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The AP Physics Test consists of three separate exams: Physics B which is the equivalent of a a first year non-calculus course in Physics; Physics C Mechanics and Physics C Electricity and Magnetism. Student are permitted to take the B exam or the Physics C exams, but not both in the same testing sequence. Both the Physics B and C course topics include Newtonian mechanics, fluid mechanics and thermal physics, electricity and magnetism. In addition, Physics B cover waves and optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. Generally speaking, the first half of all three tests focus more on the principles of physics, while the second section, the free response section, covers the application of those principles.

AP Physics B is an algebra/trigonometry based Physics exam. Typically students who are NOT considering a major in Engineering or Physics, would sit for this exam. Success on AP Physics B would in many cases satisfy the Physics requirement at many colleges and universities for those seeking majors in the life and applied sciences areas. The Physics C average score has been 2.88 for the last three years, with about $33% achieving a score of 4 or better on the exam.

The AP Physics B exam is three hours long, half of which includes 70 question multiple choice questions and another half which is an essay-based free response section. The free response sections includes 6-7 questions, 2-4 of which are 17 minutes in duration and 3-4 of which are 11 minutes each. ¹

AP Physics B
Exam Grade	2011		2010		2009		2008		2007		2006
Exam Grade	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
5	12369	16.4	9969	14.8	9342	14.9	8955	15.5	8869	16.2	6551	12.8
4	14522	19.2	12438	18.5	11693	18.6	10123	17.5	9279	16.9	9359	18.4
3	19598	25.9	17586	26.1	17062	27.2	15864	27.5	14931	27.2	14894	29.2
2	13065	17.3	12553	18.6	11500	18.3	10547	18.3	10210	18.6	7304	14.3
1	16094	21.3	14766	21.9	13105	20.9	12269	21.2	11601	21.1	12879	25.3
TOT	75648		67312		62702		57758		54890		50987
3 +	46489	61.5	39993	59.4	39097	60.8	34942	60.5	33079	60.3	30804	60.4
4 +	26891	35.5	22407	33.3	21035	33.5	19078	33.3	18148	33.1	15910	31.2
Ave.	2.92		2.86		2.88		2.88		2.88		2.79
TOT - Total Test Takers, 3+ - All scores 3 and above, 4+ - All scores 4 and above

AP Physics C Mechanics is a calculus-based Physics exam that accrues to a first year college Physics course for Engineering and Physics majors. Many high schools offer only this part of an AP Physics C program. The Mechanics test covers kinematics, energy, momentum, rotational dynamics, and oscillations. Physics C Mechanics test scores consistently tally among the highest average AP test scores (about 3.3), with nearly half of all test takers achieving a 4 or better. The distribution of scores has remained remarkably consistent over the years.

The AP Physics C Mechanics exam is 90 minutes in duration. It includes a 35 question multiple choice section (no calculators allowed) and three essay or "free response questions (calculators permitted). Future exams are expected to include more questions, requiring shorter answers ¹

AP Physics C - Mechanics
Exam Grade	2011		2010		2009		2008		2007		2006
Exam Grade	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
5	9334	26.5	8605	26.9	7260	24.9	7696	27.3	6877	26.1	5929	24.2
4	8547	24.3	8062	25.2	7183	24.6	7134	25.3	6669	25.3	5996	24.5
3	7802	22.2	6630	20.7	5934	20.3	5887	20.9	5268	20.0	5188	21.2
2	4991	14.2	4686	14.7	4383	15.0	3919	13.9	3699	14.1	3799	15.5
1	4492	12.8	3990	12.5	4407	15.1	3554	12.6	3801	14.4	3568	14.6
TOT	35166		31,973		29167		28190		26314		24480
3 +	25683	73.	23,297	72.9	20377	69.9	20717	73.5	18814	71.5	17113	69.9
4 +	17881	50.8	16,667	52.1	14443	49.5	14830	52.6	13546	51.4	11925	48.7
Ave.	3.38		3.39		3.29		3.41		3.35		3.28
TOT - Total Test Takers, 3+ - All scores 3 and above, 4+ - All scores 4 and above

AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism (E & M) is a calculus-based Physics exam that accrues to a first year college Physics course for Physics majors. The course is the second in a sequence (along with Physics C Mechanics) of AP Physics courses. This exam covers electrostatics, conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, electric circuits, magnetic fields and electromagnetism. E & M tends to get left out by many high school AP Program simply because there is not enough to time to teach all of the Physics C material.

Less than half as many students take E & M exam as take Mechanics. However, like the Mechanics exam, the E&M consistently tallies one of the highest average AP test scores (about 3.5), with about half of all test takers achieving a 4 or better. The distribution of scores has also remained remarkably consistent over the years.

The AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism exam is 90 minutes in duration. It includes a 35 question multiple choice section (no calculators allowed) and three essay or "free response questions (calculators permitted). Future exams are expected to include more questions, requiring shorter answers ¹

AP Physics C - Electricity and Magnetism
Exam Grade	2011		2010		2009		2008		2007		2006
Exam Grade	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%	N	%
5	4862	32.0	4536	32.	4303	34.1	4131	33.5	3787	33.8	3626	34.6
4	3715	24.5	3580	25.2	3382	26.8	3000	24.3	2871	25.7	2498	23.8
3	2137	14.1	1860	13.1	1380	10.9	1531	12.4	1354	12.1	1298	12.4
2	2690	17.7	2475	17.4	2107	16.7	2030	16.7	1890	16.9	1747	16.7
1	1781	11.7	1740	12.3	1456	11.5	1606	13.0	1290	11.5	1312	12.5
TOT	15185		14,191		12628		12328		11192		10481
3 +	10714	70.6	9,976	70.3	9065	71.8	8662	70.3	8012	71.6	7422	70.8
4 +	8577	56.5	8,116	57.2	7685	60.1	7131	58.0	6658	59.5	6124	58.4
Ave.	3.47		3.47		3.55		3.49		3.53		3.51
TOT - Total Test Takers, 3+ - All scores 3 and above, 4+ - All scores 4 and above