PHYS 101 :: Physics Illinois :: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Exam Information
Physics 101 has six 50-minute tests and one 110-minute final exam. All exams are proctored by the Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF).
Page Contents
Exam Format
All exams in Physics 101 are computer-based. The exams are programmed into PrairieLearn and administered through PrairieTest. After completing an exam you may log in to PrairieLearn.org to review your score; You may review exam questions once everyone has finished taking their test.
Question format
Questions will provide a description of a physical scenario using words and/or graphics. You will be asked to determine something specific about the scenario. Test questions are in a multiple-choice format.
Number of questions
You can expect to see 8-11 questions on each test. The final exam will contain up to 27 questions.Partial Credit
You will be able to grade your questions as you go on tests this semester. For questions you answer incorrectly, you will have the opportunity to retry the question for half credit, with a second retry available for 30% credit.
Formula Sheet
We will provide access to the same formula sheet for all tests in Physics 101. We recommend using it as a reference throughout the semester for discussion, homework, lab, etc. [View the formula sheet]
Exam Dates and Content
| Exam number | Exam dates | Reservations open | Lectures covered | Study Guides (will be posted one week prior to exam) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 9-11 | Aug. 28 | Constant velocity kinematics in 1D and 2D Lectures 1-3 |
Test 1 Study Guide |
| 2 | Sept. 22-25 | Sept. 11 | 2D kinematics; Forces and Acceleration Lectures 4-7 |
Test 2 Study Guide |
| 3 | Oct. 7-9 | Sept. 25 | Dynamics with friction; Energy Lectures 8-11 |
Test 3 Study Guide |
| 4 | Oct. 21-23 | Oct. 9 | Momentum; Rotations I Lectures 12-15 |
Test 4 Study Guide |
| 5 | Nov. 4-6 | Oct. 23 | Rotations II, Fluids Lectures 16-19 |
Test 5 Study Guide |
| 6 | Nov. 17-20 | Nov. 6 | Simple Harmonic Motion; Waves and Sound Lectures 20-23 |
Test 6 Study Guide |
| Final | Dec. 12-16 | TBA | All Physics 101 content Lectures 1-27 |
Final Exam Study Guide |
Reservations
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All tests and exams must be scheduled in advance using the CBTF scheduling system.
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All students should read and understand the information posted on the CBTF website.
Computer-Based Testing Facility (CBTF)
- This course uses the Grainger College of Engineering’s Computer-Based Testing Facility for its exams.
- Sign up for your exam time slot on prairietest.org. You must use your Illinois login.
- When you check in, you will need to confirm your identity using your icard or the Illinois app.
- You will be required to use the calculators provided by the CBTF. It may be helpful for you to review the calculator information. We will also do a "calculator check" exercise at the begin of each exam to help you acclimate to the calculators.
- The policies of the CBTF are the policies of this course, and academic integrity infractions related to the CBTF are infractions in this course.
- If you have accommodations identified by the Division of Rehabilitation-Education Services (DRES) for exams, please submit your Letter of Accommodations (LOA) here before you make your first exam reservation. This must be done each semester you use the CBTF.
- If you have any issue during an exam, inform the proctor immediately. Work with the proctor to resolve the issue at the time before logging off. If you do not inform a proctor of a problem during the test then you forfeit all rights to redress.
- Review all instructions on the CBTF website before your first exam: https://cbtf.illinois.edu/students
Practice
Practice tests in PrairieLearn
Practice tests that resemble the length and question format of the actual tests in Physics 101 will be provided on PrairieLearn. Questions on the practice tests will not appear on the actual test.
Practice tests are provided to students to help them become familiar with the test format and to help students diagnose concepts or applications that may need strengthening during exam preparation. The practice tests are not designed to predict your score on the actual tests.
Supplemental problems
Pre-CBTF versions of exams are available as an additional bank of practice questions for students who wish to use materials beyond those included in regular class. These exams are not representative of the current format of exams in Physics 101 and prioritize calculation and problem-solving end goals. For review of conceptual questions, we recommend that you focus on checkpoint questions, homework questions, and the main points identified in lecture for guidance on what to study.
Practice Problems for Tests 1-3
- SPRING 2017 -- [solutions]
- Fall 2015 -- [solutions]
- Fall 2014 -- [solution]
- Spring 2014 -- [solution]
- Fall 2013 -- [solution]
- Spring 2013 -- [solution]
- Fall 2012 -- [solution]
- Spring 2012 -- [solution]
- Fall 2011 -- [solution]
- Spring 2011 -- [solution]
- Fall 2010 -- [solution]
- Spring 2010 --[solution]
- Fall 2009 -- [solution]
- Spring 2009 -- [solution]
- Fall 2008 -- [solution]
Practice Problems for Tests 3-5
- Fall 2015 -- [solution]
- Fall 2014 -- [solution]
- Spring 2014 -- [solution]
- Fall 2013 -- [solution]
- Spring 2013 -- [solution]
- Fall 2012 -- [solution]
- Spring 2012 -- [solution]
- Fall 2011 -- [solution]
- Fall 2010 -- [solution]
- Spring 2011 -- [solution]
- Spring 2010 --[solution]
- Fall 2009 -- [solution]
- Spring 2009 -- [solution]
- Fall 2008 -- [solution]
Practice Problems for Tests 4-6 and Final
- Fall 2016--Gravitation -- [solution]
- Fall 2015 -- [solution]
- Fall 2014 Version A
- Fall 2014 Version F-- [solution]
- Spring 2014 -- [solution]
- Fall 2013 -- [solution]
- Spring 2013 -- [solution]
- Fall 2012 -- [solution]
- Spring 2012 -- [solution]
- Fall 2011 -- [solution]
- Spring 2011 -- [solution]
- Fall 2010 -- [solution]
- Spring 2010 --[solution]
- Fall 2009 -- [solution]
- Spring 2009 -- [solution]
- Fall 2008-- [solution]
Previous final exams are not available. But there are some thermodynamics problems available for you to review.
Final Exams
All final exams will be held during final exam week in compliance with the university policy on final exams.
Make sure you read and understand the final exam rules. Our exam dates will be posted to the course homepage and the exam information page as soon as we receive them from the Office of the Registrar.
What to do: Missing a Test
Missed CBTF reservations
Language taken directly from the CBTF Policy Page:
If you missed an exam and the testing window is still open, you will need to speak with a proctor inside one of the CBTF labs to request that your reservation be deleted. Once your reservation is deleted you can then make a new reservation in the PrairieTest.
If you missed an exam and the testing window has closed, you will need to contact your instructor to arrange an extended testing window. CBTF staff cannot extend the testing window.
If you need an extended testing window, please contact our teaching team as soon as possible. On an emergency basis, we can extend the testing window by 1–3 days (at the discretion of your instructor); however, we do not permit students to take (or make up) tests after they have been opened to the class for review in PrairieLearn.
Illness or Emergency During the Testing Window
Students who are ill during the testing window or experience an emergency that will prevent them from taking their test should plan to miss the test and request an EX grade according to our Excused Absence Policy. It is generally better to rest and recover, requesting an EX within a reasonable time window, than to try to take the test while impaired or distracted. Students who take a test are not able to retroactively have a test excused.
Students who are ill or who have an emergency for the final exam should reach out to the course instructor as soon as possible to determine how to proceed. Typically there are two options: (1) If this is a short-term issue it is possible to arrange to take your final at the CBTF at a later date during finals week, or (2) if this is a longer-term issue you will need to request an Incomplete grade for the semester and plan to take your final when you return to campus for next semester.
Conflicts Known in Advance
If you have a conflict you know about in advance, such as travel for Varsity Athletics or Religious Observances, please reach out to your instructor to arrange a plan for the test(s) involved.