Physics – SAT Subject Tests Physics Overview and Practice Questions

Generally, Students searching “how can I get an 800 on the physics SAT subject test”. So, Learn what’s tested for SAT Physics from. We updated essential information about each SAT Subject Tests Details on this spot. And the detailed description of the SAT Subject Tests Physics can be found on the College Board website.

SAT Subject Tests Physics
SATSubjectTestsPhysics

SAT Physics

The SAT Subject Test in Physics measures your ability to solve specific problems with the application of physical principles. The Physics SAT 2 test also assesses your understanding of simple algebraic, trigonometric, and graphical relationships, the concepts of ratio and proportion, and how to apply these concepts to physics problems.

Topics Covered

Below is the College Board’s list of which topics are covered in SAT Subject Tests Physics.

CONTENTAPPROXIMATE % OF TEST
Mechanics

Kinematics, such as velocity, acceleration, motion in one dimension, and motion of projectiles

Dynamics, such as force, Newton’s laws, and statics

Energy and Momentum, such as potential and kinetic energy, work, power, impulse, and conservation laws

Circular Motion, such as uniform circular motion and centripetal force

Simple Harmonic Motion, such as mass on a spring and the pendulum

Gravity, such as the law of gravitation, orbits, and Kepler’s laws

36–42

Electricity and Magnetism

Electric Fields, Forces, and Potentials, such as Coulomb’s law, induced charge, field and the potential of groups of point charges, and charged particles in electric fields

Capacitance, such as parallel-plate capacitors and transients

Circuit Elements and DC Circuits, such as resistors, light bulbs, series and parallel networks, Ohm’s law, and Joule’s law

Magnetism, such as permanent magnets, fields caused by currents, particles in magnetic fields, Faraday’s law, Lenz’s law

18–24

Waves and Optics

General Wave Properties, such as wave speed, frequency, wavelength, superposition, standing waves, and Doppler effect

Reflection and Refraction, such as Snell’s law and changes in wavelength and speed

Ray Optics, such as image formation using pinholes, mirrors, and lenses

Physical Optics, such as single-slit diffraction, double-slit interference, polarization, and color

15–19

SAT Subject Tests Physics Basics

Scoring, Timing, Number of Questions
PointsMinutesQuestions
Total score: 200–to–800 scale6075 (Multiple Choice)

Important Points

  • SAT 2 Test offered in October, November, December, January, May, and June
  • Candidates are not allowed to use a calculator during the test
  • questions cover topics emphasized in most high school courses; because of course differences, most students will find that there are some questions on topics with which they are not familiar

Questions require you to

  • Recall and understand the major concepts of physics and to apply these physical principles to solve specific problems
  • Understand simple algebraic, trigonometric, and graphical relationships and the concepts of ratio and proportion, and apply these to physics problems

Recommended Preparation

  • one-year introductory physics course on the college preparatory level
  • laboratory experience—a significant factor in developing reasoning and problem-solving skills—even though this test can only measure lab skills in a limited way, such as data analysis.

Click Here for SAT Subject Physics Facts & Formulas

SAT Subject Test Physics: Preparation Books

  • Cracking the SAT Physics Subject Test, 15th Edition
  • Barron’s SAT Subject Test Physics
  • Kaplan SAT Subject Test Physics 2015-2016

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