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The College Board’s grading system helps students get ready for college, according to research in the Research Journal of Education.
AP Physics 1 exam score distribution is a system showing how students scored on such exams. This system takes raw scores from the exam and determines how to convert them into an AP score ranging from 1 to 5.
What Is the AP Physics 1 Exam and How Does it Work?
Let’s learn more about this exam and its structure.
Overview of the AP Physics 1 Course
This course helps students get ready for college. Kids need to understand energy, forces, and other topics to do well on the exam. The lessons focus on thinking through problems and finding solutions instead of just memorizing facts.
Structure and Format of the AP Physics 1 Exam
The exam has two parts. The first section is the multiple-choice section, where students select one or more correct answers from the given options. The second section is a free response section. This section has no answer choices. Students must give detailed responses on their own. We share more details about each section in the table below.
| Section | Total Questions | Section Weight in AP Final Score | Total Time (Minutes) |
| Section 1A: Single-Select | 40-45 | 50% | 90 |
| Section 1B: Multi-Select | 5-7 | ||
| Section 1С: Paragraph-Length | 2-3 | ||
| Section 2 | 5 | 50% | 90 |
Students will get different types of questions on the subject in both sections of the exam.
Key Topics Covered in the AP Physics 1 Exam
Students learn the basics of physics. Kids explore general questions about motion and get a better understanding of the world around them. Students learn different forces and other key topics. The exam covers all the topics students have learned in the course.
How Is the AP Physics 1 Score Distribution in 2025?
The score distribution has its own patterns. We’ll give you more information about the score distribution.
Understanding the AP Score Scale
The score can range from 1 to 5. 1 is the lowest score. 5 is the highest score. Both sections are graded using the same criteria. Colleges review students’ scores and decide on their own whether to grant them credit and give a chance to skip the introductory classes.
We created the table below to help students understand how to interpret their scores.
| AP Score | Interpretation |
| 5 | The highest AP score, a 5, shows strong knowledge of the subject. You may have made a few mistakes, but you did very well. Most colleges give credit for this score. |
| 4 | This exam score shows a good understanding of the material. This score equals a B grade and means you are “well-qualified” to pass a similar college course. Many schools give credit for this score. |
| 3 | This score means a student is “qualified” to pass a college course in the subject. Top schools like Harvard usually don’t give credit for this score since it equals a B- or C grade. |
| 2 | This score means a student is “possibly qualified” to pass a college course. It usually means the student did not understand some important parts of the material. Most schools do not give credit for this score |
| 1 | This is the lowest AP exam score. This score means the student did not know the material. U.S. colleges do not give credit for this score, and it does not help with college admissions |
Factors Affecting AP Physics 1 Score Distribution
The most important factor determining how students score is their own preparation. Students spending little time learning often get low scores and need to retake the exam. Kids with strong preparation get higher scores. Other factors include:
- Teaching curriculum
- New changes in the exam format from the College Board
- Students’ stress resilience
Comparison with Previous Years
Most students score between 1 and 2. Only a small percentage of students earn a score of 5. Less than 11% of students received this score in 2024, according to the College Board report. 17.9% of students scored a 4. 19.2% of students scored a 3. The exact numbers change each year, but the overall statistics remain similar. Less than 9% of students earned a score of 5 in 2023. Most kids still received a score of 1 or 2.
These observations show the exam remains challenging, but some students are preparing more thoroughly and getting higher scores.
What Do AP Physics 1 Scores Mean for College Admissions?
AP scores affect college admissions for students. We will explain the key details students need to know.
Importance of AP Scores in College Admissions
Students who receive a score of 2 or lower will need to retake the exam since most colleges didn’t work with such scores. Students who receive a low score can request a detailed report to understand what topics they need to learn better before retaking the exam.
A score of 3 or higher is a passing score. Many colleges accept students with these scores. Students need to research a college’s statistics to understand if their score is acceptable for admission. Here are examples of different colleges and the AP scores they require for college credit.
| College | Minimum AP Score |
| Harvard University | 5 |
| Stanford University | 5 |
| Boston University | 4 or higher |
| New York University | 4 or higher |
| University of California | 4 or higher |
| Florida State University | 3 or higher |
| Arizona State University | 3 or higher |
How AP Physics 1 Scores Translate to College Credit?
Colleges give advantages to students with high scores, but have different policies on this. Learners should check with the specific college they’re interested in.
Here are examples of how some colleges reward students for AP scores:
| AP Score | College Policy | College |
| 5 | Credit for Introductory Physics course (with lab) | University of Florida, Arizona State University |
| 4 | Credit for General Physics course (without lab) | University of Texas, Michigan State University |
| 3 | Allows students to take higher-level physics but gives no credit | University of Colorado Boulder, Indiana University |
| 2 | No credit or placement | Most colleges do not accept it |
| 1 | No credit or placement | Most colleges do not accept it |
Impact on College-Level Courses
High scores increase students’ chances of getting into college, skipping introductory courses, and even earning college credits. Students with strong scores have the skills and knowledge needed to learn in college without difficulty.
How Many Students Typically Pass the AP Physics 1 Exam?
Let’s look at past trends and what students can do to pass the exam.
AP Physics 1 Exam Pass Rate Trends
Trends in high or low exam scores change every year. This depends on different factors, including students’ overall workload that year, the difficulty of the material, and any changes made to the exam itself.
Low scores mean the exam will be difficult and students need to prepare well. Kids should also think about whether last year’s study methods worked or if they need better ones.
High scores mean students have a good chance to do well, but they still need to study properly.
Strategies to Improve Pass Rates
There are many useful study strategies for students. We will focus on five strategies anyone can use:
- The Pomodoro Technique. This method helps you stay focused. Set a timer for 25 minutes, study with full concentration, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle to have enough energy for learning
- Work with long-term memory. Go back to previous topics from time to time to make sure you don’t forget them after learning new material
- Practice tests. Look for sample exams online. Practicing with real questions will help you understand what you’re good at and what you need to work on before the actual exam
- No to rote memorization. Focus on truly understanding concepts so you can answer any question, rather than hoping for familiar ones
- Ask for help. Don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers or classmates when you’re experiencing some problems. They will help you solve all the issues
Success Stories: Students Who Scored 5s
Students at Legacy Online School achieve high scores with our preparation. Visit our Success Stories page or contact our school to learn about our students’ achievements and understand trends from different years.
Frequently Asked Questions About AP Physics 1 Exam
We answered some common questions students have.
Should I Take AP Physics 1 or AP Physics C?
AP Physics C is often chosen by students who plan to continue learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields in college. AP Physics 1 requires a basic understanding of algebra or precalculus and is suitable even for those who don’t plan to continue in STEM.
How Does AP Physics 1 Compare to AP Calculus and Other AP Courses?
These subjects are similar in many ways because they teach students to think and solve problems instead of just memorizing material. AP Physics 1 has challenging concepts about how things work in the world. This subject connects to topics covered in AP Calculus but does not use as many advanced math concepts. Many students find AP Physics 1 harder to learn and pass than other AP courses.
Let’s look at the table below to compare and see what percentage of students get a score of 5 in this AP subject and others.
| AP Class | Students with Score 5 in 2024 (%) |
| Physics 1 | 8.0% |
| Calculus BC | 45.0% |
| Computer Science Principles | 11.0% |
| 3-D Art and Design | 7.0% |
| Computer Science A | 24.0% |
What Resources are Available for AP Physics 1 Exam Preparation?
Google and different educational websites offer many free resources to help with exam preparation. Legacy Online School uses an online platform and community to provide many learning materials for its students. Kids can find practice tests, videos, text-based resources, and much more to support their preparation. It’s also helpful to visit the College Board’s website to find relevant study materials for the current year.
