<p>I've had school for four weeks and physics is by far the worst class I'm in. (I'm in two other APs, and my Psych (although considered regular) is pretty fast paced/almost honors level).</p>
<p>I have an 88.8 in the class as of today, but we have a two-day test starting tomorrow and I ** cannot ** get a B on my report card. Any advice on how to survive?</p>
<p>I’ve taken physics honors and currently am taking AP Physics C
and the most general advice I can offer is to:
-memorize the formulas that you need
-list what you are given in the problem
-draw a diagram if needed
-write what you are looking for, being careful to note the units and conversions
-rearrange the formula, if needed, to fit what the problem asks for
-plug everything in</p>
<p>I have given the advice on the assumptions that:
-you are being tested on word problems and not conceptual free response
-you are not provided with a formula card</p>
<p>hope this helps and good luck</p>
<p>I took physics last year- it was very difficult but i was able to get an A.
-If you have labs, make sure you get 100% on all of them. They help you really understand the concept and they will raise your grade a lot if you do them right.</p>
<h2>-to practice for the tests, you should do many different types of problems that all use the same concept/ formula. THat way you will see all the possible styles of problems that will be on the test.</h2>
<p>You should have a physics textbook that you guys use for class. That textbook should have tons of problems for you to solve after every section/chapter. Do these. I absolutely recommend you try them if you are struggling. By struggling to solve these problems, you get a better understanding for the subject material. You learn how to apply formulas and concepts into these worded problems that will not only prepare you for your tests, but help you cumulatively in the future, as everything you learn in physics comes back in different sections. </p>
<p>Also, depending on your teacher, your test may have problems similar to those of the textbook’s, or perhaps even easier problems than them. If you have done the problems, then the test will be no problem to you. Even if the textbook problems appear difficult, persevere and work diligently. Ask yourself: Do I really want an A in this class, or am I just pretending to want an A? If you agreed with the former, then you will attempt your textbook’s problems.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>
<p>I’m in the same boat as you I’m in physics honors, and the teacher is notorious for being brutal. All I can say is the textbook can be your best friend.</p>
<p>Your semester is over tomorrow?? That’s messed up.
Or do you get report cards every month or something? We only get them at the end of each semester.</p>
<p>Anyway, it’s all just formulas. Do a couple practice problems so you can see which formulas to use for the different types of problems. Then you’ll be set for the test.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice guys…I’ll definitely try the book, but half the teachers in our school pass out the book and collect it 9 months later. No reference to it in between lol.</p>
<p>@bobtheboy: We get report cards every nine weeks. I still have a few weeks before the end of the first marking period, but our teacher gives tests and grades that make a difference only every few weeks. I don’t know if we’ll have another test (that will make the difference) before then…and the little things are barely even noticeable :/</p>
<p>Write down the equations… find the one/s that fit the problem… plug the numbers in and watch the magic.</p>