Study Tips for Physics Tests: Overcome Low Scores & Improve Grades

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around strategies for improving study habits and test performance in physics, particularly in the context of challenges faced by students with learning difficulties. Participants share their experiences and suggestions for effective study techniques, exam preparation, and overcoming anxiety related to testing.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses frustration with consistently low test scores despite various study methods, including tutoring and self-study.
  • Another participant suggests that anxiety during exams may impact performance and emphasizes the importance of calming techniques.
  • A participant shares their grading breakdown, indicating that tests have the highest weight, and notes that they feel confident in homework and labs but struggle with tests.
  • One suggestion includes using post-it notes and note cards to display key equations and concepts as a study aid.
  • Another participant recommends writing down all givens in a problem and relevant equations to avoid being misled by tricky questions on tests.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of experiences and suggestions, with no consensus on a single effective study method. Some agree on the importance of organization and preparation, while others highlight the role of anxiety in test performance.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention various personal challenges, including language barriers and test anxiety, which may influence their study effectiveness and performance. The discussion reflects a diversity of approaches and experiences without resolving the underlying issues faced by students.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for students struggling with physics tests, particularly those facing learning difficulties or test anxiety, as well as educators seeking to understand student challenges in exam settings.

blackbyron
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Hello, I'm now enrolled in a class that talks about charge, electric field, magnetic field, and inductance. I really need help on how to study smart for physics test. I've been studying physics for 2 weeks until the test. Every time I took it, I still get the low scores on the test. The teacher give me a problem that'll make me confused and tricked me on the test. I need the ways to overcome this.

I have an expressive language and receptive language disorder, and maybe that affects my learning because of language barrier.

Here's are the study ways I have tried so far.
I had tutoring, but not much help on the test.
I did my best to try and understand all the concepts by going all over the notes and go on internet to research on specific topics that I don't understand.
I tried to do hard practice problems and make sure I understand it.
I made sure that I don't study the wrong material.
I tried to follow somebody's study plan who got better grades than.

None of them have helped me to improve my grade. I'm expecting an B or A. I get D's, C's.

Anyhelp will be appreciated it.
 
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are your grades based on exams or course work so to speak. Some people just freak at exams and then its more about learning how to calm yourself.

If its the other do you feel like you understand things after revising or taking notes, i found that i would put key equations or basic notes i needed to remember i put on post its and note cards all over my walls
 
tashalustig said:
are your grades based on exams or course work so to speak. Some people just freak at exams and then its more about learning how to calm yourself.

If its the other do you feel like you understand things after revising or taking notes, i found that i would put key equations or basic notes i needed to remember i put on post its and note cards all over my walls

My grades are based on labs, homework, and tests.

Homework I understand it, labs = okay, test --> not really
HW 25%
labs 15%
tests 60%
I feel like I understand most of of things. My teacher allows me to have 2 page of cheat notes on the test. I put down all formulas, all basic concepts, and some practice problems. Still, I don't understand why I'm not getting the grade I deserve. Making mistakes that I don't know on the test puts me off. I need a way to overcome this.
 
What helped me was to write ALL givens in the problem. When they gave me the charge on the capacitor, I would circle it, then continue reading the problem. After I finished reading the problem, I would write down everything I circled and tried to see what the problem wanted me to, after I see what the problem wanted me to do, I'd write down the equation that would fit.

If you write down all the givens from the problems on the test,along with the relevant equations, then it'll be hard to be tricked!

Good luck.
 

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