Is AP Physics C worth it?

The AP Physics C courses are both challenging and rewarding. If you choose to take either AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism or AP Physics C: Mechanics (or both!), you'll get the chance to learn college-level material and potentially earn college credit!

Does AP Physics C look good for college?

Like Mechanics, most colleges will accept a satisfactory score on the AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism exam in place of an introductory college-level physics course. Check your target colleges' websites for the exact score you need to aim for.

Is AP Physics C the hardest class?

Consequently, both Physics C courses (Mechanics as well as Electricity & Magnetism) are regarded as two of the hardest AP classes that you can take in high school. You'll cover topics like electrostatics, conductors, and electromagnetism over the course of five units.

Is AP Physics C important?

Students who wish to study engineering or a physical science will benefit from taking AP Physics C. Comparatively, students in other disciplines should consider taking AP Physics 1 and possibly 2 to develop a foundation in physics and fulfill many universities' science requirements.

Is the AP Physics C test hard?

AP Physics C – E/M is considered very hard, with class alumnae rating it 8.1/10 for overall difficulty (the most difficult out of the 28 large AP classes surveyed).

Episode 27 - Should You Take AP Physics 1 or AP Physics C?

Why is AP Physics C pass rate so high?

The Pass Rate

AP classes like AP Physics C: E&M have stricter prerequisites than other AP classes. This means that the more difficult exams tend to have better-prepared students taking them, which can lead to higher pass rates.

Is it easy to get a 5 on AP Physics C?

But AP Physics C is a difficult class. You could earn a 4 or 5 on the AP Physics C exam, but you have to have a strong foundation in algebra and physics to do well on the exam.

Is a 4 on AP Physics C good?

As I mentioned, 73% of AP Physics C exam test-takers received a passing score of 3 or above. Of that 73%, 23% received a 5, 28% received a 4, and 22% received a 3. Of the non-passing cohort, 15% received a 2, and 12% received a 1. The average score in 2022 was a 3.41.

Is a 3 on AP Physics C good?

According to the latest 2020 AP® Physics C: Mechanics score distribution report, 84.3% of students received a passing score of 3 or higher. This is one of the higher AP® pass rates, but don't let that trick you! AP® Physics C: Mechanics is one of the most difficult AP® exams.

Is Physics C harder than physics 2?

Electricity and Magnetism covers electrostatics, conductors, capacitors, dielectrics, electric circuits, magnetic fields, and electromagnetism. Notice there is some overlap with the Physics 2 curriculum, though again, Physics C will be more difficult since it incorporates calculus.

Is physics C harder than Chem?

According to a survey done, class alumnae gave AP Chemistry a rating of 7.3/10 for overall difficulty, making it the 4th most difficult AP course (while AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism, AP English Literature, and AP Physics C Mechanics being the top three).

Why is AP Physics C so hard?

The AP Physics C: Mechanics course covers seven distinct units. Because it is only a half-year course, that means some students may find that each topic moves fairly quickly, which can be challenging.

What is AP Physics C equivalent to?

AP Physics C: Mechanics is a half-year course equivalent to a semester-long, introductory calculus-based college course. AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, a half-year course following Physics C: Mechanics, is equivalent to a semester-long, introductory calculus-based college course.

Is AP Physics C easy to self study?

How Hard is self-studying AP Physics C: E&M? Self-studying E&M is not a decision to be taken lightly. From my experience, it will take around 80-120 hours of focused studying time, so make sure you are able to fit that into your current schedule before the AP exam.

Is AP Physics C or 1 harder?

While it's impossible to offer universal guidance on which exam is more difficult, as that depends on your particular background, strengths, and preferences, most students find AP Physics C more challenging, as it's both calculus-based and covers more sophisticated topics like electricity and magnetism.

Can I take AP Physics C without calculus?

Conversely, AP Physics C incorporates calculus into the subject, so you may be required to have taken or already be enrolled in Calculus 1. If not, working knowledge of calculus will be helpful.

Is the AP Physics C exam curved?

Once the total composite scores are calculated, Collegeboard curves them differently each year to keep consistent standards and regular pass rates, which means we can only estimate based off of previous years.

Is a 5 on AP Physics good?

What is a good AP® Physics 1 score? Earning a 3, 4, or 5 is generally accepted as scoring well on an AP® exam. As reported by the College Board, a 3 is 'qualified,' a 4 'well qualified,' and a 5 'extremely well qualified.

Is it hard to get a 4 on AP Physics?

Unlike the other AP science subjects, where over 50% of students scored 3 and above, AP Physics 1 saw only 43.3% of students scoring 3 and above in 2022. However, don't be discouraged. With the right resources, you can get through the course and the exam exceptionally well.

Do colleges accept a 4 on AP Physics?

Since most colleges who do allow credit for the exam require a score of a 4 or 5, only about 21% of all test takers are likely to earn college credit. Be sure to consider this low success rate before deciding to take AP Physics 1 in high school.

Why is AP Physics 1 5 rate so low?

The relatively low passing rate on AP® Physics 1 is partly due to the large group of students taking the exam – some of the students in the course might be taking an advanced physics course for the first time or may not have deep expertise in the subject area.

Is 5 steps to a 5 good for AP Physics C?

A Great In-Class Supplement: 5 Steps is an ideal companion to your main AP text. Includes an AP Physics C Teacher's Manual that offers excellent guidance to educators for better use of the 5 Steps resources.

Can you take AP Physics C without Physics 1?

You definitely can. I am living proof. I took AP Physics C this past year without having taken any physics or calculus before, and was concurrently enrolled in AP Calculus BC at the time I took I class.