As a first-quarter freshman taking this course as one of his first classes, this class was a real challenge. The averages on the midterms were 38% and 58%. Like some of the other reviews said, Samani is one of the best teachers of physics at UCLA and has very engaging and stimulating lectures, however there is a huge divide between the simple concepts he teaches during lectures and the exams. Most questions from problem sets and tests rival or surpass MIT problems, some are nearly impossible to solve. You leave midterms wondering if you know anything, becuase of how hard the problems are to solve in the short amount of time given.

My favorite professor of this quarter. He does a very good job teaching concepts to you and he tries really hard to avoid convoluted proofs and math heavy lectures. But that's not to say that the class never delves into long proofs and complicated algebra. Homework is cut into two parts, the book questions and the challenge problems. Challenge is the keyword here because you will most likely, no matter how good you think you are in physics, will spend a good amount of time for these 4-5 questions that ask you to not only stretch out what already know but also do some complicated algebra. His tests are difficult but it never felt unfair. His grading curve and criteria are also so nice which is something you really don't expect from a STEM class at UCLA. You shouldn't have any unfair problems passing the class. You get what you deserve from Samani.

Samani is a LEGEND. He's an extremely engaging lecturer and he deeply passionately cares about student learning. Everyone should take his class.

I had Professor Samani for Physics 5A. I had never taken a physics course in my life and was super afraid of taking a physics course at UCLA. However, Professor Samani taught the class extremely well. He was super generous on giving us points back on the exams and teaching the overall concepts rather than long proofs. I wouldn't mind taking the class with him again. In order to do well in the class, you have to do as much practice problems as possible, and understand the overall concepts. Don't just memorize problems. Professor Samani for the win!

Josh is easily my favorite professor at UCLA. He was a very clear, organized, and engaging lecturer who is also a cool guy. He uses iclickers so attendance is mandatory, but his lectures are useful. His homework is difficult and solutions aren't always easily found online, so it can be time consuming. However, the homework is similar to the midterms and final. With that being said, the midterms and final were pretty difficult but reasonable. Oh and he offers extra credit so that's a plus. Overall, I highly recommend taking Josh for any class he teaches. I took him for 1A then again for 131.

I took 5A with Samani last quarter and I enjoyed his lectures a lot! His exams were not tough if you put you “thinking cap” on. I would recommend people taking 5A with him!

Great guy, living legend of a professor. whatever he teaches, just take his class.

This review is for Samani's 5A class. The grading in this class is amazing, there's no way around it. The breakdown is as follows.

45% Labs, Discussion, Mastering Physics, Problem Sets and Clicker Q's
- Your lab grade is at the discretion of your Lab TA, but they're all chill.
- Discussion is based on showing up and completing the assignment (you get points basically for writing your name and scribbling on the paper).
- Mastering Physics is kinda annoying because there are pre and post-lecture assignments, and it is based on accuracy.
- Problem Sets are VERY hard, but they are based on effort and completeness.
- Clicker Q's are based solely on answering the question, but it requires you showing up to class everyday (questions are asked throughout lecture, not just at the beginning or end).
- Samani makes it very clear that you should receive a 100% on all of the above items if you just try (it's a huge cushion for your grade).

12% - 1st Midterm
18% - 2nd Midterm
25% - Final

There are test corrections, which allow you to get 1/3 of your points back (unheard of in any physics class). There is also extra credit allowed.

As far as Samani goes, he can be kinda frustrating when going to OH, as he really urges you to get the answer on your own. In physics, that can be tough, because you often find yourself having no idea where to start. If you get over the fact that he's trying to help you and not make fun of you (he can come off as condescending), you'll be better off.

Exams are interesting; they really demand that you understand concepts as opposed to memorizing material. Understand ALL of his in-class examples, as one or two will show up on the exam. Take it from me: I suck at physics, and I somehow got an A in this class with hard work and persistence. Bonus tip: make use of the LA's and TA's...they offer a ton of good help and are never as busy as Samani's OHs are. Good luck!