As Alex works through more problems in the PDF, he begins to appreciate the beauty and complexity of physics. He learns to approach each problem systematically, breaking them down into manageable parts and applying creative solutions.
"id": "cpho-2023-final-problems", "year": 2023, "level": "final", "type": "problems", "download_url": "/download/id", "preview_url": "/preview/id?page=1", "topics": ["electromagnetism"]
However, the true value of these PDFs lies not in hoarding them but in the method of their use. A student who simply reads the solutions gains little. The ritual is sacred: attempt the problem for at least two hours with nothing but pen, paper, and a table of integrals. Get stuck. Feel frustration. Then, and only then, consult the official solution, which is often a marvel of concise logic. The solution will not only compute the answer but will also discuss common pitfalls, physical approximations, and alternative approaches. Over time, the student internalizes a "physics intuition"—the ability to see a physical situation and immediately identify the conservation laws or symmetries at play.
This is one of the most reliable sites for English translations of CPhO materials. It features a dedicated resource section with translated CPhO Finals from 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Yes, but they are scattered. Websites like and Olympiad Helper offer partial translations. The best way is to download a Chinese Physics Olympiad Problems PDF in Chinese and use machine translation (Google Translate or DeepL) for the problem statements. Solutions often remain in Chinese, but math is universal.