GRE Subject Test:
Physics
Overview
• What the test is like.
What the test is like
• Test Prep
• Testing Tips
i
i
The Test
The Test
• 100
100 multiple choice questions
multiple choice questions
• 170 minutes
• No computers, calculators, integral tables, l l
i
l bl
ect…
• Constants are given as well some hard to calculate numbers, i.e. ln(pi)
The Test
The Test
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1. CLASSICAL MECHANICS 2. ELECTROMAGNETISM 3. OPTICS AND WAVE PHENOMENA 4 THERMODYNAMICS AND STA
4. THERMODYNAMICS AND STA‐
TISTICAL MECHANICS
5. QUANTUM MECHANICS
5. QUANTUM MECHANICS 6. ATOMIC PHYSICS 7. SPECIAL RELATIVITY 8. LABORATORY METHODS 9. SPECIALIZED TOPICS: 20%
18%
9%
10 %
12%
10%
6%
6%
9%
The Test
The Test
• Your Score
Your Score
– +1 point for right answers, ‐1/4 points for wrong answers 0 points for blanks
answers, 0 points for blanks.
– Raw score from 0‐99
– Scaled score from 200‐800
Scaled score from 200‐800
Preparation
• Take the practice test.
Take the practice test
• Take another practice test.
• Repeat
Preparation
http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/Physi
http://www
ets org/Media/Tests/GRE/pdf/Physi
cs.pdf
http://happyquark.com/2009/02/24/physics‐
gre‐practice‐exams/
i
/
http://grephysics.net/ans/
Preparation
• Dedicate
Dedicate as much time as possible to studying.
as much time as possible to studying
• Get with friends to study together • When taking a practice exam, treat it as the h
ki
i
i
h
real thing. • Avoid learning entirely new subjects
Tips
• Time
Time is valuable, don
is valuable don’tt waste it day dreaming, waste it day dreaming
using the bathroom, smoking ect…
• Do the easy ones first. Do the easy ones first
– First thing after getting the test is to read through it quickly and immediately answer the ones you
it quickly, and immediately answer the ones you know you know. – Only then go for the ones you think you know and Only then go for the ones you think you know and
finally progress to the ones that require difficult calculations
Tips
• Its
Its often quicker to start with the answer and often quicker to start with the answer and
work backwards
– Eliminate those with the wrong units
Eliminate those with the wrong units
– Eliminate those with the wrong sign or variable dependence dependence
– Use “back of the envelope” calculations to find the right order of magnitude
the right order of magnitude
– Use symmetries
– Use common sense
Use common sense
Tips
• Use
Use your resources wisely
your resources wisely
• Your scratch paper is yours. Don’t worry about it making sense to others
about it making sense to others.
• Don’t memorize questions unless absolutely necessary.
• Guess when appropriate. Questions?
http://www physicsgre com/
http://www.physicsgre.com/