kinematics (ver 2.0, 66 problems, 45 ideas), Mechanics (ver 1.2, 86 problems, 74 ideas), Electrical Circuits (ver 1.2, 111 problems, 52 ideas), Thermodynamics (ver 0.87, 84 problems, 20 ideas), Wave Optics (ver 0.5), Theory of Relativity (ver 0.6), and Quantum Mechanics (ver 0.4).
Physoly.tech Solutions (https://physoly.tech/kalda/). Community-written full solutions to Kalda's handouts. Use these after attempting each problem yourself.
3Blue1Brown Essence of Calculus (YouTube). Your calculus crash course covering Chapters 1-11. You started this in the previous step.
Savchenko Solutions (https://savchenkosolutions.com/paths/zero-to-national). A structured 50-problem path from basics to national Olympiad level.
David Morin Sample Chapters (https://davidmorin.physics.fas.harvard.edu/books/problems-mechanics). Free chapters 1-4 covering problem-solving strategies and F=ma problems.
Past NNO Problems (https://www.natuurkundeolympiade.nl/opgaven/ronde-1/). Download previous years' eerste ronde problems and solutions for timed benchmark practice.
IPhO Past Papers (available via links from ipho-unofficial.org and individual IPhO host country websites). Use these in Phase 5 for full competition simulation.

Why free handouts over expensive textbooks?

Kalda's handouts present solving techniques ("ideas") and immediately apply them to Olympiad problems. There is no gentle ramp-up or filler. The handouts claim to cover more than 95% of Olympiad mechanics problems using their catalogued ideas.

Standard introductory textbooks (Halliday, Young & Freedman) spend months on material you can absorb in days. Kalda gives you the density you need to make every study hour count.

Verify that all 7 resources are bookmarked in your browser. Open each link to confirm they load correctly.

Build the weekly schedule

Your time budget is 1-2 hours per day (7-14 hours per week) during school, increasing to 3-4 hours per day during summer break. Over 7 months (about 30 weeks), that totals 300-450 hours of focused preparation.

Is that enough time?

Some students who eventually won gold medals at IPhO spent only a few hundred hours on focused, deliberate preparation. At 10-20 hours per week over one to three years, that is usually more than enough. Your 300-450 hours puts you in the right range.

Write down the following 5-phase plan in your study document (paper notebook or digital document). Copy the weekly targets for each phase.

Phase 1: Foundation Sprint (Weeks 1-4, June-July 2026)

Week 1: Calculus crash course (3Blue1Brown Chapters 1-11) plus practice derivatives and integrals.
Week 2: Kalda Kinematics, Ideas 1-20 plus Problems 1-15.
Week 3: Kalda Kinematics, Ideas 21-45 plus Problems 16-40.
Week 4: Kalda Mechanics (Statics), Ideas 1-15 plus Problems 1-12.
Phase 1 target: Can differentiate and integrate confidently. Can solve NNO-level kinematics problems.

Phase 2: Core Mechanics Deep Dive (Weeks 5-10, July-August 2026)

Summer break means more hours available. Target 3-4 hours per day during this phase.

Weeks 5-6: Kalda Mechanics (Dynamics), Ideas 16-50 plus Problems 13-40.
Weeks 7-8: Kalda Mechanics revision problems plus Morin Chapter 6 (Lagrangian) sample.
Weeks 9-10: Conservation laws mastery. Solve 20 problems from the Savchenko mechanics section (problems 7-15 on the path).
Phase 2 target: Can solve 70% of Kalda Mechanics problems without hints.

Phase 3: Electromagnetism and Thermo (Weeks 11-18, September-October 2026)

Weeks 11-12: Kalda Electrical Circuits, Ideas 1-25 plus Problems 1-40.
Weeks 13-14: Kalda Electrical Circuits, Ideas 26-52 plus Problems 41-80.
Weeks 15-16: Kalda Thermodynamics, Ideas 1-10 plus Problems 1-40.
Weeks 17-18: Kalda Thermodynamics, Problems 41-84 plus revision.
Phase 3 target: Can solve circuit and thermo problems at NNO tweede ronde level.

Phase 4: Waves, Optics, and Modern Physics (Weeks 19-24, November-December 2026)

Weeks 19-20: Kalda Wave Optics handout (complete).
Weeks 21-22: Kalda Theory of Relativity handout (complete).
Weeks 23-24: Kalda Quantum Mechanics handout plus review of weak areas from your self-assessment.
Phase 4 target: Full syllabus coverage. No topic is rated "0" anymore.

Phase 5: Competition Simulation (Weeks 25-28, December 2026-January 2027)

Week 25: Solve 3 complete past NNO eerste ronde exams under timed conditions (2 hours each).
Week 26: Solve mixed problems from all Kalda handouts (5 problems per day, random topics).
Week 27: Solve past NNO tweede ronde problems (these are harder than eerste ronde).
Week 28: Final review. Redo problems you got wrong. Light practice only.
Phase 5 target: Score 40+ on NNO eerste ronde practice (well above the 32-point cutoff).

Adjusting when you fall behind

If you fall behind schedule, cut problem counts per week, not entire topics. Covering all 11 syllabus areas at a basic level matters more than mastering 3 areas while ignoring the rest.

Set milestone checkpoints

A plan without checkpoints is just a wish. After each phase, you need a concrete test to confirm you are on track.

Write down the following milestone tests at the bottom of your study schedule. These are your "pass/fail" gates for each phase.

Phase 1 complete: Solve a random Kalda Kinematics "difficult" (red) problem in under 15 minutes.
Phase 2 complete: Score 60% or higher on a past IPhO theoretical mechanics problem.
Phase 3 complete: Solve 3 random Kalda Circuits "normal" (blue) problems in 30 minutes.
Phase 4 complete: Can attempt (and get partial credit on) any topic from a past IPhO paper.
Phase 5 complete: Score at top-200 level on a timed NNO eerste ronde practice exam.

What if I fail a milestone?

Failing a milestone means you need more time on that phase, not that you should skip ahead. Spend one extra week on the weak area before moving on. Your error log (which you'll set up next) will tell you exactly which problems to revisit.

Confirm your completed study schedule includes all 28 weeks of content and all 5 milestone checkpoints.

Your roadmap is locked in. Next up, you'll build the system that turns every mistake into a future advantage: your error log and daily routine.

Set Up Your Error Log System

You now have a 7-month battle plan with specific resources, problem counts, and milestone checkpoints. The plan tells you what to study each week. But without a system for tracking your mistakes, you'll repeat the same errors for months without realizing it.

In this step, you'll build an error log system that turns every failed problem into a future advantage. This is what separates students who grind 500 problems and plateau from those who grind 500 problems and reach the top 20.

In this step, get ready to:

Create an error log document with a three-column structure.
Establish a daily practice routine with built-in review.
Plan a weekly review cycle to catch patterns and adjust your schedule.

Create your error log

Every Olympiad problem you get wrong contains a lesson. Without a structured place to capture that lesson, it evaporates within days.

Create a new document for your error log. This can be a digital document (Google Docs, Notion, or a plain text file) or a dedicated section in a paper notebook.
Set up three columns with these headings:

Column 1: Problem Reference (e.g., "Kalda Mech, Problem 14").
Column 2: What Went Wrong (e.g., "Forgot to consider torque about the correct point").
Column 3: Key Idea/Lesson (e.g., "Always choose pivot where unknowns vanish").

Fill in your first entry using Kalda Mechanics Problem 1 from the previous step. Even if you solved it correctly, record what was hardest or what technique you needed that was new to you.

Why an error log instead of just re-reading solutions?

Re-reading a solution gives you the illusion of understanding. Writing down exactly where your thinking broke helps you recognize the same trap in future problems.

After 50+ entries, patterns emerge. You might discover that 40% of your mistakes come from choosing the wrong coordinate system. That single insight can save you dozens of hours.

Establish your daily routine

A structured daily session prevents aimless studying. With 1-2 hours per day, every minute counts.

Write down this three-part daily session structure in your error log document (or on the first page of your notebook):

First 5 minutes: Re-attempt 1 problem from your error log. This is spaced repetition. You do the problem from memory, without looking at your previous solution.
Next 45-90 minutes: New material. Read the next idea in your current Kalda handout, attempt the associated problems, and check hints only after 10 minutes of being stuck.
Last 5 minutes: Update your error log. Record any mistakes from today's problems. Be specific about what went wrong, not just "got it wrong."

The 10-minute rule for hints

Struggling for 10 minutes builds problem-solving muscles. Struggling for 45 minutes on one problem burns time you could spend on three others. If you're stuck after 10 minutes, read the hint in Section 6 of the Kalda handout. If still stuck, check the full solution on Physoly.tech.

Plan your weekly review

Daily sessions handle the grind. A weekly review handles the direction. Without it, you might spend 4 weeks on a topic that only needed 2.

Write down this weekly review routine (every Sunday, 30 minutes):

Count problems solved that week. Your target is 15-25 problems per week.
Review your error log for patterns. Are you making the same type of mistake repeatedly? If so, that's where you need a focused mini-session.
Adjust next week's plan if you're behind schedule. Cut the number of problems per section, not the topics themselves. Covering every topic matters more than completing every problem.

What if I'm consistently behind?

If you fall behind for 2+ weeks in a row, reduce the problems-per-week target from 20 to 15. Focus on the "difficult" (red) problems in Kalda's handouts since they teach the most per problem.

Never skip a topic entirely. Partial coverage of all 11 syllabus areas beats deep coverage of 8 areas with 3 blind spots.

Secret mission

Solve a Dynamics Problem Using Calculus

You solved a statics problem in the main project. Now put your new calculus skills to the test on a dynamics problem that requires setting up and solving a differential equation. This is the real bridge between textbook physics and Olympiad physics.

Clean Up Your Resources

This project runs entirely on free online resources, pen and paper, and your web browser. There are no ongoing costs or running processes to worry about.

Resources you used:

Kalda Mechanics Handout PDF (downloaded file).
Browser bookmarks (7 resource URLs).
Error log document (digital or paper).
Handwritten solutions and self-assessment grid (paper).
7-month study schedule (digital or paper).

Keep everything running

No action needed. Choose this if you are starting your 7-month study plan immediately.

Keep your browser bookmarks in place for daily study sessions.
Keep the Kalda PDF in a folder you can find easily.
Keep your error log and study schedule within reach of your desk.

Pause - I'll come back to this later

Organize your materials so you can pick up exactly where you left off.

Gather your handwritten solutions, self-assessment grid, and error log into a single folder or envelope.
Move your downloaded Kalda PDF into a dedicated folder on your computer (e.g., a folder called IPhO-Prep on your Desktop).
Save your 7-month schedule in the same folder so everything lives in one place.
Write today's date and your current position (Phase 1, Week 1) at the top of your schedule so you know where to resume.

Delete - I don't want to use this again

Remove all project materials from your computer and workspace.

Delete the Kalda Mechanics PDF from your downloads folder.
Remove the 7 resource bookmarks from your browser.
Delete any digital error log or schedule files you created.
Recycle your handwritten solutions, self-assessment grid, and paper error log if you no longer need them.

That's a Wrap!

Nice work! You just went from having a basic physics textbook and missing the cutoff by 1 point to holding a complete battle plan with world-class free resources at your fingertips.

The path from 31 to top-20 is paved with roughly 500 carefully chosen problems. You now know exactly which problems those are, and in what order to solve them.

You've learned how to:

Map your current knowledge against the IPhO syllabus across all 11 topic areas, identify your top priority gaps, and use that assessment to drive a focused study plan.
Solve Olympiad-level problems using techniques beyond your current curriculum, including applying calculus (derivatives and integrals) to real physics scenarios.
Build a 7-month, week-by-week study schedule with free resources, specific problem targets, and milestone checkpoints targeting top-200 in the January 2027 NNO eerste ronde.
Solve a dynamics problem by setting up Newton's second law as a differential equation and solving it with calculus you taught yourself during this session.

Ready to quiz yourself?