I’ve barely studied for my AP Physics exam. I went to a review session with my class but left 2 hours in because I hardly understood anything the teacher was saying. That’s pretty much how it’s been all year. Me sitting in class not understanding the lesson then studying for hours using That Chemistry Tutor and Khan Academy only to get a D on the test. The highest grade I’ve gotten on a physics test was a B and that only happened once! I’m annoyed with myself because I think I have my first C in that class for this semester and when I try to understand physics, but don’t, I feel so stupid and (a lot of the time) start crying and get overwhelmed because I’ve spent 15+ minutes on one problem.
Anyways my logic for not studying for the exam was this: I know from past experiences I study for hours and days in advance, and still fail. It makes me feel terrible. So why would I study for my physics exam only to fail it and be disappointed with myself? Especially when I have a test in English the same day, a math project, a English project, a math test, ect. that I know I can complete successfully.
Was this smart logic? My friends and family seem to disagree with me and maybe they’re right. I don’t know. I cry so much over Physics because I just don’t understand the subject and I’m so tired of putting all this work in only to fail and be mad at myself when I realize that I could have been working on something else. It’s 11 right now and my exam is at 12 tomorrow. I don’t mind pulling an all nighter and sleeping a couple hours before the exam so I can study, but is it worth it? I have a 100 pages to finish before my English test tomorrow and I know I can get an A if I just read the book, but should I study for Physics instead?
I really don’t know what to do at this point. Any advice is appreciated.
Go to bed. Get a good night’s sleep. There’s no benefit to last minute cramming.
AP Physics is a hard class, and I truthfully don’t think you’re going to understand any new concepts, or benefit from reviewing those that have already been taught at this point. If you have hit a wall (and I think you have), I think you should move on at this point and work on the subjects that you will be more successful at. Your AP score will not affect your final grade, and your teacher probably has a realistic idea about how you will perform on this test. Unless you’re planning on a STEM major in college, I would let this one go. Good luck!
you meant the AP Exam, not the one in you school, right? I would not show up if I know I will get a score of 1 or 2.
What Sci classes you had before you signed up for AP Chem & AP Physics?
Hopefully you’re in bed right now, but if not or if you read this in the morning…
Get plenty of sleep, because you’ll need it. Study for your English test; at this point, it’s a lost cause for physics. There’s no shame in that because it’s a very hard class (about 60% of students get a 1 or a 2 on AP Physics 1).
When you take the AP test tomorrow, try to get as much partial credit as you can by writing down appropriate formulas, stating that momentum and/or energy are conserved, using Newton’s second law (force=mass*acceleration), checking greater/less than if there’s an option, etc. Look at all parts of the problem to see if maybe you can solve something (if you need a number you haven’t calculated yet, like mass, you can plug in whatever in the following parts and still get credit). If there’s a graph, draw it. Make educated guesses on the multiple choice questions.
Realistically, you’ll probably get a 1 or a 2, but stranger things have happened. Study for half an hour if you still have time and then go to bed.
“left 2 hours in because I hardly understood anything the teacher was saying.”
If you’re, at best, a C student in this class, why are you taking the test? If you’re a stem wannabe, the grade hinders chances at many colleges no matter what score.
If it’s a school requirement to test, just take it. Don’t send it to colleges.
Pick your college targets wisely.