Courses

IBDP

• Physics SL and HL

GCE A-Level

• Physics AS and A-Level

GCE IAL

• Physics IAS and IAL

AP

• Physics 1 and 2
• Physics C (Mechanics)
• Physics C (Electricity and Magnetism)

HSC

• Physics

IB MYP

• Physics

IGCSE

• Physics (9-1)

Tips of learning physics well

Many people fear physics because it is an abstract subject. Yes, it’s abstract in the first place. It needs more effort to master it.

Some people would feel interested in physics after reading some popular science books. They even think that it is the best way to learn for physics exams. However, this approach is not feasible in general. You would probably understand the qualitative treatment, but not the quantitative treatment that is required in examinations. You seldom learn the formulas from these books, which constitute the main content to be examined.

To learn it well, don’t simply put numbers into a set of formulas. This oversimplifies the learning process. Instead, you should understand the derivation process of the formulas. Which assumptions have been used? Which physical properties have been applied? These are the questions you must ask yourself during the derivation process. When you can derive the formulas given by the textbooks, you’ve got the idea of the formulas.

Another important approach is practicing more multiple-choice questions before long questions. Multiple-choice questions are often well designed to test your detailed understanding of the concepts. If you get them correct, you’ll be a lot relieved with your long question performance.

I needed a few years to realize these tips. So you’ve just learned them in a few minutes!