What’s on the SAT Physics Subject Test?
The SAT Physics Subject Test contains 75 multiple-choice questions, and the time
limit is 1 hour. The topics covered (which are listed below) are those most likely
to be studied in a standard college-prep level high school physics course. The
following list includes the major topics covered on the SAT Physics Subject Test,
along with the corresponding chapters in this book and an approximate percentage
of the questions on each.
Approximate Percentage of Major Topic Questions
Mechanics (Chapters 2– 4 , 6 – 8 )
Kinematics, Dynamics, Energy and Momentum,
Circular Motion and Rotation, Vibrations and SHM, Gravity36–42%
Thermal Physics (Chapter 5)
Temperature and Heat, Kinetic Theory, Thermodynamics6–11%
Electricity and Magnetism (Chapters 9– 13 )
Electric Fields, Forces, Potentials, Magnetic Fields and Forces,
Electric Circuits, Electromagnetic Induction18–24%
Waves and Optics (Chapters 14 and 15 )
General Wave Properties, Doppler Effect, Reflection and
Refraction, Interference, Diffraction, Polarization, Ray Optics15–19%
Modern Physics (Chapter 16)
Quantum Phenomena, Atoms, Nuclear Physics, Relativity6–11%
Miscellaneous
History, Overlapping Questions, Graph Analysis, Measurement,
Math Skills, Astrophysics, Superconductivity, Chaos Theory4–9%
Since you have only about 45 seconds (on average) to answer each question, you
won’t be surprised to find that the math on the SAT Physics Subject Test is pretty
straightforward; any mathematical calculations that do come up require no more
than basic arithmetic, algebra, and trigonometry. The numbers will be simple,
because you are not allowed to use a calculator on the test, and no formula sheet is
given (or can be brought). You also cannot bring scratch paper; all scratch work
must be done directly in the test booklet.
How Is the Test Scored and How Well Do I Need to Do?
On this test, each of the 75 questions is followed by 5 possible responses (A