AP Physics 1 is hard for a reason. Here is the fix.
AP Physics 1 has one of the lowest score distributions of any AP exam. The math is only algebra. What makes it hard is reasoning about physical situations in words, graphs, and diagrams, and that is exactly what we practice.
- Course
- AP Physics 1
- Usually
- Grades 10 to 12
- Before it
- Geometry, and Algebra 2 (or taking it)
- Exam
- May, hybrid digital
What AP Physics 1 tutoring looks like with us
The College Board revised AP Physics 1 starting in the 2024 to 2025 school year. Fluids moved into the course, the exam got shorter, and the free response section now has four specific question types. A lot of review material online still teaches the old version.
Your tutor knows the current course. Sessions follow your class and build the habits that matter on this exam: drawing a clear free body diagram, choosing between force, energy, and momentum, and explaining an answer without hiding behind equations.
The 8 units of AP Physics 1
| Unit | Topics | Exam weight |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | KinematicsPosition, velocity, acceleration, motion graphs, projectiles | 10 to 15% |
| 02 | Force and Translational DynamicsNewton's laws, free body diagrams, friction, springs, circular motion, gravitation | 18 to 23% |
| 03 | Work, Energy, and PowerWork, kinetic and potential energy, conservation of energy, power | 18 to 23% |
| 04 | Linear MomentumImpulse, conservation of momentum, elastic and inelastic collisions | 10 to 15% |
| 05 | Torque and Rotational DynamicsRotational kinematics, torque, rotational inertia, rotational equilibrium | 10 to 15% |
| 06 | Energy and Momentum of Rotating SystemsRotational kinetic energy, angular momentum, rolling | 5 to 8% |
| 07 | OscillationsSimple harmonic motion, springs and pendulums, energy in oscillators | 5 to 8% |
| 08 | FluidsDensity, pressure, buoyancy, continuity, Bernoulli's equation | 10 to 15% |
Unit names and exam weights from the current College Board Course and Exam Description.
How the AP Physics 1 exam is built
| Section | Questions | Time | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section I | 40 multiple choice | 80 min | 50% |
| Section II | 4 free response | 100 min | 50% |
The four free response questions are Mathematical Routines, Translation Between Representations, Experimental Design and Analysis, and Qualitative Quantitative Translation. The exam is hybrid digital, with free response handwritten. A calculator and equation sheet are allowed throughout.
Where students lose points in AP Physics 1
Picking the wrong tool
Many problems can be solved with forces, energy, or momentum, but one is usually much easier. We practice choosing before calculating.
Free body diagrams
A wrong diagram makes everything after it wrong. We make students draw them the way the rubric expects, every single time.
Translation between representations
Students must connect a graph, an equation, and a written explanation. This question type is new and most students have never practiced it.
Writing a paragraph in physics
Short written arguments are graded on reasoning, not length. We teach a compact structure that earns the points.
What a typical session looks like
- First 5 min
Check in on class: what was taught this week, what is due, and when the next test is.
- Main block
Work through the topic that matters most right now, using your actual homework or class problems.
- Practice
Exam style questions on the same topic, scored the way AP readers score them.
- Last 5 min
A short plan for the week, and the topic for this week's worksheet.
- After
Our support team sends the worksheet, marks it, and returns a written score report and a retest on the weak spots. Parents get a copy.
AP Physics 1 tutoring FAQ
Is AP Physics 1 harder than AP Physics C?
Does your tutoring cover the new fluids unit?
Can you help with AP Physics 1 labs?
Do you also tutor regular or honors physics?
How much does AP Physics 1 tutoring cost?
Get help with AP Physics 1 this week.
Tell us where things stand in AP Physics 1: current grade, next test, anything your teacher has said. We pair you with a tutor who knows this course and set up a free 30 minute trial session.
- A tutor who knows your exact course
- Sessions follow your teacher's syllabus and test dates
- Online, so any time zone in the US works
- Weekly worksheets, written score reports, and retests, all included
- A support team tracking progress and keeping parents updated