APS Graduate Exam

It is a multiple-choice exam. Expect quantitative items that require setting up and solving short problems, plus conceptual items testing whether you understand the physics behind a formula. Because the domains are weighted unequally, plan your practice time to match those weights rather than spreading effort evenly.

Those figures are set by the official administering body and can change between sittings, so they are not stated here. Check the official body's website for the current question count, time limit, and any section-level timing rules before you build a practice schedule.

Most candidates find it comparable to a well-taught undergraduate physics curriculum compressed into a single sitting. Individual questions are rarely trick questions, but the breadth is demanding: you must be fluent in mechanics, electromagnetism, quantum, and thermodynamics at once, without the warm-up that a course-specific exam provides.

Passing standards and fees are published by the official administering body and are not repeated here. Consult its website for the current passing score, registration fee, and any reduced-rate or institutional arrangements, since these details are updated periodically and vary by sitting.

Retake rules, waiting periods, and any limits on attempts are determined by the official body. Look up its current retake policy on the official site before registering, and if you do need a second attempt, use the first score report to identify which weighted domain cost you the most points.

Start with mathematical methods, since it underpins everything else, then general physics fundamentals as a diagnostic. Move to classical mechanics and electricity and magnetism, which together carry the largest combined weight, then thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, and finish with quantum mechanics. Revisit earlier domains in mixed timed sets.

Three recurrences: neglecting the lower-weighted domains entirely and dropping easy marks; rushing algebra and unit conversions under time pressure; and memorizing formulas without being able to choose the right one from a physical description. Practicing mixed-topic timed sets addresses all three better than rereading notes.

Solve without notes first, then review every error by writing the correct physical reasoning, not just the right answer. Keep an error log tagged by domain so patterns emerge. Near the exam, simulate full-length timed sittings so pacing and stamina are tested under conditions close to the real thing.

Yes, it is grouped with mathematical methods in the smallest-weighted domain. Expect questions on error propagation, significant figures, data fitting, and instrument interpretation rather than hands-on procedure. Review uncertainty analysis carefully, as it is easy to overlook and appears in otherwise straightforward calculation items.