Uni physics with bad hsc physics?

[clovvy]

So had my physics trial today, I did probably less than 1/3 of the paper and leave the exam halfway (give up)...  I put more effort in physics than chemistry tbh but for some reason my chemistry is always better and I understood it much better and more quickly than physics...  With physics, I was told that the hsc have lots of wrong definitions and I noticed about 1/3 is humanities and I tend to lose marks on those ones... 

Like I can answer questions without properly understanding them or totally lost with the contents I am learning (also disheartened by the lack of calculations in physics, felt like chemistry have more of it)...  My teacher even showed me the relationship between GPE and force using calculus (to me specifically in class) that I finally understood the concept (much later though).... 

My rank will definitely slide down after trials and the possibility of band 6 have reduced significantly, motivation is also low and my dad even concluded that I cannot do physics as it doesn't suit me (but when I read around, hsc physics gives students false understanding of what it actually is)....  Given that I might want to do engineering after high school and advanced science, what should I do? (I am most comfortable with maths,  chemistry I didn't find too bad)...

[jamonwindeyer]

As you've semi-alluded to in your post, HSC Physics and tertiary physics are worlds apart. I know plenty of people who struggled hardcore in HSC Physics who did fine in university (because it is more mathematical). I know a few where it went the other way. But don't let some bad experiences in a subject dissuade you from your career path

[blasonduo]

As someone who currently spent all of today working on uni physics, I felt like this post couldn't be even more relevant, so I'll chip in too.

I'm done HEAPS of physics questions this year, some coming from weekly assessments, or final exams or just study. The ONLY non-mathematical physics question that was asked was about the difference of conservation of momentum and energy. That's it.

Yes, every question still requires you to know concepts, and the lack of knowledge in that area makes you struggle quite a bit, however the questions are never asked in essay form, you never need to explain the effects of transistors on society, but you may be required to derive an expression that explains a certain concept (ie relativity). Luckily, the new HSC physics syllabus actually covers a pretty significant area of first-semester uni (but unlucky for you?). One massive difference is that physics in uni utilises so much algebra and calculus. If you are really good at rearranging formulae and integration, you'll actually be pretty set, but they do become ugly. So if you are really comfortable with 3u maths, you'll 100% be fine!

If you'd like to, PM me, and I'll shoot you some uni questions over to you. You won't be able to answer them, but it might allow you to see what the course is more like.