AI Rate Professor

Physics

Claude Mona

PHYS197 · PHY195 · PHYS195 · PHYS196 · 181 lifetime ratings

AI rating
68/100
RMP rating
4.0/5
Take again
74.63%
Difficulty
4.3

The decision

if you want to truly learn physics and and a heavy workload.

Best fit · Hardcore LearnerAmazing LecturesBrutal ExamsTough GraderInspirationalTest Heavy
  • , and widely praised as among the .
  • , and demand deep conceptual mastery.
  • Students who put in heavy weekly hours leave well prepared for university STEM.

Key questions

Four answers before you build your schedule.

Is this an easy A?

HardWork

32/100

As are uncommon; and and still may land a B or C.

Both online and ; most evidence is in-person.

Is the course easy?

Challenging

28/100

Calculus-based physics content is fast and abstract, with .

Difficulty is high across formats; .

Is attendance flexible?

Recommended

55/100

as not mandatory, but labs and lecture matter and some sections require presence.

Mixed reports in both formats; labs and participation still affect outcomes.

Is this professor recommended?

WorthIt

74/100

Most students would retake him for the learning payoff, not for an easy grade.

In-person praise is stronger; a few .

Course guide

See how this professor fits your week.

Grading

Strict

30/100

Tagged as a ; partial credit and but As remain scarce.

Format shift

and in-person reviews.

Workload

Heavy

28/100

Lots of , and multi-hour weekly study loads are common.

Format shift

Heavy workload is mainly documented in in-person comments.

Teaching experience

Good

80/100

Students repeatedly call lectures amazing, funny, and clear, though a minority finds him condescending.

Format shift

Teaching praise is strongest in person; online notes some lecture confusion.

Assessment method

FocusOnExams

72/100

Exams and labs drive the grade; homework and help but .

Format shift

.

Luni fit check

Weigh these signals against your actual schedule.

Get help balancing workload, grading, and timing when no option is an obvious fit.

Course format

Compare the in-person and online experience.

Classroom format

In person

46 reviews

High confidence · Best fit for Hardcore Learner

In-person students highlight riveting lectures and real learning, but warn that and many settle for B/C grades.

Main concern

can feel limited, and some find him condescending under stress.

What students said

“ . Class is very clearly structured, there is no mystery what is required of you.”
PHY195
“ and make sure you have a deep understand otherwise you will not pass.”
PHYS196
“This class will push you to your absolute max... I usually invested around 25 hours/week + 1 all-nighter/week.”
195

Remote format

Online

4 reviews

Medium confidence · Best fit for Hardcore Learner

Online sections stay challenging with and ; passion and help still come through for motivated students.

Main concern

Difficulty and ; a few students disliked labs and .

What students said

“Professor Mona's PHYS195 class is challenging but rewarding. , but he's approachable and the .”
PHYS195
“VERY difficult class and .”
PHYS197
“Don't be mistaken, he is very passionate about ensuring that his students both learn physics well but also develop the work ethic for when they transfer.”
PHYS197

Exam style

Know what to expect from exams and major assignments.

Exams are brutal application tests that and require deep understanding.

Hard conceptual examsTests unlike homeworkPartial creditSome curvesTest heavy

Assessment risk

Strict

34/100

Low score means less forgiving assessment conditions.

In person

lecture examples, with low averages and high study demand.

Brutal examsNot like HWDeep understanding requiredPartial credit
“ and make sure you have a deep understand otherwise you will not pass.”
PHYS196
“ all.”
195
“ .”
PHYS196

Online

Online comments still describe very difficult, test-heavy courses with .

Test heavyTough grader
“VERY difficult class and .”
PHYS197

Student evidence

See what students actually said.

Top student voice

“You know how they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger? Well, passing his class will make you stronger than ever.”

Voice snapshots generated from 50 , and transfer prep. Credibility rating: High.

🎯 Lecture Quality

80/100

“He is the most talented lecturer I have ever witnessed; he mixes in fun phrases and jokes, yet never goes off-topic.”

🔥

34/100

“ . You must understand the material to do well, as the questions make you apply knowledge in new ways.”

📈 Transfer Prep

78/100

“I transferred to UC Berkeley for engineering and Mona's class prepared me very well for the difficulty at Berkeley.”

⏱️ Workload Reality

28/100

“I usually invested around 25 hours/week + 1 all-nighter/week. Not for the weak.”

Theme 1

👨‍🏫 About Teaching Style

  • his lectures were always very fun to listen to
  • Amazing lectures and
  • Mona is a fantastic teacher, his lectures are amazing

Theme 2

📈 About Difficulty and Grades

  • a majority of the class does not get an A
  • You WILL work for your A. You WILL work for your B.

Theme 3

⚠️ About Tone and Access

  • His demeanor can come off as condescending when asking for extra help
  • all
  • and offers a ton of

Data context

See exactly what the AI read.

Analysis sample

50

Recent reviews read by the AI

181

Lifetime ratings

88/100

Evidence confidence

50 detailed reviews across years and courses show , and workload.

Inside 50 stored ratings

Quality ratings

5 out of 5107
4 out of 529
3 out of 515
2 out of 523
1 out of 58

Course coverage

PHYS19714 reviews
PHYS19511 reviews
PHYS19611 reviews
1958 reviews
PHY1956 reviews

Reported outcomes

C range results lead the reported letter grades.

44 reported outcomes

A range

13

A+ 1 · A 12

B range

12

B+ 1 · B 8 · B- 3

C range

15

C+ 6 · C 8 · C- 1

D range

0

No reported values

F

0

No reported values

No letter grade reported

4

Drop/Withdrawal 1 · Not sure yet 2 · Rather not say 1