I am currently a sophomore who is taking Physics Honors. Out of the topics covered on the Physics SAT, I have not learned capacitance, ray optics, physical optics, and heat and thermodynamics. We touched on but didn’t fully cover circular motion and simple harmonic motion. I am going to take AP Physics C: Mechanics next year. Should I take the physics SAT
Augusto 2019 or take it June 2020 as I am finishing up AP Physics C: Mech? Or is there a better time to take it?
What are you currently scoring on practice test?
There is no point in waiting, as those topics are not covered in AP Physics C: Mechanics. So your options are:
• Study those topics on your own and take the Subject Test after you have completed or
• Take a different Subject Test
I couldn’t find any practice tests online, so I did the 36 practice problems on the college board website. I missed most of them (20 problems yay). Out of those, 5 were because even though I knew the concept, I didn’t have the equation memorized to solve it, 7 were because I haven’t learned the concept, and the remaining 8 were things I have learned but need refreshing on.
Edit: @VickiSoCal
I was planning on possibly getting a tutor or something so I can learn stuff over the summer and be prepared for the August test. I have to take a science subject test and I’m leaning towards physics because some engineering colleges like to see the physics subject test, so I don’t think taking a different test would be an option.
Edit: @skieurope
Good idea.
Take the one that you will score the best. I am unaware of any college that requires physics (certainly not in lieu of chem, as an example). If physics is your potentially highest score, then by all means pursue. But don’t feel you are locked in.
One of the biggest differences from the AP chem and physics tests and the subject tests is the AP tests have a formula sheet and the subject tests do not.
The AP tests focus on knowing how to use those formulas, not memorize them.
That is one of several reasons why students sometimes do not do well on the subject tests after preparing for APs.
My D certainly covered circular motion, simple harmonic motion, heat, thermo and capacitance, at a minimum, in AP Physics C. Most are called out by name on the College Board’s AP Physics C Course Description.
I don’t see a reason to take a Physics test when you still have a Physics class, which covers many of the topics, on your future schedule.
The OP is asking about Physics C: Mechanics, not Mech & E&M. Topics like thermodynamics and optics are not covered at all on the exams so are not part of the standard syllabus for Physics C, although teachers may introduce them as topics post-AP exam. By contrast, a course covering just mechanics will likely only go into E&M if time permits.
Thanks everyone! I’m probably going to go with spending the summer to prep either by myself or with a tutor for the August test date.