GRE Physics Subject Test
Preparation Program
Saudi Physical Society
Agenda
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US graduate program in Physics
Admission to graduate program in Physics
How to select university
TOEFL
GRE General test
GRE subject test in Physics
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Content
Logistics
Test structure
Examples
Best practices for preparation
Resources
US graduate program in Physics
• Entrance exam (some)
• Graduate courses:
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level: (Jackson, Goldstein etc…)
Number: 8 – 12
Duration: 2 years
No need to have master
Comprehensive exam
Oral Exam
Thesis
Total: 5 – 6.5 years
Admission to graduate program in
Physics
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B.Sc. In Physics (3 out of 4, 4out of 5)
Master?
English proficiency (80 – 100 new TOEFL test)
GRE General test (300 total new test)
GRE Subject
3 Recommendation letters
Application fee and deadlines
Statement of interest
How to select university
• Academic Criteria:
– Research area
– Ranking
• Non-academic Criteria:
– Admission requirements
– Location
– Cost of living
– On campus family housing
– Transportation
TOEFL
• 120 full mark
• 4 sections
– Reading: 3-5 passages
• Understanding
• Meaning of a word
• Pronouns references
– Listening:
• Taking notes
• Conversation
– Writing
• Writing about one topic
• discussion
– Speaking
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Recording the grading
Speak about a topic (15 sec prepare 45 sec answer)
Listen to a conversation then answer question
Read a topic then answer a question
GRE General
• 340 full mark (6 for writing)
• 3 sections
– Verbal
•Reading Comprehension
•Text Completion
•Sentence Equivalence
– Quantitative
– Analytical writing
• Issue
• Argument
GRE Physics - Content
• http://www.ets.org/gre/subject/about/conten
t/physics
Topic
freshman mechanics
classical mechanics
freshman electrodynamics
electrodynamics
relativity
Reference
Freshman Text Book
Marion & Thornton
Freshman Text Book
Grifith
Serway Modern Physics
Laboratory Methods
Error Analysis text book
error analysis, statistics, counting
statistics, radiation detection
Serway Modern Physics
3-6 & 8-9
Freshman Text Book
Serway Modern Physics
10
quantum mechanics & atomic
Physics
Thermodynamics
Statistical Physics
Chapters
1-3 &5-12
1-9
1-2
GRE Physics - Logistics
• Dates: April – September – October
• Location in Saudi Arabia: Riyadh – Jeddah
• Cost: 150 USD
Test Dates
Registration Deadlines
Scores Available
Regular
Deadline
Late
Deadline
Supplementary
Test Center
09/28/13
08/16/13
08/23/13 08/02/13
10/28/13 11/08/13
10/19/13
09/06/13
09/13/13 08/23/13
11/18/13 11/29/13
04/05/14
02/21/14
02/28/14 02/07/14
05/05/14 05/16/14
Online
Approx. Score
Mailing Date
GRE Physics – Test Structure
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100 questions in 170 minutes
No calculator
Multiple choices
First 3 years of undergraduate
Mostly SI unites
All questions of equal value
Each mistake = -.25
Empty or more than one selection=0
GRE Physics – Test Structure
GRE Physics – Example
• Question
–1
–5
–6
–7
– 22
GRE Physics – Example 1
GRE Physics – Example 5
𝜆=
ℎ
𝑝
GRE Physics – Example 6
– n=1 , 1S2 ,
– n=2 , 2S2, 1P6
– Total 10 electrons
2 electrons
8 electrons
GRE Physics – Example 22
Rest: 𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 = 𝑚0 𝐶 2
Total = 𝑃2 𝐶 2 + (𝑚0 𝐶 2 )2
E tot = 4 Erest
4𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 = 𝑃2 𝐶 2 + (𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 )2
16(𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 )2 = 𝑃2 𝐶 2 + (𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 )2
15(𝐸𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 )2 = 𝑃2 𝐶 2
15
2
(𝐸
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=
𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡
2
𝐶
15𝑚0 𝐶= 𝑃
𝑃2
GRE Physics – Preparation
• Two types of preparation:
– Content
• Understanding
• Memorization
• Solving problems
– Test
• Type of questions
• Speed
• Real test environment
GRE Physics – Preparation
• Collect as many tests as possible
• Sort questions for 3-4 tests by topic (classical mechanics –
electrodynamics etc…)
• Try to solve one complete test
• Start reviewing each topic (as if you are having a final
exam!)
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Theory
examples
Solve all GRE questions related to that topic
Summarize special cases to memorize
• Solve as many full tests as you can in real timing
• You are ready!
Resources
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Graduate school shopper
US news ranking
Universities websites
TOEFL
GRE General & Subject
GRE Physics Forum