Introduction The AP Physics exams are one of the most notoriously difficult AP exams for high school students across the years, and 2024 is no different.

That is why today, regardless of your physics abilities, we will be guiding you through exactly what you should do in order to score a perfect 5 on the exams.

What is AP Physics 1/2/C?

Should I Even Take the Exam?

What is on it?

AP Physics 1 is an introductory college-level physics course that is based on algebra.

Students study basic concepts such torque and rotational motion, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, kinematics, dynamics, circular motion, and gravity.

Students develop their grasp of physics via classroom instruction, in-class activities, and practical, inquiry-based laboratory work.

The course fosters critical thinking about the physical world and offers a strong basis for future physics research.

AP Physics 2 is another introductory college-level physics course similar to AP Physics 1 that is also based on algebra.

Through classroom instruction, in-class activities, and practical, inquiry-based laboratory work, students develop their understanding of physics as they investigate ideas such as systems, fields, force interactions, change, conservation, waves, and probability.

AP Physics C is the final boss of AP Physics, and is broken up into two categories: Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism.

These are college-level physics courses with a calculus foundation intended for students interested in engineering or the physical sciences.

Typically, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is viewed as the more difficult course due to its abstract concepts.

AP Kinematics, Newton's equations of motion, work, energy, power, particle systems and linear momentum, circular motion and rotation, oscillations, and gravity are all covered in AP Physics C: Mechanics.

Students learn these ideas in class, participate in exercises, and conduct practical laboratory work.

Electrostatics, conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, electric circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetism are all covered in AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.

Similar to its predecessor, it prioritizes comprehension of calculus and real-world applications.

As for the AP Tests, all of these AP classes can be taken for AP credit.

However, not all of the classes may actually be used for AP credit.

Especially if you are not pursuing a STEM major, scoring a 5 on all four of the AP Physics exams may look impressive, but will likely only grant you 1 year worth of physics to skip.

Still, it is definitely something, and we recommend that you take the exams if you are at all interested in the subject matter.

However, if you are pursuing a STEM major, some universities (like MIT) actually require at least one year of AP Physics C (either one).

Therefore, looking at your prospective colleges and their subsequent requirements will always be important in deciding what to take.

Many high schools don't even offer AP Physics C or have a policy where you cannot take the class unless you have enrolled in prior physics courses at the school, so viewing all of those requirements and making a judicious choice after that is up to you.

AP Physics 1/2/C

- What is the Exam Format?

For those who do choose to take the exam, it is important to note that certain topics (like units 8-10 in AP Physics 1 on AP Classroom for example) are not actually covered on the exams.

This is critical for you to take into consideration in order mold your studying into something effective and focus on topics worth your time.

As for the breakdown, let's begin with AP Physics

1. Here is how the exam is structured: Section I: Multiple Choice  50 Questions | 1 Hour 30 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score  Questions are either discrete questions or question sets, in which students are provided with a stimulus or a set of data and a series of related questions.

The section includes 5 individual multi-select questions (2 options are correct).

Section II: Free Response 5 Questions | 1 Hour 30 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score  This section contains 5 free-response questions of the following types:  Experimental Design (1 question)  Qualitative/Quantitative Translation (1 question)  Short Answer: Paragraph Argument (1 question)  Short Answer (2 questions)  For AP Physics 2, here is the breakdown: Section I: Multiple Choice 50 Questions | 1 Hour 30 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score Questions are either discrete questions or question sets, in which students are provided with a stimulus or a set of data and a series of related questions.

The section includes 5 individual multi-select questions (2 options are correct).

Section II: Free Response 4 Questions | 1 Hour 30 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score This section contains 4 free-response questions of the following types: Experimental Design (1 question) Quantitative/Qualitative Translation (1 question) Short Answer: Paragraph Argument (1 question) Short Answer (1 question) For AP Physics C: Mechanics, we have: Section I: Multiple Choice 35 Questions | 45 Minutes | 50% of Exam ScoreQuestions are either discrete questions or question sets, in which students may be provided with a stimulus or a set of data and a series of related questions.

Section II: Free Response 3 Questions | 45 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score One of the 3 free-response questions will include an experimental or lab-based component.

Questions will assess all 7 of the science practices: visual representations, question and method, representing data and phenomena, data analysis, theoretical relationships, mathematical routines, and argumentation.

Finally, for AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, we have as follows: Section I: Multiple Choice  35 Questions | 45 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score Questions are either discrete questions or question sets, in which students may be provided with a stimulus or a set of data and a series of related questions.

Section II: Free Response  3 Questions | 45 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score  One of the 3 free-response questions will include an experimental or lab-based component.

Questions will assess all 7 of the science practices: visual representations, question and method, representing data and phenomena, data analysis, theoretical relationships, mathematical routines, and argumentation.

Knowing these details before the exam is critical because it aids you in preparation to know if you are able to keep up with the pace.

As the old English writer William Penn once remarked, Time is what we want most but what we use worst.

How to Study for the AP Physics Exam Now that you know what is on the exam, how should go about studying for it?

Well, the answer is simple: practice, practice, practice.

But not just any practice

- you must employ a specific practice routine that ensures success.

First thing’s first, you MUST ensure that you understand ALL the material at hand.

If you don’t understand a specific topic or subtopic, ask your physics teacher for help or watch videos through Khan Academy or YouTube that help clarify the topic.

Then, for all of these specific topics, do not broaden your scope and just prioritize completing problems on the exact issue you are facing.

For example, if you aren't strong in rotational motion but are strong in translational motion, don't waste time restudying all of kinematics and doing a bunch of practice problems.

Instead, it would be much more time-efficient and favorable if you FIRST practice problems employing the skillset that you are struggling with and THEN move towards looking at the bigger picture and weaving everything together.

This way, if let's say you are struggling with BOTH rotational and translational kinematics, you don't find yourself overwhelmed trying to alleviate multiple problems at the same time and take things step-by-step.

Benefits can also come from finding a multitude of different problems, practicing identifying the first step that you should take in order to solve them, and then moving on to the next problem.

Typically, students struggle with figuring out the general outlines or first steps that they need to take, so once that foundation is solidified the rest of the question comes easily.

Next, once you’ve done this for all of the topics that were not lucid to you, take as many practice tests as you can.

Once again, if past college board practice tests aren’t doing the trick for you, seek out practice exams in Khan Academy or ask your physics teacher for some.

You could even make your own or generate some with AI (although I will warn you, it is not always the most accurate so this should be a last resort).

Only after you feel confident with what you’ve practiced and are so incredibly mind-numbed that you can see Newton's cradle rocking endlessly in your sleep should you take a break.

It will be hard, it will be painful, but trust me it will be worth it.

As they say

- better now than later!

Final Thoughts: What to Do on Exam Day You made it to exam day.

You're ready, and now is not the time to second guess your abilities.

You have done everything in your power until this day to ensure success, and even if you haven't, it is not the time to start and give yourself a miniature heart attack.

Instead, the morning of the exam, focus your attention on ensuring that all of your materials are ready.

This includes MULTIPLE pencils, MULTIPLE erasers, and a scientific or graphing calculator that you are comfortable using and that is approved by college board.

Ensure that your calculator has a working battery and make sure to check if it is allowed IN ADVANCE, or you better hope that your math or physics teacher has an extra.

On top of that, try packing a snack for before the test to supply you with that last minute energy boost.

Now, as a student myself, I know that you may be groaning at that piece of advice.

I personally have a knot formed in my stomach every time before a critical exam, one that even the most fibrous of granola bars doesn't make it through.

However, if you are ALSO like me, food that doesn't necessarily have to be healthy, when consumed at periodic moments throughout the day, delivers massive rushes of dopamine to the brain.

That dopamine, coupled with a few deep breaths and moments of closing one's eyes and resting one's mind before the exam, is what pumps people up and gets them hyper-focused for an exam.

Capitalize on that.

Additionally, if at any point before the exam, you realize that you forgot the relationship between velocity, acceleration, and displacement or how to set up differential equations, don't freak out.

You caught yourself before the test, and should be relieved!

Just calmly find a YouTube video online and watch a tutorial on how to do that specific concept.

In most cases, it would be something that you already knew how to do that nerves drained out of you, and recognition of how to do it will come almost instantly.

Finally, if you still have waves of anxiety flowing through your body, try to put things into perspective.

If you don't get the score that you want, you don't have to send it to colleges.

It's not the end of the world, and will not significantly affect your admissions chances anyways!

Besides, everybody knows that AP tests aren't the best measure of your intelligence anyways, as they are often skewed by College Board and are ultimately just a ploy to make money.

So relax

- you've got this!

Go get that

5. Go show yourself what you've got left inside of you.

Let's do some physics.

Resource: Interested in Science?

If you made it to the end of this article, then chances are you are a student who is either a) extremely dedicated and wants to succeed in life, b) passionate about STEM and wants to pursue it in some shape or form, or c) all of the above.

Regardless, if you want to test your scientific thinking process and take what you learned in AP Physics and beyond to the next level, then the science fair is THE PLACE for you to look to.

Want a head start?

Check out this science fair masterclass by International Science and Engineering Fair Winner Rishab Jain below: https://www. rishabacademy. com/stem.