<p>Anyone else taking it or have taken it already? Any tips on it? I'm taking it this Monday, and I'm scared as heck. I don't know if I remember enough about the topics they cover. Does it go into detail or just the concept?</p>
<p>Was searching for Cal Tech stuff and found this....I haven't taken it but I was preparing to take it. I think it is not that bad if you remember stuff that u learnt in ur math/physics etc classes. I have a friend who transfered from CC to Cal Tech last yr.</p>
<p>How was the test?</p>
<p>Horrible.</p>
<p>I expected it to be something like the SATs... Something you can't prepare for. As such, I didn't prepare much.</p>
<p>Instead, it was fairly discrete questions about math and physics concepts that I probably couldn't have answered even if I was currently in a physics class. There's no calculators or notes allowed, and the numbers are ridiculously huge (you'd expect them to be small since there's no calculator allowed). Physics is my worst subject, so some of my distaste can be attributed to that, but math is one of my best subjects and I somewhat stumbled through the math portion as well. Overall, if you're well prepared and you know all the main concepts of Physics (3 semesters) and Math (Calculus + Differential Equations + Linear Algebra) you'll do fine.</p>
<p>Although, due to the informal nature of the test, I wonder how important it is in admissions. Once you're done with the test, you hand it to your teacher who puts it in an envelope. There's no succint instructions, so my teacher decided to hand the envelope to me so I could go mail it.</p>
<p>I don't need to point out the obvious chance to change my answers. I didn't cheat on it because I'm pretty sure I'll get denied even with the best of scores, but if I was a borderline candidate without morals I wouldn't have hesitated to crack it open and do all the problems over with a book and calculator next to me.</p>
<p>Hey, a few questions:</p>
<p>Is there a different transfer test for freshman and sophomores?
Is there any multivariable calculus?
Chemistry or Biology? (Caltech students do take one biology course)</p>
<p>indie_boy, as for your friend, did he have any research? What math and physics courses was he taking? Also what university did he go to? Caltech accepts more people out of community colleges than from 4-year colleges probably because they are more determined to succeed.</p>
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I expected it to be something like the SATs... Something you can't prepare for. As such, I didn't prepare much.
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</p>
<p>All exams are preparable. SATs are preppable too - you ned to know some strategies to get to know them. And Caltech exams are based on content, not IQ and any exam with content should be preppable.</p>
<p>Different tests for freshman and junior transfer... No clue about sophomores.</p>
<p>For the transfer test, all of calculus is covered (including multivariable) as well as Differential Equations and Linear Algebra.</p>
<p>No chemistry or biology... Just physics.</p>
<p>And regarding the preperable part... Yes, I know that you can technically prepare for the SATs, but I meant it in a more general way. I'm sure you realize that studying for the SAT is a completely different ballgame as compared to studying for a Chemistry test covering the last 3 chapters. You cannot cram for an SAT, and while you can take prep courses, you aren't learning any new material.. You're refreshing what you already know VERY well.</p>
<p>Similarly, I expected the CalTech test to determine if I know the basic concepts of calculus et al. But, no, it was more like the chemistry test... I would've benefitted greatly from cramming.</p>
<p>simfish, I don't know him that well...But he came from India and attended Mission Community College for 2 yrs. He finished all math, all physics series, CS series @ the CC. He had a straight 4.0. It is amazing how a CC student from a relatively small CC transfered to CalTech.</p>
<p>If you plan to take the test, I highly reccomend to really learn your subjects in deapth. Generally, closely reading the text book and practicing helps a lot.</p>
<p>I see. So he didn't have any research,eh? Though being at a 4 year institution might actually put me at a disadvantage since I would have a less valid reasont o transfer.</p>