Homework: There are problem sets and MasteringPhysics assignments due every other week. The problem sets are fairly difficult, but with the help of peers there is no reason why you shouldn't get a very high homework average.

Tests: Pretty difficult. The first one wasn't too bad and if you took AP Physics, you should do fine. The second one was tough and the grading was merciless. The average was around 45%. The final was really hard, probably harder than both midterms.

Lectures: Four times a week is kindof a pain, but Samani is an enthusiastic guy who does plenty of demonstrations to keep students interested. This is a clicker class, which is good because I feel like a lot of students would skip lectures otherwise. Definitely go to lecture, it is helpful.

Discussions: Not helpful, I went the first two times and then never again. My TA just wasn't very good so I can't really speak for other discussions.

Overall: Samani is really a great guy who cares a lot about the students. He seemed legimitately hurt when he heard students were crying after his final exam. Besides the second midterm, he is very fair with grading. Take Samani if you can, I learned a lot and the workload is easily manageable.

Samani surprised me this quarter and after getting a feel for the class, I am grateful I enrolled in his class after not getting Corbin.

Josh is highly organized, which reflects in his lectures. He engages the class and makes it interactive by using clickers.

He also uses Piazza, which proved to be a useful discussion platform to ask general questions and discuss physics concepts on problem sets and exams anonymously.

He opens his office 7 hours a week to students and on the morning of midterms. Josh makes himself available and does a good job of helping students get to the answer themselves without making them feel embarrassed.

I recommend following his advice and reading prior to lecture because lectures aren't summaries of the book and they are interactive, so not knowing what's going on can limit your participation and understanding.

The midterms are doable if you read, do the problem sets honestly, and pay attention in lecture consistently.

The final was more difficult than midterms because most of the problems were unlike the challenge problems and lecture examples- however, the final was fair in that it was testing our knowledge by asking us to apply what we knew to situations we'd never seen before.

TLDR: Samani is passionate and cares about his students learning physics and if you work hard and make an effort to ask questions about confusing topics, you can succeed in the class. If you think you can't learn physics, take Samani and let him prove you wrong.

Professor Samani is the physics guy you want. He is extremely passionate about the subject and willing to devote 100% of his effort in teaching. His use of clickers really gets me involved in the class instead of falling asleep.

In summer the class was much smaller and we did not use mastering physics. He gave a problem set every week. The first midterm was fine but the second one was really hard, and I think I only did 3 out of 6 problems on the final...

I would FULLY RECOMMEND TAKING PHYSICS 1A WITH SAMANI.

This guy is SO PASSIONATE about not only physics, but teaching it to students. I had previously no AP Physics experience and ran into a steep learning curve. However, I could tell that Josh really CARED about understanding the physical concepts and applying them to problems. Yes, the exams are difficult (but the averages were quite higher than the other instructors, the overrated Corbin and Professor Campbell, each at ~35%). Josh does make it easy to stay on track in the class with his clicker participation questions and biweekly problems sets. I am NOT A FAN of MasteringPhysics but whatever.

I would say you're DEFINITELY MISSING OUT if you don't take this guy at least once in your UCLA Physics undergraduate career.

Samani is the best! He really gets his student engaged with the lecture and has you think about physics conceptually, as well as mathematically. He really does his best to ensure his students understand his material. I'm so grateful that my first physics class at UCLA was with him.

I took Professor Samani in my Winter Quarter for my freshman year. I absolutely loved him. I have never seen a professor who's so considerate of his students. He wants everyone to understand the concepts behind the equations and formulas in Physics. He tries to recreate a picture of everything so it is easier for students to understand what he's trying to say. I feel that his midterms and finals were fair. If you had actually worked during the quarter and did all the homework by yourself (which could be a bit challenging) then you should be well prepared for the exams. His lectures are really thoughtful and interactive. You never realize how the time passes by. Even his office hours are very interesting and usually full. Overall, in my 3 quarters at UCLA so far, Professor Samani has been the best instructor by far. I highly recommend taking him.

The subject sucks, and the class is quite difficult (avg. on midterms is about 40-50%), but nonetheless, Samani finds a way to make lecture fly by and make learning physics somewhat manageable. He's without a doubt the best physics prof on campus as he's engaging, understanding, helpful, and caring. He draws pictures to explain the problems, uses clickers to encourage active learning, and is extremely well organized in lecture. I do not particularly like the way he sets up his discussion sections, but he does often give extra credit in section so it's fine. I loved him so much I'm taking him again for 1B this winter. HIGHLY recommend Samani if you've gotta take physics.