After next school year (my junior year), I would like to take three SAT Subject Tests. I will have taken Honors Precalc and should be fairly ready for Math II. Likewise I will have taken AP US History, which should prepare me for the SAT US History exam. I would like to take SAT Physics as a third SAT Subject test, as science and math are my strongest subjects. However, I will have only taken AP Physics I and will not know that information from AP Physics II. Would it be reasonable to self-study all of the information from AP Physics II for the SAT Subject Test, or should I just forget about it? If anyone could give me some guidance, that would be fantastic! Also, it would be appreciated if you recommend a prep book to study from (I was planning on getting Barron’s).
Hello. While I have not taken SAT Physics, the impression that I have gotten from others is that AP Physics 1 is not enough on its own for the subject test. You’ll have to do some self studying, specifically on optics and magnetism, but you should be well prepared for mechanics, waves, and electricity. If you study hard with an emphasis on those two areas I mentioned, you should do just fine.
I took honors physics, a dual enrollment physics course, physics c mechanics, and physics c electricity and magnetism. Let me tell you this: it was not enough. For the subject test, you need a shallow understanding of a lot of stuff, mainly mechanics. None of my classes covered optics, waves, thermal physics, or modern (nuclear, particle, relativistic) physics. I had to learn all of that on my own.
Make sure you have an intense knowledge of mechanics (stuff moving and staying still, like rocks and balls and projectile motion). If Seth53 is correct about what AP physics 1 covers, you just need to learn optics, magnetism, and modern physics in moderate detail. Honestly, optics and modern physics are pretty easy to pick up in the minimalistic detail you need for the SAT subject test.
Also, I highly recommend Sparknotes for introductory material. After that, buy a textbook and/or a prep book.
Barron’s is the way to go, especially for self-studiers. Tons of information, practice problems, and four practice tests.
AP Physics 1 is not nearly enough for the subject test in Physics (covers maybe 60-65% of the test), and there will be a lot of self-studying to be done. Biggest self-study topics (and most difficult) are Optics and Magnetism. After those, you have the smaller and easier topics (and there are many of them), such as Thermodynamics, Modern Physics, and Atomic Reactions. However, all topics on the subject test require only a superficial understanding and simple manipulation of formulas, so taking it with only AP Physics 1 is definitely viable!
Thank you for the responses! I’ll definitely study these topics, and Sparknotes looks like it will really help me through my AP course. Has anyone ever taken just AP Physics I and the SAT test and scored well before? Any experiences?
@Zdunc108 I took AP physics 1 this past year and only scored a 750 on the test. Mechanics/electricity are most of the test but many other topics are covered. Optics were a breeze, but magnetism and modern physics will kill you if not prepared. I saw at least 7-10 magnetism questions alone (and missed that many, I’m sure :))