Why Students Find Physics Difficult and How to Make It Easy

Physics is one subject that most students fear. Whether it is Class 11, Class 12, JEE, NEET, or CET, the sentence I hear most often from students is:

“Sir, Physics samajh hi nahi aata.”

As a teacher who has taught Physics to hundreds of students preparing for board exams and competitive exams, I can confidently say one thing:

Physics is not difficult by nature. It is made difficult by the way it is studied.

In this article, I will explain why students find Physics difficult and share practical, experience-based methods to make Physics easy, logical, and scoring.

1. Physics Requires Thinking, Not Memorization

The first and biggest reason students struggle with Physics is because they try to memorize it.

Many students come from a background where memorizing worked in other subjects. When they apply the same method to Physics, problems begin.

Physics is based on:

• Concepts
• Logic
• Application of formulas

If you try to memorize formulas without understanding where they come from and when to use them, confusion is guaranteed.

How to fix this:

• Understand derivations to grasp the logic
• Ask “why” before applying any formula
• Focus on concept clarity before solving numericals

Once concepts are clear, formulas become easy and natural.

2. Weak Mathematical Foundation

Physics is closely connected to mathematics. Many students who are weak in basic maths find Physics difficult.

Common mathematical issues include:

• Algebraic manipulation
• Solving equations
• Trigonometry
• Graph interpretation

Because of this, even when students understand the concept, they get stuck while solving numericals.

How to fix this:

• Revise basic algebra and trigonometry
• Practice step-by-step numerical solving
• Avoid shortcuts until fundamentals are strong

Strong mathematics makes Physics significantly easier.

3. Jumping Directly to Numericals Without Concept Clarity

Another common mistake is starting numericals without fully understanding the theory.

Students often:

• See solved examples
• Try to copy steps
• Get stuck when question format changes

Physics numericals are not pattern-based. They are concept-based.

How to fix this:

• Read theory carefully from NCERT or class notes
• Understand assumptions and conditions
• Solve basic numericals before advanced ones

When theory is strong, numericals stop feeling scary.

4. Ignoring NCERT Textbook

Many students believe NCERT is only for boards and not useful for competitive exams. This belief is completely wrong.

NCERT:

• Builds fundamental concepts
• Uses simple language
• Forms the base for JEE and NEET questions

Especially for NEET and board exams, NCERT Physics is extremely important.

How to fix this:

• Read NCERT line by line
• Solve all NCERT examples
• Pay attention to diagrams and boxed points

NCERT is not basic; it is foundational.

5. Lack of Regular Practice

Physics cannot be learned in one sitting. Many students study Physics only when exams are near.

This leads to:

• Forgetting concepts
• Weak numerical solving speed
• Fear during exams

How to fix this:

• Study Physics daily, even if for a short time
• Practice at least 10–15 numericals daily
• Revise formulas regularly

Consistency matters more than long study hours.

6. Fear of Difficult Chapters

Chapters like Rotational Mechanics, Magnetism, Ray Optics, and Current Electricity scare many students.

Because of fear, students either skip these chapters or delay them until the end.

This increases anxiety and reduces confidence.

How to fix this:

• Break difficult chapters into small topics
• Start with basic numericals
• Avoid skipping chapters completely

Even partial preparation can fetch marks.

7. Poor Diagram and Graph Practice

Physics involves diagrams, ray diagrams, circuit diagrams, and graphs. Many students ignore this aspect.

In exams, poor diagrams lead to:

• Loss of marks
• Incorrect explanations
• Incomplete answers

How to fix this:

• Practice neat and labeled diagrams
• Use pencil and ruler
• Understand what each part of the diagram represents

Diagrams often carry easy marks.

8. Not Analyzing Mistakes

Students give tests but do not analyze them properly.

They focus only on marks, not on errors.

This leads to repeating the same mistakes again and again.

How to fix this:

• Maintain an error notebook
• Identify conceptual, calculation, and time-related mistakes
• Revise mistakes weekly

Improvement comes from correction, not repetition.

9. Poor Time Management During Exams

Many students know Physics but fail to complete the paper on time.

This happens due to:

• Slow calculations
• Spending too much time on one question
• Lack of exam practice

How to fix this:

• Practice timed tests
• Learn to skip and return
• Improve calculation speed

Time management converts knowledge into marks.

10. Negative Mindset Towards Physics

Perhaps the most damaging factor is mindset.

Statements like:

• Physics is too tough
• I am weak in numericals
• I can never score in Physics

These thoughts block learning.

How to fix this:

• Accept that Physics takes time
• Focus on improvement, not comparison
• Build confidence through practice

Physics rewards effort and patience.

Simple Daily Physics Study Plan

A practical routine for students:

• 30 minutes: Concept reading
• 60–90 minutes: Numerical practice
• 15 minutes: Formula and error revision

Weekly:

• One chapter test
• Full test analysis

This routine works for boards, JEE, NEET, and CET.

Final Words from a Teacher

Physics is not meant to be memorized. It is meant to be understood.

Students who follow the right method, practice regularly, and maintain a positive mindset can turn Physics into their strongest subject.

I have personally seen students move from fear to confidence, from low scores to excellent results, simply by changing how they study Physics.

If you study Physics the right way, it becomes logical, interesting, and highly scoring.

Author:
Shahrukh Khan
Physics Educator
EduTechExam.com