Physics test (PAT)

[Cubic]

Just wondering if anyone had any tips or advice which could help ds revise for the pat or if anyone's child will be taking it and wants to chat through the process?

My ds is adamant he wants to take it (which is amazing). Me and dh have absolutely no experience of applying to oxbridge so all new to us.

We were in the same boat as you two years ago. My son did the PAT. He worked through questions in something called Isaac Physics and we got him a tutor, who was fabulous. As my son has ASD he needed plenty of time to revise, so we started the tutor in the winter of his Year 12. I’d suggest you sign up to the Oxford physics department’s online talks too. We also went round Oxford in Year 12 to find out which college he would like.

hope that helps

Thank you, how did you find your tutor please?

He's signed up to Isaacs and to the Oxford physics online talks.

I hope your son is doing amazingly well, my youngest has asd - you must be incredibly proud.

This is very cool, OP.

Judicious use of past papers is highly recommended on student forums by those who have taken the PAT. The catch is - and it can be very hard for candidates to appreciate this - that PAT and MAT past papers are not templates in the way that past GCSE and A Level papers are. Memorising solutions will not be helpful. A deep understanding of concept concepts and how ideas fit together will.

It’s recommended that candidates start by working a couple of the oldest papers, learning the solutions deeply, delving into the topics they have trouble with before attempting the next paper - including doing lots of practice problems. It is recommended to save the most recent papers for mock exam conditions after most revision is completed

The websites called, I think, something like
The Physics and Math Tutor and Professor Povey come highly recommended and offer (free) solutions to past papers.

The Khan Academy is a somewhat basic but good resource. I also like the textbook An Introduction to Physics for Scientists and Engineers (International Ed) if you want to splash out. (I am a STEM academic).

DS can join the online forum The Student Room to ask successful candidates for their tips.

Good luck to him

@poetryandwine thank you very much, that's all really appreciated.

Whatever happens we're really proud of him and I'm so grateful that he sees it as something in his reach - we're from a Northern town and have quite working class backgrounds, so Oxbridge is far from the norm for around here . He's amazing.

I am from ‘up north’ too and Oxford is so out of my sphere of life - it was a quick learning curve. I found a great tutor online with Mytutor - I’ll dm you the name of the tutor - he was fabulous.

I visited Oxford a while back - it is like a different world.

Hi, again. I hope the resources will be helpful. Your DS sounds wonderful.

I am back to say that although I didn’t address the topic earlier, if you can afford a tutor I agree that would be a great idea. I am glad that @Ilovellamasandpenguins is giving you a lead, and perhaps other MumsNetters will have ideas also.

Hi, Thank you both so much. I worry that my lack of understanding around all this will let him down or give him a disadvantage to those whose parents, friends and family have been there and done that. This is a great help, thank you.

You should remember that the application process changes over time, so experience of having done it in the 80s or 90s is not madly useful, if that is any comfort

@Revengeofthepangolins thank you yes I can see that.

OP, I think @Revengeofthepangolins has provided a slightly cryptic comment. I think the changes are mostly for the better. Again The Student Room can be useful. Also if you are from a community underserved by HE DS may want to look into The Sutton Trust. Even if you are not, they have some useful public resources.

So does Oxford itself.

BTW, all Oxbridge applicants need to hold in mind that the majority of fully qualified applicants will be rejected. The competition is that fierce. If it doesn’t happen to work out, you can get a world class education in Physics at Imperial or Warwick or Edinburgh or Manchester or ….. and the sky will still be the limit.

Best wishes to your DS

I've just had a good sit down with ds. He says he's about half way through the maths curriculum and a quarter of the way through the physics. None of the physics is really covered in his A-level this year or in the depth he needs so he is teaching himself. I'm grateful to pp who has given me a great link for a tutor.

Is it too far for him reasonably, he'll be learning this on top of his four A-levels?

His school isn't providing any dedicated pat support.

Thank you all for your replies, I didn't think it'd he this difficult in terms of knowing where to start.

Even schools that do to use Pat support don't until winter of year 13 and from my experience it mostly consists of markifn and discussing past papers. At this point your son should just be focussing on his normal studies, reading and researching around his subject and looking out for super curricular opportunities like competitions, external lectures, podcasts, etc.

I agree with @Revengeofthepangolins on this. A Levels must come first, and the supercurricular opportunities she has mentioned are very important for an Oxbridge application.

An experienced PAT tutor can help DS construct a study schedule allowing ample time for PAT consistent with the A Level Physics and Maths curriculums. However part of the issue is that the questions are difficult and the solutions require a level of creativity that isn’t to be found in the curriculum. I am sorry that the school don’t provide support. I hope you can find a good tutor.

Me again!! Son in the same boat with regards to school - they were no help with the actual Physics.

my son was doing four a levels too (FM helps with the PAT - if he is doing that).

we did a slow build so as not to overwhelm, started in Feb Year 12 and ramped it up from Aug to October.

Super curricular is good - so,ething to out on the PS - if they are doing them next year doe UCAS.

Thank you all for the advice, I really appreciate if and you've given me quite a bit to think about.

Hope you all have a great Christmas!

Much appreciated, thank you