Physics
Content of Program
Students will notice that the Physics test requires them to apply their knowledge in distinctive and perhaps unfamiliar ways; the diagnostic test results help tutors direct their presentation of the relevant formulas and facts to the individual student. Success on the Physics test is determined primarily by the student's physical intuition, mathematical facility, and problem-solving skill. Accordingly, our program is geared to ensuring the student strengthens all three.
Initially, classical mechanics is explored in depth through subtle problems that encourage thinking in terms of conservation laws and symmetry rather than sequential cause and effect. That emphasis furnishes a context for a unified treatment of all subsequent material, from thermodynamics to atomic physics. Through a combination of study, memorization, and practice, students learn physical facts and processes while focusing on specific problem-solving skills. In the weeks before the official test, the emphasis of our program shifts to particular test-taking methods and approaches. Students then take timed practice tests to gauge progress, identify remaining gaps, and predict scores.
What Kind of Exam Is It?
- The Physics Subject Test emphasizes relationships among physical concepts more than calculation or the use of formulas.
- Calculators are not permitted on the Physics Subject Test.
When Is It Taken?
- Students can take the Physics Subject Test on any of the six official SAT Subject Test dates: October, November, December, January, May, and June.
- Typically, students are concurrently enrolled in a physics course at school and thus take the official test in May or June, near the end of that course.
- Less frequently, students elect to take the test in October or November of the fall following the end of a high school course. In such cases, preparation should begin no later than the beginning of July and continue throughout the summer.
| Section | Number of Questions | Type of Question | Content | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 12-16 multiple choice | Batches of 2-4 related questions, with a shared pool of 5 choices common to that batch |
|
1 Hour |
| B | Approx. 60 multiple choice | Standard 5-choice |
Anything Else?
Please see our general information about the SAT Subject Tests for details about the length of the program and other topics.
For additional information about preparing and registering for the Physics Subject Test, follow the link below to the College Board's website:
External Link: http://www.collegeboard.com (link will open in a new window)