Best Way to Study for the Physics GRE?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around strategies for preparing for the Physics GRE, focusing on study materials, methods, and personal experiences. Participants share their approaches, resources, and concerns regarding the exam.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Homework-related, Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests going through a University Physics text cover to cover and completing all exercises as a preparation method, while also emphasizing the importance of practice tests.
  • Another participant recommends using flash cards for memorization and highlights the value of working through old tests, particularly the 2008 and 2001 exams, as they are similar to the current format.
  • A different contributor advises obtaining an extended edition of a freshman physics text and working through its chapters, in addition to reviewing practice exams and their solutions from a specific website.
  • One participant expresses confusion about what constitutes an "extended edition" of a freshman physics text and seeks clarification on its content.
  • A later reply confirms that the level of modern physics covered in a typical freshman text is likely sufficient for the Physics GRE.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the usefulness of flash cards and practice exams, but there is no consensus on the best study method, as different approaches are suggested and discussed.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the effectiveness of certain study materials and methods, and there is a lack of clarity on the specific content and level of difficulty of the recommended texts and resources.

Who May Find This Useful

Students preparing for the Physics GRE, educators looking for study resources, and individuals interested in effective study strategies for standardized tests in physics.

"pi"mp
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Hi all, sorry if this thread already exists. I am just wondering if going through a University Physics text cover to cover and doing all of the exercises is a good way to prepare for the physics GRE? I know I should also do many practice tests of course.

I'm pretty worried about this test; I am nearly a straight A student in both math and physics and my knowledge of math makes a lot of advanced topics like QM, Q. field theory, etc make a lot of intuitive sense but somehow, basic physics problems can throw me off sometimes! I know it's weird. I certainly didn't care as much when I was taking rudimentary physics as I do now.
 
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I took it in April, and will be receiving my score soon. I'd recommend getting and memorizing these flash cards (http://www.phys.cwru.edu/flashCards/)

They're free, and I remember answering some questions just because I had it memorized from the cards. I'd also do all of the old tests and make sure you know how to do all of the problems in the 2008 and 2001 tests as those are very similar to the current one.
 
Get an extended edition version of a freshman physics text and work through the 40-something chapters. Then go over the practice exams and their solutions (grephysics.net).

I also got the flash cards from Case Western and they're great, although some of the material is more advanced than what you can expect to find on the actual exam.
 
Thanks a lot guys! I just ordered the flash cards. Ballistikk...what do you mean by an extended edition freshman physics text? I believe my freshman physics text had 40 something chapters that went through vector algebra all the way to QM and even a chapter on basic cosmology. Is that what you mean?
 
"pi"mp said:
Thanks a lot guys! I just ordered the flash cards. Ballistikk...what do you mean by an extended edition freshman physics text? I believe my freshman physics text had 40 something chapters that went through vector algebra all the way to QM and even a chapter on basic cosmology. Is that what you mean?

Yep, that's it. The level of modern physics you'll see on the PGRE is most likely covered there.
 

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