• Tests

     

    Each unit will be followed by a test.  

    The tests are as follows:
     
    1) Unit I: Kinematics
    2) Unit II: Balanced Forces
    3) Unit III: Unbalanced Forces
    4) Unit IV: Energy
    Midterm 
    5) Unit V: Projectile Motion
    6) Unit VI: Torque
    7) Unit VII: Momentum
    8) Unit VIII: Simple Harmonic Motion
    AP Physics 1 Test
    Final Exam 
     
    Tests are scaled to 100 points each.  Tests consist of multiple choice and free response questions.
     
    Tests are timed with the amount of time per question gradually decreasing for each successive test. 

    There are no test corrections and there are no retakes for tests. 

     

    Calculators

    Calculators approved by the college board for the AP Physics 1 test are approved for class tests, other calculators are not.  There is no sharing of calculators during tests. Should the student forget a calculator on test day, one will not be provided.  Students who find themselves without a calculator on test day should solve problems to the point where they need a calculator to continue.  Many students without a calculator have earned an “A” on a test by solving problems thoroughly and leaving final answers in terms of variables.

     

    Make-ups
     

    Any student absent on the day of the test will be given the test on the day they return to school.  Students missing multiple days before a test where no new content was provided are expected to make-up the test upon returning to school.  Special arrangements will be made for students who miss multiple days before a test and those days do involve new content.

    Students who are making up a test will be placed in another room while they make-up the test.  Students are not to leave the proctored room with the testing materials for any reason.  The student should not bring the test back to the classroom, but instead leave the test with the proctor if finished early.  Should a student remove their make-up test from the testing environment the test will be voided.

     

    Protocols 

    The grading of tests is very specific and it is possible for a student, despite obtaining a correct answer, to receive a very low score.  By following the guidelines below, it will ensure the student maximizes their potential score on all tests.

     

    • Solve all problems in 4-step format.
                4-Step format is as follows:
                   1) Write the necessary equation as given by the provided equation reference sheet.
                   2) Isolate the variable that is being solved for.
                   3) Fill in numeric values (when required).
                   4) Simplify and box the answer, with correct units. 
     
    • Answer the question in the space provided. 

       Of all the work provided by the student, ONLY the work given in the designated area is scored for that part of the problem.  Any work done in a previous problem or elsewhere on the page, is ignored.  Any arrows provided by the student showing what work goes with what problem are ignored.  

     
                Exceptions:
                   1) If the work from part (a) is instrumental in solving part (b), it is not necessary for the student to re-do the work from the previous part.
                   2) If the student does so much work that it begins to spill over outside the obvious boundaries for the problem, the work is accepted as long as the spill-over is obvious, clear, and within reason. 
     
    • Always attempt every part of a question, even if you do not know the part immediately before.
       Should the solution to part (b) depend on the answer to part (a), it is possible for the student to receive full credit for part (b) with the wrong answer to (a).  To do this, the student may provide an incorrect answer to (a) and use that answer correctly in part (b).  
     
                This will not work if....
                   1) The incorrect answer in part (a) is "trivial".  For example, giving an answer of 1 or 0 in part (a), which overly simplifies the solution to part (b).
                   2) The incorrect answer in part (b) is unrealistic and should be noticed by the student.  For example, giving a speed faster than the speed of light for a cart rolling down a ramp. 
     
    • Always give an answer with correct units.
       There is often a point provided for having all units on all parts of a problem correct regardless of whether or not the answers are numerically accurate.
     
    • If a question asks for a answer in terms of specific variables, make sure that you do so.
       Many problems will ask for the answers in terms of the variables given and fundamental constants.  If the student does not give the answers in the terms requested, the answers are automatically wrong, and there are additional ample opportunities for points to be lost throughout the same problem.  Never plug in sample numbers in lieu of the requested variables.  (Note: it is OK to plug in sample numbers as a way of checking ones work, time permitting, but should never be given as a solution.)
     
    • Never provide multiple answers to the same question.
       If more than one answer is given to the same problem, the answer is considered wrong even if one of the provided answers were correct.
     
                Exception:
                   On rare occasions there will be more than one possible answer and on even rarer occasions, additional credit is given for providing all possible answers. 
     
    • Do not give contradictory statements.

        If a mathematical, symbolic, or written statement contradicts itself it is automatically considered incorrect.  For example, "The planet will orbit in a counter-clockwise direction because it must orbit clockwise in order to adhere to the law of conservation of energy."

    • Make explanations clear, thorough, detailed. 

       If a question asks for a "paragraph-length" explanation, make sore that the explanation is a paragraph in length.  Answer keys are looking for (4-8) key statements and it is most common to see no more than one key statement per sentence in a standard solution.

     
    The Final Exam
     
    There will be a significant number of students who prepare for the highly rigorous AP exam only to find they need to prepare for another rigorous exam (the class final) shortly after.  In order to recognize the hard work of those students who already prepared for a difficult comprehensive AP Physics 1 test, students who meet all  of the following requirements will be taking a significantly less substantial final exam than the other students in the class:
     
    1)  The student must take the AP Physics 1 test given by the AP College Board
    2)  The student must have an average score of at least 80% on the UT assignments for the year
    3)  The student must complete and submit every worksheet from unit 9 BEFORE taking the AP test
    4)  The student must also attend at least one after school review session in April or May
     
     
    Note: There is no grade bump for passing the AP Test.