<p>Is anybody else preparing for the F=MA exam this month? </p>
<p>How are you preparing?</p>
<p>Any suggestions from alumni? </p>
<p>How prestigious is it to make it to the next round?</p>
<p>I’m really hoping for some alumni advice. My study plan is as follows: I’m doing the Barrons AP Physics C Mechanics prep book just to learn the basics, and then the problems in Introduction to Mechanics by Kleppner and Kolenkow (I tried starting with this, it is pretty difficult), and if I have time, Physics by Example by Rees. As of right now, I have introductory knowledge in the first few chapters of AP Physics C. I got a 5 on AP Physics B and AP Calc BC.</p>
<p>I did all the odd problems in my AP Physics B textbook (it has solutions and I also got a 5 on the exam!) Then I did 80% of all the problems in a book called 3000 Solved Physics Problems. Now I’m working in Giancoli Practical Applications of Physics and I also did all the 2008-2013 tests. I’m also going to redo the tests until I can get a perfect. I’ve gotten to the point where I’m capable of solving around 17-20 problems on the test, but I usually end up with 15 or 14 right due to nervousness and low confidence in my problem solving ability. The problems on the past exams except 2013 really aren’t difficult. It’s just some of the questions are presented in a unique way.</p>
<p>Thanks Radbg74. With a week and a half until the exam, I’m just gonna finish up the AP Physics C prep book and do as many F= MA exams as possible. Last night I took one and got a 13.25… I hope I can improve a few points within a week.</p>
<p>Also, how’d you get the 2008 - 2013 tests? I only found 2007 - 2010.</p>
<p>Have you taken the exam in the past or is this your first time?</p>
<p>First time.</p>
<p>I’d usually get around a 14 (I dont answer questions I’m unsure of and don’t know how to do, so I only end up getting one or two wrong). I did them all a while back. I recently retook them and the highest I got was like a 23 with an average of around 20. (Note: when I redo them, if I don’t know how to do the problem and can’t explain the concept behind the question, but still remember the answer, I don’t answer it. This help gauge my conceptual ability better.) </p>
<p>My main problem is that if I look at a problem and I don’t know how to do it right away or if it seems unfamiliar, I get nervous and I don’t think straight. On almost every test, when I review it with my dad, I discover at least 2 questions I was capable of answering had I calmed down. Also, if the test was like two hours, I’d be much more comfortable. 75 minutes is just barely outside of my comfort zone. (a lot of the questions on the test are unique variations of problems in textbooks. i.e. block sliding down an incline, ballistic pendulum, etc)</p>
<p>You can find the 2008-2013 tests online on the aapt website. Here’s a link. <a href=“https://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/2014/exams.cfm[/url]”>https://www.aapt.org/physicsteam/2014/exams.cfm</a></p>
<p>It’s kind of hard to improve with because the tests are all different and you won’t really know what to expect. I’m just hoping that this year will be like 2008. That was one of the easier tests as well as 2012. Which test did you get a 13.25 on?</p>
<p>I got a 13.25 on 2007. However, I’m a reckless guesser. I have to improve my methods. And lucky for you that your dad helps! I went over the exam with my physics teacher, and I similarly found a few problems that I overthought because they were unfamiliar. </p>
<p>For example, I sometimes try to use complicated kinematics formulas when I could’ve used work-energy methods. I’m assuming you’re retaking the exams because you’ve already taken them all? </p>
<p>There are some specific topics I need to review. I need to memorize moments of inertia for different objects, review escape velocity stuff, and memorize some SHM formulas. I have until the 31st, fortunately.</p>
<p>I just took the 2012 F=ma test for practice. Number 13 is just so dirty</p>
<p>We are so lucky we aren’t in China…
I did some Chinese physics problems LOL
I did 30 of them and got 3 right
They are unbelievably difficult</p>
<p>BTW what is typically a good score to advance with? I’m getting in the 13-17 range (just got 15 on 2013) and I don’t know if that is good enough or not.</p>
<p>I wish I knew how to do buoyancy problems…</p>
<p>^ density compared to water.</p>
<p>yeah, you’ll probably be fine if you score a 15.
how did you get a 13 on 2012 and a 15 on 2013? i thought 2013 was much harder</p>
<p>Has anyone taken it?</p>
<p>The first problems in 2013 were definitely harder than most in 2012, but I thought that most of the ones after that weren’t that bad. I’m mostly just trying to learn the format.</p>
<p>Let’s keep the discussion off the test for this year until Feb. Last year, when I took the USNCO, I posted that I had finished the test and I was spammed by people trying to bait answers out of me. It’s annoying and dishonest. There is no reason to say that you have taken the test at this point (since you can’t discuss the content).</p>
<p>Yeah, you’re right. How are you going to study until you take it?
There really isn’t much time left and I’m not quite sure how to spend it</p>
<p>my god this is irritating, i keep making careless mistakes
I should have gotten an 18.5 on 2007, but I got a 16 (I answered 21 and missed 4) 2 of the ones I missed were due to stupid mistakes. I misread a question as greatest to least, in stead of least to greatest and I also thought that gravitational potential energy was GmM/r^2 instead of GMm/r. ***</p>
<p>Hi everyone! </p>
<p>I’ve also signed up for this. How are you guys preparing so far? I heard the cutoff for semifinalist last year was a 12 or so, which seems pretty crazy low out of 25. </p>
<p>I should probably start getting ready too, haha. I don’t know why I signed up for this instead of USABO, considering I’m much more of a biology person anyway. Oh well, we’ll see.</p>
<p>@Coriander, I haven’t taken the F=ma exam for 2013, but I heard it was much harder than usual. The typical cutoff score is 15. </p>
<p>I’m taking it on the 31st, which gives me a good week for prep. I don’t know if you guys have taken it already, but how would you prepare if you had a week left? </p>
<p>I am using an online abridged pdf of what Radbg used (Schaum’s 3000) out of desperation because it’s the best resource I can lay hands on right now. I’m re-reading Giancoli Physics (an AP Physics B textbook) and reviewing an AP Physics C prep book. Finally, I’m taking all of the practice exams.</p>
<p>Wow, ScrewCC, I’m using the same Giancoli book as well lol.</p>
<p>I think Schuam’s 3000 is the best resource available anyway. A lot of its problems are extremely difficult and some of the problems are similar to past tests. How have you done Coriander23 and ScrewCC on past tests? You guys are lucky you still have tests to take…I already did them all like 3 weeks ago… such a bad move</p>
<p>Took it today</p>
<p>ugh</p>
<p>sigh</p>
<p>wut do</p>