I went from A+'s in biology and chemistry to getting a C+ on physics midterm

Pre-College Topics High School Cafe
1

I don’t know what’s going on. I think I’m good at math, and I’ve always been good at science. I got A+ in both bio and chem average. I’m doing terribly in physics this year, and I don’t know why. I study for hours (read over the note packet, and practice the problems), but I still do badly on the tests. Please help me, I don’t know what to do.

2

Not all sciences are created equal. Lots of bio/chem people have trouble with physics and lots of physics people have trouble with bio/chem. You and I are in the first category, and for me it wasn’t because I was good at math, it was because I had trouble with the conceptual aspects.

Talk to your teacher. Go over a few problems you got wrong and WHY you got them wrong. Try to show what your thought process was and then they’ll know where you messed up and what you should have done instead. If it’s a simple math error, that just means going over your work more carefully. If you chose the wrong equation or set it up the wrong way, that’s a conceptual misunderstanding they can clear up.

Form a study group, if you haven’t already, where you can talk out problems and show each other why the right answer is right.

Find someone to talk at. I call my mom before bio exams and talk through all the concepts, because she is one of the least-sciency people you will ever meet. If I can explain evolution or respiration to HER, I know I really get it.

Physics isn’t going to come as easily to you as bio and chem, but if you’re just reading over notes and doing problems, you’re passively absorbing the material and not going to have as good a grasp on the reason behind the problems.

3

I’m good at math though

4

You need to change how you study: Here are ideas:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/high-school-life/2026961-what-to-do-when-you-arent-doing-well-in-a-hs-class-p1.html

5

You can be good at math and bad at physics (or chem, or other types of math-intensive science) if you don’t understand the concepts, which is why talking with teachers, classmates, and other people is a good idea. If I were to guess I’d probably say you solve the wrong problem correctly – you use the wrong formula, or you set it up incorrectly, but you correctly solve the equation you do set up.

6

ok…