AP® Physics 1 Score Calculator 2025

Last Updated: January 27, 2025 | By the VEGA AI Team

Estimate Your AP® Physics 1 Score Instantly with VEGA AI

Curious about how your AP® Physics 1 score is calculated? Utilize our interactive AP® Physics 1 Score Calculator to estimate your score instantly! Simply enter your responses or adjust the sliders for the multiple-choice and free-response sections to see your predicted score in real-time.

Understanding the Scoring Curve: Currently, the College Board has not published an official scoring worksheet reflecting the latest updates to AP® Physics 1. To project our scoring curve, we've analyzed the relative percentages of the Multiple-Choice (MCQ) and Free-Response Questions (FRQ), along with the point allocations for each question as detailed in the 2019-2020 scoring guidelines.

For AP Educators

Are You a Tutor or Institute Preparing Students for the AP?

Give your students a Duolingo-like platform for the AP with Shopify-like customization for tutors and test prep institutes.

Book a Free Demo

Discover our innovative platform and special pricing tailored for SAT educators.

Understanding AP® Physics 1

AP® Physics 1 is an introductory college-level physics course offered by the College Board as part of the Advanced Placement (AP) program. Designed to be algebra-based, it provides students with a solid foundation in fundamental physics concepts while developing their analytical and problem-solving skills. AP® Physics 1 is ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

AP® Physics 1 Curriculum Overview

The AP® Physics 1 curriculum is structured around several core topics, each emphasizing both theoretical understanding and practical application. Here’s a breakdown of the main areas covered:

1. Kinematics

Motion in One and Two Dimensions: Understanding displacement, velocity, acceleration, and the graphical representation of motion.
Projectile Motion: Analyzing the motion of objects under the influence of gravity.

Motion in One and Two Dimensions: Understanding displacement, velocity, acceleration, and the graphical representation of motion.
Projectile Motion: Analyzing the motion of objects under the influence of gravity.

2. Dynamics

Newton’s Laws of Motion: Exploring the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
Friction: Studying the forces that resist motion and their effects on objects.

Newton’s Laws of Motion: Exploring the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration.
Friction: Studying the forces that resist motion and their effects on objects.

3. Circular Motion and Gravitation

Uniform Circular Motion: Examining the forces involved in objects moving in circular paths.
Universal Gravitation: Understanding the gravitational force between masses and its implications.

Uniform Circular Motion: Examining the forces involved in objects moving in circular paths.
Universal Gravitation: Understanding the gravitational force between masses and its implications.

4. Energy

Work and Energy: Calculating work done by forces and the conversion between kinetic and potential energy.
Conservation of Energy: Applying the principle of energy conservation in various scenarios.

Work and Energy: Calculating work done by forces and the conversion between kinetic and potential energy.
Conservation of Energy: Applying the principle of energy conservation in various scenarios.

5. Momentum

Linear Momentum: Analyzing the momentum of objects and the effects of collisions.
Impulse: Understanding the change in momentum resulting from applied forces.

Linear Momentum: Analyzing the momentum of objects and the effects of collisions.
Impulse: Understanding the change in momentum resulting from applied forces.

6. Simple Harmonic Motion

Oscillations: Studying the motion of systems that exhibit periodic behavior.
Energy in Oscillatory Systems: Exploring the interplay between kinetic and potential energy in oscillations.

Oscillations: Studying the motion of systems that exhibit periodic behavior.
Energy in Oscillatory Systems: Exploring the interplay between kinetic and potential energy in oscillations.

7. Electric Circuits (Introductory)

Basic Circuit Elements: Understanding voltage, current, resistance, and the relationships between them.
Ohm’s Law: Applying Ohm’s Law to analyze simple electrical circuits.

Basic Circuit Elements: Understanding voltage, current, resistance, and the relationships between them.
Ohm’s Law: Applying Ohm’s Law to analyze simple electrical circuits.

Exam Structure and Scoring

Multiple-Choice Section (50 questions)

Duration: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Content: Tests students’ understanding of fundamental concepts and their ability to apply them to different scenarios.

Free-Response Section (5 questions)

Duration: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Content: Requires students to provide detailed, written responses that demonstrate their problem-solving and analytical skills. The free-response questions cover experimental design, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and real-world applications of physics principles.

Scoring Breakdown:

Multiple-Choice: 50 points
Free-Response: 50 points
Total Composite Score: 100 points
Predicted AP® Score: Based on the composite score and the College Board’s scoring guidelines.

Disclaimer:

AP® and Advanced Placement® are registered trademarks of the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse, this product.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Good AP® Physics 1 Score?

Achieving a score of 3, 4, or 5 is typically considered a strong performance on AP® exams. According to the College Board: 3: Qualified 4: Well Qualified 5: Extremely Well Qualified Many colleges and universities grant credit or advanced placement for scores within this range. Refer to the AP® Credit Policy of your chosen institutions using the College Board’s search tool for specific details.

What is a Good AP® Physics 1 Score?

What is the Average AP® Physics 1 Score?

Why Are AP® Physics 1 Scores Curved?

How Can I Achieve a 5 on AP® Physics 1?

Are AP® Physics 1 & 2 Difficult?

Why Choose VEGA AI’s AP® Physics 1 Score Calculator?