I’m prepping for the SAT Physics test this Saturday! I was wondering if anyone had any insight to how difficult the questions typically are on the test.
Are the questions on this difficulty level? Or are they harder/easier?
https://subjecttestspractice.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-subject-test-preparation-physics?practiceTestSectionIDKey=Subject.PHYSICS
Or if anyone purchased the SAT Physics Test Guide with two released test, do the questions resemble those practice tests?
Or if anyone used Princeton Review, does that compare?
I’m asking because although the questions in the SAT Test Guide seem to be somewhat easier than the ones in the link above. I get some feeling that the released tests might be a bit outdated ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Some final questions if you don’t mind answering:
How is the curve? For those who took it, did their scores tend to match any practice test scores they took earlier?
Also, are the majority of questions concept based, formula based, or a good mix of both?
I self-studied for the SAT Physics Test with barely any prior physics knowledge and I’m making around 750, so I just wanted to know if that score would be accurate.
Thanks!
For anyone who stumbles on this thread:
SAT Physics Test Guide with two released tests highly resemble the actual test. I thought they might’ve been outdated, but they were actually the best representation of the test. I thought the questions would be more like the ones found as example questions in the beginning of the test prep book, but they weren’t. Are the curves similar? Idk, but I’ll find out soon.
Princeton Reviews tests were a bit harder, but some of the questions from PR were actually very helpful for the actual test. PR was low-key bad at explaining some topics, so BE CAREFUL if you don’t have any prior physics experience like me. Crack SAT is very good for explaining the subject tests topics.
Hope that helps anyone!
What’s the typical range for the physics subject test curve? I know it’s relatively lenient, but I’m not familiar with the exact numbers.
@Amduseus In the legit SAT Physics Test Guide, for Test 1 a raw score of 58/75 is the lowest score that will get you an 800. Test 2: 59/75. In the Blue book w/ all the subject tests, 59 is 800
A 51 in both is a 750
A 43 in both is a 700
A 35 in both is a 650
In the blue book, its 52, 45, and 38 respectively
If you want me to specify any of these ranges, just ask, and I’ll go point by point. Physics definitely has the most generous curve from any of the subject tests I’ve seen.