<p>I usually don't consider myself a "math or science" person but I decided to challenge myself this year and take AP Physics B. I've been doing very well and have had an A average in the class all year (two periods, both semesters) and I've never slacked on homework, quizzes, tests, studying, etc. I feel I "know" the information and the general themes of the topics. However, as the exam is drawing closer and closer, I'm feeling kind of nervous (especially since I need a 4 for college credit). My class has started doing some VERY intense review, which I think will be extremely helpful (we're doing practice multiple choice and free-response starting from ~1973). Do you guys have any general tips for the exam (what topics I should REALLY know, "tricks" that may give a lot of students trouble, general test taking strategies, etc.)? Also, am I correct in believing the percentage needed to score a 4 is ~60%?</p>
<p>learn and memorize basic equations such as centripetal force and F=BIL. Other than that, just go through some practice tests in order to diagnose where you are weak. If you ever feel like you never really learned something all that well, now is the time to go over/learn it.</p>
<p>I would like to know many of the answers to these questions too.</p>
<p>oh yeah and you pretty much have to know everything (except relativity, you might only need to know the basic ideas if anything at all), but i guess that doesn't really help.</p>
<p>Thanks! Yeah, I'm definitely memorizing the basic equations. I'm trying to rely on the table of information as little as possible. Magnetism is a weakness so I'll go and review that section more. We kind of glossed over nuclear physics, radioative decay, etc.; how often does this material show up on the exam?</p>
<p>there's for sure going to be one or two MC questions about nuclear physics. I don't remember a FRQ last year being on nuclear physics.</p>
<p>Thanks! Any more tips, advice, etc.?</p>
<p>Ah, I'm really bad at magnetism as well. How many questions are there on magnetism?</p>
<p>lol mechanics and electricity&magnetism in total make up a big part of the test.... so you should try to get better at magnetism haha</p>
<p>Thanks, I'm definitely working on those areas now. The AP Biology teacher at my school was a master at predicting the exam FRQs and knew exactly which topics would show up; anyone want to take a shot at AP Physics B?</p>
<p>This one practice test I took had a lot of questions concerning torque. :/</p>
<p>I think the physics FRQ is a lot harder to predict, since there usually is a little bit of everything...</p>
<p>btw Blazer, do you know what your bio teacher predicts to be the FRQ topics for BioAP this year?</p>
<p>Ouch. I got my practice AP Physics B exam back today and barely got a 3 :( I guess this stuff just doesn't make since to me. I think I answered far too many questions on the MC wrong and lost few points that could've helped my score. I'm freaking out right about now because this is the first exam where it seems that my efforts are pointless and the exam day is only in a couple weeks. Plus, another student in my class easily got a 5 without any preparation...</p>
<p>SunPenguin, sorry but the AP Biology teacher at my school doesn't teach here anymore; but the new teacher is one of her good friends so I'll ask one of the students in the class if they have any information.</p>
<p>ah our class hasn't even started reviewing yet..maybe next week?
i'm getting really nervous too since i haven't been doing well in class(nuf said :/ )
any advice for the free response questions? heh my brain likes to freeze during physics chapter tests. how many practice tests would i need to do ? how do you prep/ study usually? i still don't get exactly how ppl study for physics. yeah,freaking out over here too!!</p>
<p>My class already did the 1998 practice test and next week we're doing the 2004 practice test. I think there are about 160 points on the test and to score a: 3=54-82, 4=83-106, and 5=107+ (my numbers may be a little off). My teacher reccommends getting about 30-35 out of 70 points on the multiple choice (because the multiple choice is flat-out difficult, I guess) and scoring the rest of the desired points on the free-response section. My advice on the free-response section: don't leave any question blank, whether you just write down some formulas or draw free-body diagrams. Although my class is doing some very intense review, I'm going to probably read through the Princeton Review book and my notes over the next couple weeks. Anyone want to share some advice?</p>
<p>my teacher said he will finish our last lesson the friday before the monday ap exam.
sweet!</p>
<p>I finally understand the right hand rule! I feel like such an idiot for not getting it for so long.</p>
<p>I guess the textbook was just bad, because I understood the review book's (PR) explanation almost immediately.</p>