physics examinations – 2013

PHYSICS EXAMINATIONS – 2013

Bruce WalshChief Assessor

REMINDERS

Study design and textbooks

Examiners report

VASS system

SSMS

On line marking

GENERAL ADVICE Mark allocation

Writing implements

Multiple attempts

Logical set out of working

GENERAL ADVICE Explanations must address specific

question. Writing everything can lead to contradictions. Dot points good. Diagrams and formulae can help.

Show working

Use unit in answer box

GENERAL ADVICE Show numbers substituted into

formulae

Formulae (including derived) must be correct

Calculators – sci mode, no truncation

Rounding

GENERAL ADVICE Answers as simplified decimals

Significant figures

Vectors should originate from point of application

Realistic answers

A

SPECIFIC CONCERNS Vectors in Newton’s second & constant

acceleration equations

Connected bodies

Energy conversion and conservation

Unit conversions

More complex projectile motion

SPECIFIC CONCERNS Series circuits

Confusion with Faraday’s and Lenz’s laws

Understanding of flux and EMF

Photoelectric effect

Path difference in interference

Distinction between matter & electromagnetic radiation

2013 2012 (June)

2012 (Nov)

Students 7041 7082 7082Mean 54% 63% 60%

Median 54% 66% 62%Std

deviation 24% 23% 22%

STATISTICS

STATISTICS

2005 Jun

2005 Nov

2006 Jun

2006 Nov

2007 Jun

2007 Nov

2008 Jun

2008 Nov

2009 Jun

2009 Nov

2010 Jun

2010 Nov

2011 Jun

2011 Nov

2012 Jun

2012 Nov

2013 Nov

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

MEAN %

SCALINGGRADE 2013(%) 2012 Jun 2012 Nov

A+ 86 91 89A 76 84 82

B+ 65 77 73B 53 68 62

C+ 42 57 50C 32 46 40

D+ 22 36 31D 14 28 22

E+ 7 20 12E 4 11 9

1b) 40%

2b) 27%

5b) 43%

6b) 43%

6b) 43% cont

6c) 15%

6c) 15% cont

7a) 40%, 7b) 36%

7c) 41%

8a) 49%, 8b) 38%

12b) 43%

15d) 35%

17b) 45%, 17c)27%, 17d) 24%

17b) 45%, 17c)27%

17d) 24%

20a) 37%, 20b) 44%

21a) 41%, 21b) 33%, 21d) 26%

21a) 41%, 21b) 33%, 21d) 26% cont

22a) 47%, 22c) 32%

23a) 35%, 23b) 37%

PROBLEM AREASDETAILED STUDIES

DETAILED STUDY DIFFICULT QUESTIONS(<60% correct)

Relativity 2,3,6,7,8,10,11Mat & Struct 5,7,8,9,10Electronics 2,3,4,6,7,8,10,11Synchrotron 2,3,7,8,10Photonics 1,3,7,9,10,11Sound 6,7,11