How Your Knowledge Will Be Tested
There are three different levels on which your understanding ofphysics may be tested. While questions on kinematics often require thatyou make use of some of the formulas for kinematic motion, questions onquantum physics or atomic structure may often ask just that youremember the name of a particular concept. Knowing the different waysin which your knowledge may be tested should help you better prepareyourself for the exam.
Recall (20–33% of the test)
These are questions of theeither-you-know-it-or-you-don't variety. They test your understandingof the basic concepts of physics. No equations or calculations arenecessary for these questions. They’re simply a matter of knowing yourstuff.
Single-Concept Problem (40–53% of the test)
These questions expect you to recall, andmake use of, one physical relationship, formula, or equation. Thismight involve plugging numbers into a kinematic equation of motion, orit might involve recalling the equation E = hf and solving for E or f. These questions test to see if you know important formulas and how to apply them.
Multiple-Concept Problem (20–33% of the test)
These questions expect you to bring togethertwo or more different relationships, formulas, or equations. This couldinvolve bringing together two formulas from the same subject—forinstance, a problem in linear momentum that requires you to calculatethe momentum of an object before a collision so that you can calculateits velocity after the collision—or it may bring together formulas fromtwo different subjects—for instance, a problem that involves anelectric point charge moving in circular motion in a magnetic field.These questions test not only your knowledge of physical relationships,but also your ability to integrate more than one in a complex problem.
You're probably thinking that the recallquestions are the easiest, and the multiple-concept problems are thehardest. This isn't necessarily true. Most people have an easier timebringing together two simple principles of mechanics than recalling thesignificance of the Rutherford experiment. You'll find all three typesof questions throughout the test, and at different levels ofdifficulty. Ultimately, every question tests the very same thing:whether you've grasped the basic principles of physics.
