The countdown is on; there is only 60 hours until Physics. Just 3 more sleeps. That’s crazy close, and with all the content you need to understand, a whole bunch of us are probably feeling pretty intimidated right now. That said, you’d be surprised what you can get done over a weekend; here are our suggestions on how to spend the weekend getting yourself prepared for the HSC Physics Exam.
1. Learn your Terminology
I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again; the key to success in HSC Physics is knowing what all your jargon means. Understanding your terminology doesn’t just mean you’ll understand the content; it means you’ll have the right words to express your ideas when the pressure is on.
There are heaps of ways for you to get this done, but with 60 hours until Physics, let’s keep it simple. Once you’re done reading this, go and make some palm cards. Terms on one side, definitions on the other side. Take an hour, grab the important terms from your notes and/or your textbook. Then put them to use! Memory games, get someone to test you, all that good stuff. Whatever you’ve found works best to lock stuff in the brain, use it. A little hint, you memorise things best in the hour before you go to sleep! Use that time for some serious revision.
2. Those Who Can’t Do, Teach!
One of the hardest things about Physics is being able to convince the marker that you know your shit. You can think you know it yourself, but getting that knowledge on paper in a way that makes sense (within the lines!) is a tough feat. With 60 hours until Physics; what is the best way to get practice of clear, concise explanation?
Easy; teach the content.
There’s that old stat that you’ve probably heard of; you remember 80% of what you teach. Not sure of how accurate that is, but the main idea stands strong. There is no better way to test your knowledge and really make it stick than teaching it to someone else.
Obviously a few Physics mates are a great candidate here, but don’t leave it just at them. What better to test your explanation of Special Relativity, then to try and explain the basic ideas of it to someone who’s never learned it before! I used to explain basic Physics concepts to my girlfriend. If someone with a non-Physics background can understand it, that’s proof that you can explain it clearly. Hell, grab a younger sibling! Or even just teach to yourself!
3. Practice, Practice, Practice
Yep, you knew this was coming. With 60 hours until Physics, you must be finding time to practice exam style questions. HSC Papers are best, or re-do your Trial, or any other questions you can get your hands on.
You’ve got full two days left! Try doing at least one past paper per day, including marking and follow-up on areas you find troublesome. If you only have Physics to study for in the immediate future, then you might have time for two! The more practice you have of answering questions under pressure, the more confident you’ll feel walking into that exam on Monday.
Got Questions? Get them Answered!
Physics is a tough subject, and sometimes you just can’t wrap your head around something. No stress! Come ask Band 6 tutors and your fellow peers in our Physics Question Thread to get your questions answered! Don’t walk into the exam with regrets, get help now!
Best of luck for the exam on Monday!
