<p>I really suck at Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. I knew this all along, but I didn't discover how badly until now. On a recent AP practice test, I did worse than 20%, which is approximately what I would have gotten if I had just guessed. Knowing this, I plan to guess on the AP exam on Monday.Yes, I know I am a failure.</p>
<p>So, I am asking you what are your random guessing strategies. If I guess truly randomly, I have a chance of scoring much higher than 20%, but I also have a chance of scoring much lower. I was considering just selecting one bubble, say, D, and filling in only that, which would give me somewhere between 15% and 27% I think, having seen answer distribution on other tests. </p>
<p>What would you do?</p>
<p>You do realize that you get -1/4 of a point for every one you got wrong? So essentially with truly guessing you’d get close to 0 points.</p>
<p>1 answer correct + 4 incorrect answers= 0 points</p>
<p>I would suggest that you attempt to eliminate at least two answers. If you’re not enabled to do that, it might be best to just skip the problem.</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<p>There are three problems. You are enabled to eliminate two answers on each problem. Logically, you would be able to answer one of them correctly. </p>
<p>1 point for the correct answer+ -1/2 for the incorrect answers= positive net gain</p>
<p>Eh 20% for E&M? It is a hard exam, but.</p>
<p>Think about it this way, you’ll probably get 2-3(50% is a 5). Seeing as you’re going to MIT, it doesn’t really give credit, so just don’t take it. </p>
<p>At this point cramming won’t help. I mean I’m really bad at physics too, and I got 70% on a practice test, so I’m cramming so I don’t get a borderline 4.</p>
<p>EDIT: btw did you do FRQs? Or was that just MC? Because I can understand if you bombed with just MC…</p>
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<p>You’re contradicting yourself.</p>
<p>^Well they good people here got close to 100%, so… (I think one got 98% and another 95%) Go figure.</p>
<p>Warts, good general advice, but if I followed that, I would have to skip every question. </p>
<p>Meadow, you may be bad in your eyes, but you are a physics god in comparison to me. I got 40% on the Mechanics half of the practice AP and 11% (yes, 11%, 4 correct out of 35, though I ran out of time on the last 7) on the E&M half.</p>
<p>We do a ton of FRQs in class and for homework. I do well on some of the Mechanics ones, but I just stare at the E&M ones. The teacher grades them on completion though, or else my grade would be shot.</p>
<p>My school requires that I take it. This is going to be so bad.</p>
<p>For confused, how tf did she get into MIT people: I applied and was accepted early, so they’ve never seen my physics grades.</p>
<p>The 0.25 point subtraction perfectly corrects for random guessing.</p>
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<p>And if your prospective college doesn’t offer AP credit, why are you stressing over the exam? Just curious, if you’re struggling with Physics C, how do you think you’re going to fare at MIT?</p>
<p>EDIT: I stand corrected.</p>
<p>I was already in the 5 range. (But that still doesn’t mean I’m *good" at physics. I have better shot, therefore I’m cramming. She’s trying to pass. No advantage to cramming in my eyes.</p>
<p>Not sure if that cleared the confusion.</p>
<p>Would your school enable you to cancel your score?</p>
<p>@Ladyjacket42: I think, with MIT’s lenient policies for freshman grading, especially on GIRs (require classes), I should be able to get by in Physics with a Pass, especially given that it’ll be my second time around.
But it was one of my major concerns. </p>
<p>Warts, I’ll have graduated, so I don’t think they could stop me.</p>
<p>^ Honestly, if taking an introductory level of physics at MIT is the worst possible outcome, I think you’ll be okay.</p>
<p>How did you get into MIT if AP Physics is challenging for you?</p>
<p>And honestly at this point, I’d be less worried about random guessing than actually understanding the AP Physics material. Because AP Physics is far easier than MIT Physics lulz.</p>
<p>Ok, based on the AP Exam, I would recommend you remember basics of E&M if possible. Educated Guessing is key.</p>
<p>I am not good at physics either, so I know how you feel! Do not randomly guess. Study and know that you at least were able to control what you got. And the point of the -0.25 for each wrong answer is to ensure that you get a 0…</p>
<p>Interestingly enough, MIT is the reason that I got really good at the AP Physics C material. Walter Lewin’s lectures rock. =P</p>
<p>Random guessing doesn’t help or hurt. 95% of the time, you should get no benefit +/- 5 questions (based on a 45-question exam), both directions with equal probability. However, it gets much much better if you can actually eliminate some choices (and usually, for most questions, you can eliminate at least 2 options with a little common sense).</p>
<p>Walter Lewin is a beast. His lectures are thorough to me and I can learn from him.</p>