The 2022 AP Physics Exam: How to Prepare

AP & IB Exams

Jan 21

The 2022 AP Physics exams will take place May 10th-13th, depending on your physics course. Whether you’re taking AP Physics 1, 2, or a AP Physics C course, you’re about halfway through the year and still have a lot of new material left to cover. But that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start thinking about how to prepare! The following tips outline steps you can take now and in the weeks leading up to the AP exam to get ready for test day.

Self check-in. How well do you feel that you’ve digested and retained the material covered in your physics class so far? Are there areas you that felt confusing, or made sense at the time but have now become a distant memory? Now is a great time to examine what topics you might need a headstart on. Take the time to ask your teacher those unanswered questions, or refresh previously covered concepts with Khan Academy. You’ll thank yourself later!
Familiarize yourself with the test format. While the number of questions and time allotted varies for each exam, they are all made up of two equally weighted sections: multiple-choice and free-response. For specific information regarding your test’s content and structure visit your course’s website. The website for your class will contain detailed information on test components, a copy of the provided equation sheet, released free-response questions, and more. This information will be crucial to understanding what to expect on test day.
Take a practice exam. You should plan to spend 4-6 weeks prior to the exam reviewing the year’s material and getting in as much realistic practice as you can. We advise beginning your review with a full-length practice test. This will allow you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and reveal high-priority topics to reinforce in order to obtain the best score possible. Self-proctor a test at home by purchasing a third-party AP Physics prep book, or sign up for a virtually proctored AP practice exam!
Study with the provided equation tables. During each AP Physics Exam you will be provided an equation table specific to your course. These equation tables are also available on the College Board’s website. Find the appropriate one for your class and keep it on hand as you study. The equation table will include formulas you won’t necessarily need to memorize (but should regardless!) and help familiarize you with the layout of the tables so you know exactly where to find each equation on exam day.
Practice scientific writing. The best way to study physics is to practice physics. Work through as many problems as you can, including sample free-response questions! The AP Physics FRQs will require you to show your work, explain your reasoning, and (sometimes) provide paragraph-length explanations. Take some time to review the task verbs (i.e., your required action for each question) to understand the goal of each type of question, and work through the released free-response questions, comparing your answers with official scoring rubrics.

The stress and pressure that accompany AP exam season can feel overwhelming. But looking ahead now will help plan your study schedule and alleviate stress as the exam approaches. For help planning a study schedule, accessing official materials, and reviewing test topics, contact us. We’d love to connect you with one of our expert AP Physics tutors.

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