<p>I want to take the Physics SAT II in October of 2011.
I am a junior and currently taking normal Chemistry and Pre-Calc.</p>
<p>I have NEVER taken any physics course, only studied very basic formulas (D=RT).
I will be taking AP Physics my senior year, but plan to take the SAT II before then.
I am willing to spend a lot of time studying for the test over the summer, but i need the right books to study from. </p>
<p>What are your recommendations for Self Studying Physics in preparation for the SAT II test?</p>
<p>I would obviously need the normal SAT II Subject Test guides (i.e: Barrons, Kaplan, PR),
but would I need something further such as an ACTUAL physics textbook to learn the concepts? Or would the reviews be enough?</p>
<p>I personally think that simply reviewing some textbooks/review books is not sufficient for studying a course like physics. I personally would recommend labs and thoughts from a teacher or someone who understands physics, as it’s not something that you just self-study. Just my thoughts, at least.</p>
<p>Get the Princeton Review Physics SAT II Book. It should suffice. Most of the concepts on the test are pretty easy to grasp, save for a few obscure questions (such as relativity), but I doubt that a general physics textbook would have that anyway.</p>
<p>For physics, self-study will be pretty tough. Sure, if you’ve got a good grasp of physics already, it won’t be too bad, but some of the concepts have subtleties that you’ll really need a tutor or class to help you with.</p>
<p>Its going to be tough. Even for physics savvy AP students (such as myself and classmates), it can be difficult to pull out a score of over 700 or so. If you are serious about this, then you need books AND a tutor. Person is preferable, but I would check out Khan Academy on youtube. He covers everthing from newtonian mechanics to fluids to capacitance. </p>
<p>Just a heads up, less than 50% is the basic newtonian mechanics (first semester-ish AP physics.) X=VT or as you said D=RT might only show up on 1-2 real questions. I’d say its about 1/3rd conceptual and the rest is application of the basics (such as newtonian mechanics/work/energy) to more advanced topics like induced currents and such.</p>
<p>It will be tough, but if you really want to do it, do it.</p>
<p>PS
Taking a SAT II after taking an AP Exam is a breeze - take the June/May subject tests for the corresponding courses you studied in.</p>
<p>it’ll be tough, but it could be possible. i just took the physics sat ii after pretty much completing my honors physics class, and it was pretty difficult…</p>
<p>Alright so here’s how it went:
I studyed for the two months of summer, July and August, almost 50 pgs a day, reading the practice problems and jotting down the important equations. I had NEVER taken a physics course before, and just grabbed a couple textbooks from online and school.
I also used sparknotes, princeton review. Long story short, I studied my rear off all summer, and took the Oct. test. </p>
<p>I got a 720.</p>
<p>I’m happy with this score, especially considering I was railing through the books, just barely keeping them in my head. I found the test very conceptual and not a lot of number crunching was involved. (you can’t use a Calc) but anyway, I want to thank the people above for the support and reccomendations. It was definitely hard, but I did it.</p>