<p>My ds will take the subject test for math II, but he needs a second test. He will have AP Physics C (I think the E&M part) next semester. How much would this help with the sat ii exam in physics? Trying to find something that aligns with the courses he will have in the spring. He has taken Calc BC and got a 5 on that AP exam if that makes any difference with regard to my question.</p>
<p>Yes, Physics C should help. In comparison, I scored a 740 on SAT Physics with only C - Mechanics (no E/M), probably could’ve gotten an 800 if I prepared more for E/M. Calculus is not required for subject tests.</p>
<p>Hmmm. Maybe it is Mechanics he is taking. Which one of those two AP courses is “easier”?</p>
<p>I just didn’t know if the subject test was more applied in nature or factual in nature. Sounds like it might be more applied which would be better for him, I think.</p>
<p>Not sure which AP is easier…I only took AP Physics C - Mechanics. E/M requires some multi-variable calculus (line integrals, Green’s/Stokes’ theorems etc.).</p>
<p>The subject tests are a little more conceptual (applied) since they don’t go very deep and ask long, difficult questions.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>I scored an 800 on the Physics SAT II after a formal course in Physics B and a self-study in Physics C: Mechanics.</p>
<p>The SAT II Physics Exam matches very well with the AP Physics B curriculum (almost perfectly, actually, plus/minus a few very minor details).</p>
<p>If he is taking E&M next semester, has he already taken (is is currently taking) the mechanics portion? Usually mechanics comes first in the AP: C sequence.</p>
<p>Either way, there are still missing topics that he will need to learn if he wants to score well, including but not limited to, optics, waves, fluid and thermodynamics, gases, modern physics, etc. Also, the SAT Physics subject test typically has a generous curve (I think you can get an 800 with like 5-10 wrong, but I don’t remember exactly).</p>
<p>However, like rspence said, there is no calculus on the exam, so your son will be overly prepared for the electricity and magnetism portion of the SAT II exam.</p>
<p>Yeah, but Physics B will be more of a help.
When I took the SAT II Physics, E&M was only like 40% of the questions.</p>