AP Physics 1 Exam Information

Why Should I Take the AP Physics Exam? For college credit All AP Exams are scored on a scale of 1 – 5. Most colleges and universities will award you some sort of credit for scoring a 4 or a 5. Some will accept a score of 3. The test fee is around $89. College courses cost $$$, so there is a good economic reason to take the test. For your transcript Even if you don’t score high enough for credit, the fact that you enrolled in an AP course tells admissions committees that you are a high achiever and are serious about your education.

How do I know if my college/university will accept AP credit? Look it up on the College Board’s website (they administrate the exam): http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/apcreditpolicy/index.jsp Better yet, contact the registrar’s office or the physics department chair at the college directly. How can I get more information about the exam? Go to the College Board’s official website, AP Central: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com

Assessment Overview Students are expected to: Solve problems mathematically – including symbolically Design and describe experiments and analyzed data and sources of error Explain, reason, or justify answers with emphasis on deeper, conceptual understanding Interpret and develop conceptual models

The AP Physics 1 Exam is 3 hours. The test is comprised of two parts. Section I: Multiple Choice 50 questions; 90 minutes; 50% of score Discrete items and items in sets Multimark items (two options are correct) Section II: Free Response 5 Questions; 90 minutes; 50% of score Experimental Design (1 question) Quantitative/Qualitative Translation (1 question) Short Answer (3 questions, one requiring a paragraph-length argument)

What about calculators and formula sheets? The focus of this test is not numbers and equations. You may use a calculator and an equation sheet, but these will not be very helpful, because far more explanations and verbal responses are required than calculations and numerical answers. The equation sheet and table of information will be provided with the exam. You may not bring your own.

How is my grade determined? Each section counts for 50% of the exam. From your composite score, you will be awarded a grade on the 5 point scale. Historically, it has taken 60-65% of the available points on the exam to earn a 5, and 50% for a 4! The exam is designed to differentiate between levels of students, and their depth of knowledge.

Ignore your grade. Focus on physics! Helpful Hints Ignore your grade. Focus on physics! Don’t bang your head against a brick wall. Never spend more than 10 minutes staring at a problem without getting somewhere. Work with other people (but no copying). Ask questions when you don’t understand something. And…. Never forget, “physics is phun!”