What are your physics tests like ?

[SweetLTSD]

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We just had our first physics test. I was shocked to see that it was 75% theory questions. I had studied for a quantitative exam. I did every problem in the Cutnell & Johnson book for the chapters covered which didnt really help for this exam. Are your physics exams mostly theoretical ?

So how does one study for a theoretical or conceptual exam ? Does anyone know of an additional resource for conceptual/theoretical questions?

 

[AggieJohn]

We just had our first physics test. I was shocked to see that it was 75% theory questions. I had studied for a quantitative exam. I did every problem in the Cutnell & Johnson book for the chapters covered which didnt really help for this exam. Are your physics exams mostly theoretical ?

So how does one study for a theoretical or conceptual exam ? Does anyone know of an additional resource for conceptual/theoretical questions?

Believe it or not, math classes can be tought subjectively. It all depends on the professor you got. Now, you got a professor who loves the abstract concepts, which is an additional burden because I assume you probably have to know how to do all the problems as well. I suggest

1. Going to class
2. Getting old tests
3. Asking the prof about a week before the exam, "what do I need to know"
4. Read the book

These should do it. You shouldn't need "other resources." Just study your book and pay attention in class when he starts rambling about the abstract theory of some German scientist you've never heard of. 👍

 

[SweetLTSD]

Believe it or not, math classes can be tought subjectively. It all depends on the professor you got. Now, you got a professor who loves the abstract concepts, which is an additional burden because I assume you probably have to know how to do all the problems as well. I suggest

1. Going to class
2. Getting old tests
3. Asking the prof about a week before the exam, "what do I need to know"
4. Read the book

These should do it. You shouldn't need "other resources." Just study your book and pay attention in class when he starts rambling about the abstract theory of some German scientist you've never heard of. 👍

I did all that but still feel like I need more resources. Are their any text books or MCAT review books that provide tons of conceptual physics questions ?

 

[AggieJohn]

I did all that but still feel like I need more resources. Are their any text books or MCAT review books that provide tons of conceptual physics questions ?

I took Princeton Review and I would have to say, no. Those consist of .001 % theory. They are mainly designed to get you through the problems, work them fast, and move on. What was the average on the test you took? If you did all those things listed, then I would assume you are going to be far above the curve.

Just for a glimmer of hope, I guess I'll let you in on my little shameful physics secret. On my first physics test (acceleration, Kinetics, etc) I made a 36. It was not an abstract class, but it was still hard. I was able to work hard for the rest of the semester and ended up pulling an A in the class. Just to let you know, it can be done, so don't worry if you didn't score too hot on the first exam.

 

[Blue Planet]

I took Princeton Review and I would have to say, no. Those consist of .001 % theory. They are mainly designed to get you through the problems, work them fast, and move on. What was the average on the test you took? If you did all those things listed, then I would assume you are going to be far above the curve.

Just for a glimmer of hope, I guess I'll let you in on my little shameful physics secret. On my first physics test (acceleration, Kinetics, etc) I made a 36. It was not an abstract class, but it was still hard. I was able to work hard for the rest of the semester and ended up pulling an A in the class. Just to let you know, it can be done, so don't worry if you didn't score too hot on the first exam.

Also, physics classes are supposed to be hard. At my school, the average on exams has always been ~40%. Don't worry ... most physics professors curve the class scores at the end.

 

[heatherkmd]

So far both of my Physics tests have been 5 problems each, showing your work and get partial credit. It sucks because if you miss one problem, you are down to a C already~ eeeck! Good luck finding the resources you need and getting through the class.

 

[osli]

That's better than a one problem final exam, which I've had happen in previous engineering courses. Or worse, a single problem take-home exam that seems impossible to work even with all the resources of the library, internet, and tons of software at your disposal.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Only theory questions I can even answer are those my prof actually goes over in class OR if the examples are in our book.

He gives us previous exams (usually 2 or 3) that we can take online. That is also where I get the theory questions. I got 3 of them right because of this last exam.


We have like 20 questions and some theory and some problems. Its multiple choice but he mixed it up with two problems last time. I'm scared to check my score.

 

[SweetLTSD]

Only theory questions I can even answer are those my prof actually goes over in class OR if the examples are in our book.

He gives us previous exams (usually 2 or 3) that we can take online. That is also where I get the theory questions. I got 3 of them right because of this last exam.


We have like 20 questions and some theory and some problems. Its multiple choice but he mixed it up with two problems last time. I'm scared to check my score.

Thanks for saying that. I am the same way with physics theory problems. I hate em.

 

[_ian]

If you learn the theory, then the quantitative problems are a piece of cake! If you just memorize formulas, you're not going to get anything out of it. Understand precisely why the formulas work the way they do; that's what your textbook and professor are for.

Also, learning the reasoning will help you a lot more when it comes time to take the MCAT.

 

[lilTXcatMD]

Man, some of your classes sound like a breeze. Old tests given out by the professor? haha I wish. I had two VERY different professors for both of my intro physics classes. The first guy gave us about 10-11 quantitative problems that took bout 20 minutes to figure out. He combined the theory in with the problems so that you had to know the theory in order to get the correct quantitative answer. He would also make you explain your reasoning. The other guy gave us 10 multiple choice questions (which were actually harder than BSing your way through the reasoning) plus about 8 quantitative problems with explanations. Our first test average for the 2nd class was a 46 and I dont remember the 1st class too much. I made a solid A in the first one and barely scraped by with a borderline A in the second one. Good luck and hope everything works out!

 

[RayhanS1282]

I was really freaked out about my first physics test in college 'cause I flunked physics in High School. I basically just went to class and tried to understand what the prof. was talking about. And since the first test was mostly kinematics, it was trying to somewhat understand the concepts but mostly plug and chug.

 

[Dave_D]

We just had our first physics test. I was shocked to see that it was 75% theory questions. I had studied for a quantitative exam. I did every problem in the Cutnell & Johnson book for the chapters covered which didnt really help for this exam. Are your physics exams mostly theoretical ?

So how does one study for a theoretical or conceptual exam ? Does anyone know of an additional resource for conceptual/theoretical questions?

To be honest yes, most of my tests were theoretical. I should clarify this though, I took "SUPER UNGODLY 25 IS AVERAGE" calc based physics at BU and to be blunt my tests there were "Generate the equation for velocity given that you will know mass, acceleration, etc." I got blind sided by that since I was expecting you know, actual numbers. I guess you could specifically seek out problems in the book that cover generating and proving equations.

At UMass Boston they were still theoretical but more along the lines of "I want to know X, I have measured the following values Y, Z, W, U, T,... What's the answer?" So basically you had to under stand the concept, see what you actually needed and throw away the rest. I guess the best way to study for that is make sure you can do the "plug in the numbers" version but then see how you could plug in a formula to replace one of the values. You know, so you'd get used to the idea that you might not know acceleration directly but from some other formula using time and position deduce it.

Anyway, I'm not sure I helped that much.(Guess the end result is make sure you can do the higher number problems in the book. Old tests are also good as others have said.)

 

[aunaturel]

plugging in "made up" numbers might be helpful in solving theoretical problems, but i must ask how one could solve any problem without knowing the theory behind it? I would think that people who are less math-inclined tend to look at the quantitative aspect of physics moreso than the actual theories and concepts behind it (probably cause they're a little worried about the math). but if you know the physics, the math will come, i promise. good luck..