Enter your Multiple Choice and Free Response scores to instantly see your predicted AP score of 1–5 and composite out of 100.
45 questions (40 single-select + 5 multi-select) · 50% of total score · 1h 35min
5 questions · 50% of total score · 1h 50min
Strong result. A 4 on Physics 1 is well above average and earns credit at most colleges.
Physics 1 is graded differently from most AP exams — understanding the weighting is key to knowing where to spend your prep time.
45 multiple choice questions in 1h 35min. 40 are single-select, 5 are multi-select. Each question is worth the same regardless of type. No penalty for wrong answers.
5 questions in 1h 50min. Q1 = 15 pts (experimental design), Q2 = 12 pts (quantitative argument), Q3 = 10 pts, Q4 = 7 pts, Q5 = 6 pts. Total raw = 50 pts.
Both section components add up to your composite score out of 100. This is the number that directly determines your AP score of 1–5.
Composite ≥70 → 5 · ≥55 → 4 · ≥38 → 3 · ≥23 → 2 · below → 1. Physics 1 has one of the strictest 5-thresholds of any AP — only ~5–8% of students reach it.
AP Physics 1 is one of the hardest exams to score a 5 on — not because the content is impossible, but because most students review instead of practice. Upload your Physics 1 notes, textbook chapters, or lecture videos into Lunora and get unlimited targeted practice questions until Newton's laws, energy conservation, and rotational dynamics are second nature.
Try Lunora for AP Physics — FreeEverything you need to know about how AP Physics 1 is scored.
The updated AP Physics 1 exam has two sections. Section 1 has 45 multiple choice questions (a mix of single-select and multi-select) worth 50% of your total score, completed in 1 hour 35 minutes. Section 2 has 5 free response questions worth 50%, completed in 1 hour 50 minutes. Raw scores from each section are converted to a composite out of 100 and then mapped to an AP score of 1–5.
Based on recent College Board score distributions, you generally need a composite score of approximately 70 or above to earn a 5 on AP Physics 1. Physics 1 consistently has one of the lowest 5 rates of any AP exam — typically only 5–8% of test takers score a 5 each year.
A composite score of approximately 38 or above typically earns a 3 on AP Physics 1. A 3 is considered 'qualified' and accepted for college credit at many universities, though policies vary.
The AP Physics 1 free response section has 5 questions: 2 long free response questions (one experimental design worth 15 pts, one quantitative argument worth 12 pts) and 3 short free response questions (worth 10, 7, and 6 pts respectively). The total raw FRQ score is 50 points.
Yes — AP Physics 1 is widely considered one of the most difficult AP exams to score a 5 on. The exam emphasizes conceptual reasoning, mathematical derivation, and experimental design rather than plug-and-chug calculations. Only about 5–8% of students earn a 5. Strong FRQ performance is especially critical.
AP Physics 1 covers kinematics, dynamics (Newton's laws), circular motion, energy, momentum, simple harmonic motion, torque and rotational motion, electric charge and current, and mechanical waves. The 2025 restructuring removed some electricity topics that moved to AP Physics 2.
Focus heavily on the free response section — it's worth 50% of your score and where most students lose the most points. Practice drawing and interpreting force diagrams, energy bar charts, and momentum diagrams. Work through past College Board FRQs under timed conditions. Use tools like Lunora to generate unlimited practice questions from your AP Physics 1 notes and identify your weak units fast.
Turn your AP Physics 1 notes and videos into unlimited practice questions. Track your progress to a 5.
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