Physics Readiness Exam
Math Qualification Test for Introductory Physics – Physics 111 or Physics 220
In addition to meeting course prerequisites, students wishing to enroll in Physics 111 or Physics 220 must demonstrate adequate competence in mathematics by achieving a satisfactory score on the Physics Readiness Exam.
This exam will be given twice.
The first offering for Physics 111 and Phys 220 for Summer Session 2012 will be on Wednesday, May 30, 10:00-11:00 AM in SCI 101
There is no fee for the test and you do not need to sign up ahead of time.
The second offering will be
during the first week of classes, either at the first lecture meeting or the first lab meeting. If you take the test the first time and do not pass, you may take it again
at the second offering.
You must take the test even if you have taken it in a previous semester. Scores are not carried forward. The passing score is established by the department faculty. It is our experience that students who cannot pass this test will not be able to successfully complete introductory physics, and therefore will be dropped from Physics 111 or 220. Students who fail the readiness test should review in preparation for the next time the course is offered. See references below for study purposes. Math 109 and Phys 101 are SFSU courses that are recommended for preparation.
The readiness exam covers the following topics:
- Exponents, roots, and scientific notation - ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and take powers and roots of variables and numbers expressed in scientific notation.
- Algebra – Ability to solve linear and quadratic algebraic equations, including use of the quadratic formula. Ability to solve for one variable in terms of other variables. Ability to solve a set of two simultaneous equations.
- Geometry – Basic knowledge of angles, triangles, perimeters and areas of figures.
- Trigonometry – Ability to use sin, cos, and tan functions and the Pythagorean theorem.
- Graphing – Knowledge and ability to work with graphs of linear and quadratic functions, including understanding slopes and intercepts and ability to write the equation for a straight line based on knowledge of the coordinates of two points on the line.
- High-School Physics – Some elementary questions at the level of high-school physics courses.
No outside aids, including calculators, are allowed.
Brief lists of relevant formulae and relationships may be found in the back of many introductory physics textbooks.
There are several math review books that might be helpful in preparing for this test, such as:
- Maths, 2nd edition, by Jenny Olive (Cambridge University Press, 2003), ISBN: 0521017076
- Just-in-Time Algebra and Trigonometry, by Guntram Mueller and Ronald I. Brent (Addison-Wesley, 2004), ISBN-13: 9780321269430
- Precalculus – A Self-Teaching Guide, by Steve Slavin and Ginny Crisonino (Wiley, 2001), ISBN: 978-0-471-37823-5
There is a very useful on-line course that you can use to prepare for the readiness test.
Go to the ALEKS web site and sign up for Math Prep for College Physics, course code
RX9RN-M9JRV (Phys 111 Summer 2012)
ATTL6-Y6LTQ (Phys 220 Summer 2012)
NVPND-XJ6VA (Phys 111 Fall 2012)
AMNGF-CXLRP (Phys 220 Fall 2012)
The cost is $30 for six weeks of access.
