Latest updates of AP Physics Exam in 2025
Unified specifications for all exams: 80 minutes, 40 multiple-choice questions (choose one of four) and 100 minutes, 4 questions and answer questions
● AP Physics 1 Added new fluid
● AP Physics 2 Strengthening fluctuations and physical optics
● AP Physics C EM Exam intensity has been greatly expanded
● Two advanced APs, AP C Mechanics and AP C EM exam time no longer overlaps, so you can finish the exam in the same year
APEX Science Academy is committed to providing high-quality physics education from enlightenment to competition. Teached in all English by American university professors with more than ten years of teaching experience. Rolling classes are available throughout the year, welcome to consult!
Summary:
All AP Physics exams now have the same format:
MCQ (80 min): 40 problems each with 4 options and only one option is correct.
FRQ (100 min): 4 questions including one for experimental design and analysis
Contents update
Fluid mechanics is moved from AP Physics 2 to AP Physics 1.
Waves is moved from AP Physics 1 to AP Physics 2.
Expansion of optics in AP Physics 2
Extending AP C EM to a full exam session
Schedule
AP C Mechanics and AP C EM will have separate exam time so taking them in the same year is possible now.
AP Physics 1
Course Changes
● 8 units—an increase from 7.
● Fluids (previously Unit 1 of AP Physics 2) is now Unit 8 of AP Physics 1.
● Adding connections between rotational and translated motion.
● Adding specific learning objectives referencing power.
● Adding equations of motion for objects in simple harmonic motion.
● Uncoupling specific science practices from specific learning objectives. In the revised course framework, any learning objective can be tested with any science practice, which allows a greater range of questions to be written to the new framework.
Exam Updates
● 40 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)—a decrease from 50 MCQs.
● Remove multiselect questions.
● Decreasing Section I (MCQs) time from 90 to 80 minutes.
● 4 free-response questions (FRQs)—a decrease from 5 FRQs.
● All 4 FRQs are new question types:
● Mathematical routines
● Translation between representations
● Experimental design and analysis
● Qualitative/quantitative translation
● Increased Section II (FRQs) time from 90 to 100 minutes.
Learn More
For details on the revised course and exam, visit the AP Physics 1 course and exam pages.
AP Physics 2
Course Changes
● Fluids are no longer part of AP Physics 2 and have moved to AP Physics 1, as Unit 8.
● Including a full treatment of waves (mechanical waves, standing waves, sound waves, and the Doppler effect), which was previously covered in AP Physics 1.
● The previous AP Physics 2 Unit 6: Geometric and Physical Optics is now two separate units: Geometric Optics (Unit 13) and Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics (Unit 14).
● Renumbering the AP Physics 2 units beginning at 9, sequent to the 8 units of AP Physics 1.
● Including a more comprehensive treatment of circuits.
● Include topics about blackbody radiation (which connects thermodynamics and modern physics) and Compton scattering.
● Uncoupling specific science practices from specific learning objectives. In the revised course framework, any learning objective can be tested with any science practice, which allows a greater range of questions to be written to the new framework.
Exam Updates
● 40 MCQs—a decrease from 50 MCQs.
● Remove multiselect questions.
● Decreasing Section I (MCQs) time from 90 to 80 minutes.
● All 4 FRQs are new question types:
● Mathematical routines
● Translation between representations
● Experimental design and analysis
● Qualitative/quantitative translation
● Increased Section II (FRQs) time from 90 to 100 minutes.
Learn More
For details on the revised course and exam, visit the AP Physics 2 course and exam pages.
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Course Changes
Even though there were no major content changes, the course framework received the following revisions parallel to AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2:
● Making language consistency across all 4 courses where appropriate. For example, the AP Physics C: Mechanics learning objective for Newton's third law now uses the same language as AP Physics 1.
● More clearly defining the scope and depth of certain topics that are assessed on the exams, such as gravitational forces within an extended mass and physical pendulums.
● Stronger alignment between the essential knowledge statements, the learning objectives, and the science practices.
Exam Updates
● 40 MCQs—an increase from 35 MCQs.
● Increased Section I (MCQs) time from 45 to 80 minutes.
● Changing all MCQs from 5 options to 4.
● 4 FRQs—an increase from 3 FRQs.
● All 4 FRQs are new question types:
● Mathematical routines
● Translation between representations
● Experimental design and analysis
● Qualitative/quantitative translation
● Increased Section II (FRQs) time from 45 to 100 minutes.
● Extending the format and timing to a full exam session.
● The exam no longer shares the same session in the exam schedule as AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.
Learn More
For details on the revised course and exam, visit the AP Physics C: Mechanics course and exam pages.
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Course Changes
Even though there were no major content changes, the course framework received the following revisions parallel to AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2:
● Making language consistency across all 4 courses where appropriate. For example, the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism learning objective for Ohm's law now uses the same language as AP Physics 2.
● Adding language to clearly define the scope and depth of certain topics, such as the definition and properties of dielectrics and descriptions of LC Circuits to be assessed on the exams.
● Stronger alignment between the essential knowledge statements, the learning objectives, and the science practices.
● Renumbering the units beginning at 8, sequent to the 7 units of AP Physics C: Mechanics.
Exam Updates
● 40 MCQs—an increase from 35 MCQs.
● Increased Section I (MCQs) time from 45 to 80 minutes.
● Changing all MCQs from 5 options to 4.
● 4 FRQs—an increase from 3 FRQs.
● All 4 FRQs are new question types:
● Mathematical routines
● Translation between representations
● Experimental design and analysis
● Qualitative/quantitative translation
● Increased Section II (FRQs) time from 45 to 100 minutes.
● Extending the format and timing to a full exam session.
● The exam no longer shares the same session in the exam schedule as AP Physics C: Mechanics.