AP Physics 1 & 2 Score Calculator
Estimate your 1-5 score based on weighted composite results.
Multiple Choice (Section I)
Multiple choice accounts for 50% of your total score.
Free Response (Section II)
Estimated AP Physics Score
How is the AP Physics 1 Exam Scored?
The AP Physics 1 and 2 exams are designed to test your conceptual understanding of kinematics, dynamics, and energy. Unlike many other AP exams, the Physics series is known for its rigorous "curve" due to the difficulty of the material. The score is split evenly between two sections:
- Section I: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) – 50 questions in 90 minutes. This accounts for 50% of the grade.
- Section II: Free Response Questions (FRQ) – 5 questions in 90 minutes. This accounts for the remaining 50% of the grade.
Understanding the Weighted Score
To calculate your final composite score, the College Board uses specific multipliers. For AP Physics 1, the raw MCQ score is usually taken as-is (max 50 points). Since the FRQ section typically totals 45 raw points (12+12+7+7+7), those points are multiplied by approximately 1.111 to bring the section total to 50. The sum of these two sections gives you a composite score out of 100.
Composite Score to AP Grade (Estimated)
While the boundaries change slightly every year based on the difficulty of the specific exam form, the following table shows the typical composite ranges needed to achieve each AP grade:
| AP Score | Composite Range (0-100) | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 68 – 100 | Extremely well qualified |
| 4 | 51 – 67 | Well qualified |
| 3 | 38 – 50 | Qualified |
| 2 | 25 – 37 | Possibly qualified |
| 1 | 0 – 24 | No recommendation |
Score Calculation Example
If a student answers 32 multiple-choice questions correctly and earns a total of 25 points across the five FRQ questions, their calculation would look like this:
- Weighted MCQ: 32 points
- Weighted FRQ: 25 x 1.111 = 27.78 points
- Composite Score: 32 + 27.78 = 59.78 (Rounded to 60)
- Result: An AP Score of 4.
This demonstrates that you do not need a "perfect" score to excel. In fact, getting roughly 70% of the points available often results in the highest possible score of 5.