Bad Answer Number 2: “Let me use my crystal ball to tell you exactly what types of
problems will show up on this year’s free-response exam. Study these.”
I know teachers who think they’re oracles ... “An RC circuit was on last year’s test, so it won’t be on this
year’s. And, we haven’t seen point charges for two straight years, so we’ll definitely see one this year.”^1
Suffice it to say that a teacher who is not on the test development committee has no possible way of
divining which specific types of problems will appear on the exam, any more than a college basketball
“expert” can say with confidence which teams will make the final four. And, even if you did know which
topics would be covered on the free-response section, all of the other topics must appear on the multiple-
choice section! So don’t choose your study strategy based on an oracle’s word.
Good Answer: Do a Cost-Benefit Analysis
You know how much time you have left. Use that limited time to study the topics that are most likely to
increase your score. The trick is identifying those topics. Start with honest, hyperbole-free answers to two
questions, in the following manner.
Imagine that the AP Physics Genie^2 has granted you two boons. You may choose one type of problem
that will be tested on the free-response exam; and you may choose one type of problem that will not
appear on the free response. Now, answer:
- What topic or problem type do you ask the genie to put on the exam?
- What topic or problem type do you forbid the genie to put on the exam?
If you are extremely comfortable, say, solving kinematics and projectile problems, why would you
spend any time on those? It won’t hurt to give yourself a quick reminder of fundamental concepts, but in-
depth study of what you know well is a waste of valuable time. On the other hand, if you’re un
comfortable with, say, Energy-Position diagrams, then spend a couple of evenings learning how to deal
with them. Study the topics you’re afraid will appear; relax about those you’re best at.^3
This is an important point—don’t study so broadly that you don’t get good at some specific type of
problem. Use Chapter 8 ’s drill exercises, or the end-of-chapter examples in this book, or some similar
handout from your teacher, or a subset of your textbook’s end-of-chapter problems, to keep practicing
until you actually are hoping to see certain types of problems on your test. That’s far more useful than just
skimming around.
For the mechanics exam, focus your preparation on Chapter 16 , Rotational Motion. For the E&M
exam, understand how to use Gauss’s law and the time-varying circuits: RC, RL, and LC.
Though there are other subtopics that are unique to Physics C, extra preparation on these topics will
probably benefit you the most, because they are (a) far enough removed from first-year material that they
truly require extra work and (b) understandable with a reasonable amount of supplemental study.
Have a Plan for the Exam
When it comes to the last few days before the exam, think about your mental approach. You can do very
well on the exam even if you have difficulty with a few of the topics. But, know ahead of time which
topics you are weak on. If you have trouble, say, with electric fields, plan on skipping electric fields
multiple-choice questions so as to concentrate on those that you’ll have more success on. Don’t fret about
this decision—just make it ahead of time, and follow your plan. On the free-response test, though, be sure
to approach every problem. Sure, it’s okay to decide that you will not waste time on electric fields due to
point charges. But if you read the entire problem, you might find that parts (d) and (e) are simple F = qE
questions, or ask about some aspect of electricity that you understand just fine.