Our class is only ~50% done with the Physics B curriculum!!

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
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<p>We have done everything except the following: Oscillations and gravitation, Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics, Waves and Optics, and Atomic and Nuclear Physics. We are currently working on Waves and Sound and will probably only be done with optics before the AP exam. That leaves around 40% of material that we haven't covered. How much should I start studying each day for the AP exam? I have Barrons 3rd Ed. and PR 2007 for AP Physics B and my College Physics (Serway,Faughn) text book. Should I use these books conjunctionally or should I just focus on one? </p>

<p>What section that I've listed above should I study first?? I've taken a practice exam and I'm skipped tons of questions (around 20) relating to thermal physics and optics and some nuclear physics. Which sections that I listed in the first paragraph are the easiet to understand? Should I just study the according to the content outline that lists the percentage of expected problems that will appear on the exam? What should I do? Thanks.</p>

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<p>bump i need to know as well</p>

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<p>I was going to get gmail, but I didn't get gmail.</p>

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<p>our class is done with like 25%</p>

<p>we should all gather together one complaint and send it to AP central to fire our teachers</p>

<p>just like list out our schools and the city and send them all in one email to those people at AP central</p>

<p>well i'll start - Glen A. Wilson HS (hacienda heights, california)</p>

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<p>=P I know some teachers are lazy and don't teach anything at all. However, I love my teacher and he's a good teacher. It's just that we focused on Newtonian Mechanics and the first 35% of the concepts for too long and left the hard and complex stuff at the end. I struggled through the 1st semester too. =/ I guess I have to try to cram the rest all in. Does anyone have any advice they can give me about what I've wrote at the top? I don't know where I should start. I want to study as efficiently as possible. Thanks! =]</p>

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<p>aww feel sorry for you guys - we're finishing the last topic: nuclear and atomic physics :)
but i heard the barrons ap phys book was decent .. didnt hear any good things about pr physics b though</p>

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<p>Should I worry about depth or breadth at this point? Should I simply go over the equations and basic concepts of each section with the cost of not understanding the concepts in depth or should I focus more on depth than breadth and really dig into the concepts? What should I study after waves?? Thermo and fluid?</p>

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<p>Are there any closely related chapters/concepts from the topics that I have listed in my expository paragraph? I need to know which ones I should study first just incase I run out of time. Also, at what rate do you think I should study each section so that I can finish and understand. Leaving out a section would probably be okay. Thanks!</p>

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<p><a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/physics_b/topic.html?physicsb%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/physics_b/topic.html?physicsb&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>There's the outline.</p>

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<p>yes but I dont' know what I should do now. Check off outline items, read the book , read the review books, do practice problems, do released exams. what should I do!!</p>

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<p>you guys arent THAT screwed, you are around 70-75% done with the material and considering u only need ~65% to get a five, u can just cram the last 25-30% and know the other stuff GOOD then on test day use ur guessing skills for the MC u dont kno and jot down random equations on whatever u dont know for the free response ...a five is very within your reach</p>

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<p>You guys are fine. Don't read the book (too long), read the review books and practice a little and you'll be fine.</p>

<p>We finish next week and will have 3+ weeks to review.</p>

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<p>umm, i studied for that test the night before without taking the class, and I easily got a 5. Don't worry about it. If you know algebra, a few formulas, and have some basic common sense, you are fine.</p>

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<p>Wow, I didn't know so many people were in the same boat.
There are only about 6 people in the 2 AP physics classes at my school (meaning, total of about 45 people) actually taking the AP test, so everyone else just fools around, so the learning is pretty minimal.</p>

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<p>my physics class is actually an honors physics class where most of the students are taking the Physics B exam. Our teacher told us that we will be done with everything except for Atomic and Nuclear Physics...</p>

<p>If you have already taken Honors Chemistry, then the Atomic and Nuclear Physics part should be mostly review (or that's what my teacher told us)</p>

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<p>We've already finished the B material and are going to work on some SAT subject test topics after the AP tests (good thing I already know most of them cuz im preparing for it already)</p>

<p>I heard in a lot of schools they dont finish all the required information by the time the test comes along. Just use one of the study guides to get a general understanding of the remaining topics. Gravitation/Waves should be a greater concern than something like Nuclear Physics though. Also, I hear if you get a 50+/100, you're guaranteed at least a 4 or maybe a low 5.</p>

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<p>Wow, I thought the AP Physics at my school was bad but we're done with 75% of the material and starting Waves and Optics. Probably won't get to Atomic and Nuclear Physics though.</p>

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<p>If one has taken Honors Chemistry, all one needs to do is look over Mechanics. Briefly.</p>

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<p>Anyone else have any advice? Thanks!</p>

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<p>In our Physics B class we're finishing up Modern Physics, and our teacher's been giving us past free response questions every other week as our tests. If you still have an entire section or two to go, you NEED to study more on your own. It's a tough exam (I don't even want to know how many FR I have gotten Ds and Cs on), and if you want to get a five you'll have to take learning into your own hands.</p>