You might have several questions surrounding the study of physics - What is the teaching like? Is engineering currently the only career path? What is the exam process like? Should I spend hour after hour memorising theories and equations? Is there any point in doing it in WACE if I want to study for a business degree later?
As you can see, the questions you might currently have can be diverse and tricky. Never fear though, Superprof is here to coach you through your physics study as well as support you in finding a tutor.
No matter your experience, we will give you guidance on what view you can take to your studies, what sort of mathematics, chemistry, and science revision you can do online to complement your school subjects, and even what kind of exam preparation is needed and the kinds of jobs that are currently available for those with a physics qualification.
If you are a high school student with WACE and your ATAR in mind then you've come to the right place since we will run you through what your curriculum and lessons cover in plain English, and we also aim to help students in Perth understand how to revise with a private tutor or tutors who charge a reasonable rate, and how to make the most of just an hour or two of your time when studying physics.
For those who are already at university, either doing a pure physics or science/mathematics degree or even something further afield such as English or business, there are numerous benefits to having physics knowledge as the teaching you receive in physics subjects can answer bigger questions you may have.
So whether you are currently a high school or doing your WACE, students of physics or something adjacent like chemistry, mathematics, engineering, or even business or English, have a read through our guide to the types of courses on offer for school physics in Perth.
No matter your years of experience, a little private online learning can certainly benefit you!
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Your teaching and tuition in physics: A search for meaning
A teacher and private tutor alike will teach you that the business of your physics study isn't just about being able to ace an exam or get into a university course at Curtin. Tuition in physics takes in various elements of maths and other science, including chemistry, to take a wider view and search for answers to big questions about the universe, explained and analysed based on observable phenomena.
A semi-succinct way of describing some of the features and jobs of physics are:
Physics brings together elements of maths and science at their most basic to explain the fundamental principles of the universe. It generally focuses on matter, energy, light, particles, and motion, as well as the rate at which these occur across space and time.
This is therefore one of the most crucial sciences whose knowledge has developed over years and years to bring us the understanding we have today. It furthermore not only applies to Australia but is completely universal in its view.
In sum, the job of physics researchers is to find answers to questions that we currently struggle to articulate.
This is where the maths and science skills come in since the experience in the search for answers needs to be formulaic and replicable so that teachers will be able to impart this knowledge and remain objective years into the future.
Key characteristics of physics include:
- Energy
- Waves
- Light
- Matter
- Motion
- Elements
By being able to understand these features, tuition, either with teachers or private tutors, can be more effective, and curiosity about the discipline can be found in maths and science, as well as the daily life of students.
The subjects that your school or university will teach become more complex as the years progress, so read on below to find out what the teaching is like in physics, maths, and science-related subjects.
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Taking physics classes in high school
Understanding what a curriculum involves and how you can approach this and get help from private tutors takes some reflection. We are going to run you through the way that your physics subjects will be delivered and assessed, and then provide ways that private tuition can be helpful at this stage.
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Years 7 to 10
This is the earliest part of high school, and thus are likely to be more general in scope than WACE and have lower stakes, but will be nonetheless challenging and inspiring. This is because this is the stage where students are expected to get curious about the world around them and start to get familiar with theory and equations in reporting and analysing it.
As such, scientific theory and history are often introduced at this point, which covers chemistry, physics, biology, and to some extent psychology. Learning about how to not only solve a problem with wide implications but also recognise it and understand how its impacts are broad is a crucial skill that benefits students all the way through their education.
The topics treated here will involve independent reading and research to a certain extent, and will typically be delivered from a combination of textbook activities, lab-based experiments, and fieldwork observations.
Particular topics students are likely to encounter include:
- Motion and inertia
- Energy displacement in ions and particles
- Light observation through different surfaces
- The history of physics and Sir Isaac Newton's ideas
- Overlap with chemistry and the periodic table of elements
- Different kinds of resistance between solids, liquids, and gases
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The usefulness of a physics tutor Perth at this stage
Getting the attention you need in a classroom can be often difficult when there are 25 other students vying for the teacher's eye as well. This is why a private tutor can be such a godsend.
Not only do you get one on one attention to help boost your learning and make more sense of concepts you can't reach on your own, but you also get to learn how to work these problems out for yourself whereas you may get left behind in classes.
Specifically, private tuition will also help you focus on the equations and theories that may not seem relevant and just look like a bunch of numbers and letters to you.
One of the really great things about private tutoring is that it helps you find your own motivation by contextualising your learning in addition to bolstering your understanding of what the curriculum itself requires. This is why it can be so crucial in the early years of high school to engage a private tutor.
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WACE Physics
When it comes to WACE, it's obvious that there is going to be an exam that contributes to your ATAR at the end of it. This is also the stage where students are expected to have some idea of their own interests, as they choose their own selection of subjects at this level. A real plus about studying physics is that it scales up at a much higher rate than other subjects, meaning that you can get around an extra 10 points for studying this.
WACE takes place over years 11 and 12. The first year usually includes units 1 and 2 of your assessed study, which cover the "world of waves" and then "hot stuff". This curriculum is slightly broader, and is seen as a precursor in understanding the final year subjects.
Units 3 and 4 have "moving" and "electricity" as their core components, with a much larger emphasis on school assessed coursework also.
The assessment portion of your study is slightly different between years 11 and 12. Firstly, year 11 will have a science enquiry section which entails experimenting and investigation worth 40%, then an extended response section worth 30%, and a test also worth 30%.
The year 12 syllabus assessment involves a 30% experiment and investigation section also, with a 20% extended response task, a 35% test, and 15% externally set task which all go on to directly contribute to your ATAR.
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How a tutor can help you in WACE in your physics courses
The syllabus here is the most rigorous thing that needs your attention as there are many details and tips that you can take onboard to ace this system.
As you are ranked against your peers, what you do throughout the year counts, not just the final exam. This is because your performance in school assessed coursework lets your teachers determine how you are likely to perform on your final exam, and however high you fit on the scale will actually help or hinder your final ATAR score.
For this reason, having a tutor to help you with study and revision tips as well as explaining the finer points of the syllabus can be a great addition to your learning.
They will help keep you motivated and help you remember that in addition to trying to get the best score possible, you are also trying to actually be able to use theory and equations to solve real-world problems.
What's more, your tutor can help you really get ready for university and even get ready for entrance exams to a degree such as medicine or engineering. The transferral of skills from high school to university is very useful, and if you do well enough in your final secondary studies, you may even qualify for prior credit from your accreditation.
A tutor can really be the person that makes your learning personalised and gives you focus in order to achieve what you want from your studies.
Have a look at our other guides for information on tertiary physics courses and research opportunities in Perth, as well as come of the other options across Australia.
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