AP Physics C: Mechanics Score Calculator
Section I: Multiple Choice
Section II: Free Response (FRQ)
Understanding Your AP Physics C: Mechanics Score
Preparing for the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam requires more than just knowing Newton's Laws or calculating rotational inertia. Understanding how the College Board converts your raw points into the final 1-5 grade is crucial for strategizing your study time. Unlike AP Physics 1, Physics C: Mechanics is calculus-based and more technically rigorous, but it often features a more generous "curve."
The Scoring Breakdown
The exam is split into two equal parts, each contributing 50% to your final score:
- Section I: Multiple Choice: 35 questions to be answered in 45 minutes. There is no penalty for guessing, so you should always provide an answer. Each correct answer is worth 1 point.
- Section II: Free Response: 3 multi-part questions to be answered in 45 minutes. Each question is worth 15 points, for a total of 45 raw points.
The Weighting Formula
To give both sections equal weight (50/50), the College Board applies a multiplier to the multiple-choice section. Since there are 45 points available in the FRQ section and only 35 in the MC section, your MC raw score is multiplied by approximately 1.2857. The sum of these two sections provides a composite score out of 90.
What Score Do You Need for a 5?
Historically, the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam has a high percentage of students earning a 5. This is partly due to the high level of math required and the specific student demographic (engineers and physics majors). For most years, the cutoff for a 5 is roughly 55 to 60 points out of 90. This means you can earn a 5 even if you miss roughly 35% of the points!
| Composite Score Range | Estimated AP Grade |
|---|---|
| 55 – 90 | 5 |
| 43 – 54 | 4 |
| 34 – 42 | 3 |
| 24 – 33 | 2 |
| 0 – 23 | 1 |
Example Calculation
Imagine a student has the following performance:
- MC Correct: 25 out of 35
- FRQ 1: 10 / 15
- FRQ 2: 8 / 15
- FRQ 3: 12 / 15
Step 1: Weighted MC = 25 × 1.2857 = 32.14
Step 2: Total FRQ = 10 + 8 + 12 = 30
Step 3: Composite = 32.14 + 30 = 62.14 (Rounded to 62)
In this scenario, a composite score of 62 would comfortably earn the student an AP Grade of 5.
Preparation Tips for Mechanics
- Master the Calculus: You must be comfortable taking derivatives and integrals of kinematic and energetic functions.
- Focus on Rotation: Rotational dynamics (torque, angular momentum, and moment of inertia) is often the most challenging section but carries significant weight.
- Don't Skip Labs: At least one FRQ often focuses on experimental design or data analysis. Be prepared to linearize data to find physical constants from a slope.