Examinations sir, are pure humbug,

from beginning to end! If a man is a gentleman, he knows quite enough, and if he is not a gentleman, whatever he knows is bad for him.
--Lord Fermor, in A Picture of Dorian Gray By Oscar Wilde

The Physics Majors Users Guide

to the GRE

The Physics Majors Users Guide

to the GRE

GRADUATE RECORD EXAMINATION

The Physics Majors Users Guide

to the GRE

Grim Reaper Experience

Outline
What is the GRE?
Who, What, Where, When, Why & How Much?

Scores and what they mean Preparation Strategies for the Physics Subject Test

GRE: General Test

Analytical Writing:
Present your perspective on an issue (45 min)
Present your perspective on one of the topics below, using relevant reasons and/or examples to support your views Both the development of technological tools and the uses to which humanity has put them have created modern civilizations where loneliness is ever increasing.

GRE: General Test

Analytical Writing:
Analyze an argument (30 min)
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument: Forestville increased the speed limit for vehicles traveling on the region's highways by ten miles per hour. If the citizens of Forestville want to reduce the number of automobile accidents on the region's highways, they should campaign to reduce Forestville's speed limit to what it was before the increase.

GRE: General Test

Verbal (30 questions, 30 minutes) Quantitative (28 questions, 45 minutes) A pretest and possibly a research section

GRE: Physics Subject Test

100 multiple-choice questions, 170 minutes Classical Mechanics: 20%
Newtonian Mechanics Lagrangian and Hamiltonian Mechanics Orbital and Harmonic Motion

GRE: Physics Subject Test

Electromagnetism: 18%
Electrostatics and Magnetotstatics Maxwells Equations AC/DC circuits Fields in matter

GRE: Physics Subject Test

Quantum Mechanics (12%) and Atomic Physics (10%)
The Schrodinger Equation Spin and Angular Momentum Bohr Model and Atomic Structure/Spectra Blackbody radiation

GRE: Physics Subject Test

Thermodynamics and Stat. Mech.: 10%
Undergraduate Thermodynamics Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics Variables Kinetic Theory and Ensembles

GRE: Physics Subject Test

Waves and Optics: 9% Special Relativity: 6% Laboratory Methods: 6% Other random physics stuff: 9%

Logistics
Who?
You and thousands of unfortunate souls across the country.

Why me?
Graduate school admission, and fellowship applications

Logistics
When & Where? General Test:
Prometric Testing Center 6755 Mira Mesa Blvd, Sorrento Plaza, Suite 136 San Diego,!California!92121

Logistics
When & Where? General Test:
San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive, Student Services Bldg. San Diego,!California!92182

Logistics
When & Where? Physics Subject Test:
UCSD, SDSU, USD Test Date November 13, 2004 December 11, 2004 April 2, 2005 Registration Deadline October 8, 2004 November 5, 2004 February 25, 2005

Logistics
How much (will it cost me)?

Item General Test Physics Subject Test

Cost $115 $130

Additional Score Reports $15 each + $6 phone fee

Scoring
Score Verbal Quantitative Physics 550 - 600 750 - 800 650 - 900 Percentile 65 - 85 > 80 45 - 90

Scoring
Physics Subject Test
Score 900 800 700 600 Percent correct 73 59 45 32

Preparation
Free downloadable software GRE POWERPREP Summer class here at UCSD
12-15 hours planned for the summer 2 practice tests with feedback FREE! Contact David Norris if you are interested in the program, dmnorris@physics.ucsd.edu