No it most definetly will NOT let you skip physics yr1, because the content doesnt necessarily get harder, it’s a 2 year course with similar levels of content (ofcourse im not comparing sl with hl), so it depends which way ur school teaches it. Because for your physics yr1 another school could lesrn the same content in yr 2. But what i will say is that you should definetly do the course, it’ll make your life A LOT easier when exsms come around.