Top 4 Tips to Take a Physics Exam at Your University
Physics is largely understood to be part of STEM. This means that it falls under the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Physics is largely a science that studies the structure of matter and how important elements of the universe work together. Physics, therefore, requires problem-solving skills that can be developed and enhanced by constant and continuous practice. It has concepts like theoretical, mathematical calculations, and laboratory experiments. All these concepts, therefore, make physics very challenging, and performing well in it requires a vigorous and robust plan. This article aims at elaborating in detail on four major methods that you can use as a student to ace your physics exams. We will discuss the points under four major categories.
Attend Physics class without fail.
You should aim at attending your Physics class without fail. This helps you interact with your lecturer and seek help when needed. The class session act as a compass that offers direction on how to grasp new concepts. It is also important to note that most professors set in the exams content that they have taught or tackled in the classroom. Take note of the examples given in class by your professor since in most cases they tend to repeat the same in the exams. It is also paramount to understand the concept being taught in the said class. Therefore, be an active student in the class and ensure to engage your tutor until you grasp and internalize the concept being taught. This ensures that you have not crammed the formula needed in tackling physics problems, but you have conceptualized it and you can apply the same in an exam situation to earn maximum points in your test. Attending class also helps you know where to study since you can understand the syllabus and identify the areas that you did not comprehend well and hence come up with a plan to work on the same.
Completing the assignment given.
An assignment given in a physics class should be taken and handled seriously. The assignment should be used as a tool to test whether you understood the taught concept in class. This in turn helps you to better prepare for future tests or exams in physics. Assignments are usually framed in such a way that the first section deals with concepts in your book or those taught in class. You are supposed to be in a position to handle these without difficulties or even seeking help from elsewhere. The next set of questions may require you to apply whatever concept was taught more deeply. This means that they are not directly from your course book. These may be a little bit challenging which is fine and hence help may be required. This help may be in the form of teaming up with your fellow course mate to brainstorm and come up with the solution to the said problem. By completing assignments in time and doing them thoroughly you find that a majority of the questions in the physics exam become easier since they are in most cases set from the assignments given
Prepare and revise well for the physics exam.
To succeed in any aspect of our study life, proper preparation is paramount. This is no different when it comes to the physics exam. Prior and thorough preparation is a sure bet in passing your test. In the preparation phase, there are important aspects that you should check out. It is important to check and understand the structure of the physics exam, and the number of questions you are expected to tackle in the test. This can be found by going through the previous physics exams. The next step in preparation is having a calculator. As earlier stated, a physic test borrows heavily from math hence a scientific calculator is key. Also, make sure to rehearse and practice how to correctly use the calculator to solve physics questions. Physics tests also have special formulas make sure that you are familiar with the formulas and their application beforehand. Care should also be taken to ensure that the correct formula is used to solve a particular question since a mix-up when using the formula will lead to missing the marks set for the question. These aspects if ignored may lead to disorganization on the exam day and mostly limit your potential to perform to the maximum.
Physics also requires you actively partake in preparing. This, therefore, implies that you have to study the content taught in class and note down the key topics. Practice makes perfect and passing the physics exam comes in handy. You should do physics-related problems every day to develop the skills needed to ace your physics exam. Eventually, you will realize that you can answer Physics questions more quickly and accurately while also developing problem-solving abilities. Coming up with better revision techniques will also help in improving your skills. For instance, correctly solving questions from past papers goes a long way in preparing you for the physics tests. Identify your weak areas and pay close attention to them when revising. As you work on your weak areas, do not overlook your strong areas. Make it a habit to polish these areas once in a while too. This will give you more self-confidence, which ultimately will make it simpler for you to manage and effectively handle the exam.
Understand and follow instructions.
When undertaking a physics exam, great care and attention should be given to the instructions required to tackle the paper. Many students overlook this aspect or do not follow them in the same hence denying themselves valuable marks. Most physics tests are divided into sections. Section 1 mostly has compulsory questions which require short answers. You should do all the questions in this section. They are mostly theoretical questions hence you should score maximumly in this section. Part 2 has longer questions that require a more in-depth analysis. Each question should be read keenly and take time to internalize what the questions require before attempting the same. Take extra note of the keywords used in the question these will help you answer the question extensively. These keywords may include: explain, state, derive, estimate, and differentiate among many others. Also, take note of the number of questions you are required to answer. Tackling more questions than required will not earn you extra marks. Also, use the time given skillfully since this is an aspect of instructions that the majority of the students do not adhere to. Do not overstay on one question for long at the expense of other questions. Questions requiring diagrams should also be handled with great precision. The diagrams should be visible and clearly labeled. Formulas and derivations are very key in passing a physics test. They should therefore be used correctly and where necessary shows how you have arrived at the answer given using the said formula or derivation. Finally, before submitting your answer sheet goes through, it checks for any errors that you may have committed either grammatical or errors with the formula.
Conclusion
To excel in physics therefore you should have a detailed plan of how to go about the same. With the above-discussed core points, if followed the latter, you can be sure that the results will be better sooner or later. Sleep and rest are also important aspects to put into consideration as you work on passing your Physics exams. Eat well too!