At a glance
- 2027 exam
- Wednesday, May 5, 2027, afternoon session
- Length
- 3 hours
- Format
- 42 multiple choice + 4 free response
- Delivery
- Hybrid: Bluebook + handwritten free response
- Math level
- Algebra and trigonometry, no calculus
AP Physics 1 exam format (from May 2027)
| Section | Questions | Time | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section I: multiple choice | 42 (single questions and sets on shared data) | 85 minutes | 50% |
| Section II: free response | 4: mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design and analysis, qualitative/quantitative translation | 95 minutes | 50% |
Source: AP Central exam page, checked 6 October 2026. College Board updated the multiple-choice count and section timing starting with the May 2027 exam. A calculator is permitted and reference materials are provided in print and in Bluebook.
The eight units and their multiple-choice weighting
| Unit | Multiple-choice weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Kinematics | 10 to 15% |
| 2. Force and Translational Dynamics | 18 to 23% |
| 3. Work, Energy, and Power | 18 to 23% |
| 4. Linear Momentum | 10 to 15% |
| 5. Torque and Rotational Dynamics | 10 to 15% |
| 6. Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems | 5 to 8% |
| 7. Oscillations | 5 to 8% |
| 8. Fluids | 10 to 15% |
Forces and energy together carry 36 to 46% of the multiple choice. Fluids is a full unit worth as much as momentum, so older review books that skip it leave a gap.
Why strong math students still find AP Physics 1 hard
AP Physics 1 is algebra-based, but the exam is built around reasoning rather than plugging numbers into formulas. Many questions have no numbers at all: they describe a situation and ask what happens to a quantity, and why. Students who are used to finding the right equation and substituting values are thrown by 'justify your answer' questions that want a chain of physical reasoning in words.
The translation question type makes this explicit. Students must move between a written description, a graph, a free-body diagram, an energy bar chart and an equation, and keep them consistent. A common loss is drawing a free-body diagram with a force that does not exist (such as a 'force of motion') or writing an equation that does not match the diagram.
The experimental design question asks students to plan a procedure, say what they would measure and with what equipment, and explain how they would use a graph (often a linearized one) to find a quantity. Students who have done little hands-on lab work need practice describing procedures precisely.
How one-to-one AP Physics 1 lessons help
A tutor who teaches AP Physics 1 asks your child to explain before they calculate. Lessons use the shared whiteboard for free-body diagrams, energy bar charts and sketch graphs, and the tutor checks each representation against the others. Short written justifications are marked against released College Board scoring guidelines and rewritten until they connect the physics principle to the specific situation.
Rotation and fluids get extra attention because they arrive late in the year and feel new. From March, lessons move to timed free-response sets at the new pace of four questions in 95 minutes.
When to start
College Board recommends that students have completed geometry and be taking Algebra 2 at the same time, so some students meet AP Physics 1 as their first physics course. If the first units on kinematics and forces in the fall feel confusing, start then: everything later in the course builds on Newton's laws and energy. A January start still leaves time for rotation, oscillations, fluids and a full review.
Common questions
When is the AP Physics 1 exam in 2027?
Wednesday, May 5, 2027, in the afternoon session, the same slot as Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. Confirm the local start time with your school's AP coordinator.
Does AP Physics 1 need calculus?
No. It uses algebra and basic trigonometry. Students who want a calculus-based course can take AP Physics C: Mechanics, a separate course and exam.
Is a calculator allowed on the AP Physics 1 exam?
Yes, an approved calculator is permitted on the whole exam, and an equation sheet is provided.
What is the difference between AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2?
Physics 1 covers mechanics, oscillations and fluids. Physics 2 continues with topics such as thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics and modern physics, and has its own exam on May 6, 2027.
How much do AP Physics 1 lessons cost with LiveTutor?
$15 a lesson, the same rate for every subject, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.