AP Physics 1 Score Curve 2026 — Raw Score to AP Score Conversion
AP Physics 1 has one of the lowest pass rates of any AP exam — around 43–48%. The score curve reflects this difficulty. Here is the full composite-to-AP-score conversion table for 2026.
AP Physics 1 Score Curve 2026
| AP Score | Composite Score Range | % of Students |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 115–150 | 14% |
| 4 | 85–114 | 14% |
| 3 | 55–84 | 20% |
| 2 | 35–54 | 26% |
| 1 | 0–34 | 26% |
Composite max: 150 points
Use our AP Physics 1 Score Calculator to enter your MC and FRQ scores and predict your AP grade.
How the AP Physics 1 Composite Score Is Calculated
| Section | Details | Max Points |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice (50 questions) | 45 single-select + 5 multi-select (×1.5) | 75 |
| Free Response (5 questions) | 1 experimental design + 4 short answer | 75 |
| Total | 150 |
AP Physics 1 has a unique multi-select MC format: 5 questions require selecting two correct answers. These multi-select questions are worth 1.5 points each (compared to 1.0 for single-select). Partial credit is not available on multi-select — both answers must be correct.
What Score Do You Need?
| Target | Composite Needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 115/150 (77%) | Demands mastery of all major topics |
| 4 | 85/150 (57%) | Strong on mechanics + energy + circuits |
| 3 | 55/150 (37%) | Achievable with solid kinematics and Newton's laws alone |
The 3-threshold at 37% is one of the more forgiving among AP sciences — but getting there still requires real conceptual understanding, not just formula memorization.
Why AP Physics 1 Has a Low Pass Rate
Not a calculation problem — a conceptual problem. AP Physics 1 was redesigned to test deep conceptual understanding rather than formula plug-and-chug. Questions present novel scenarios and ask students to explain why something happens, not just calculate what happens.
The multi-select MC questions and the experimental design FRQ in particular reward students who can reason from first principles, not just recall equations.
Common difficulty areas:
- Rotational motion (torque, angular momentum) — most frequently missed unit
- Circuits (series vs parallel, Ohm's law applications)
- Waves and sound (standing waves, resonance)
- Newton's third law in non-obvious contexts
AP Physics 1 vs AP Physics 2 Curve
| AP Physics 1 | AP Physics 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Composite max | 150 | 150 |
| Score 5 min | 115 (77%) | ~115 (77%) |
| Score 3 min | 55 (37%) | ~58 (39%) |
| Five-rate | 14% | 14% |
| Pass rate (3+) | ~48% | ~58% |
AP Physics 2 has a higher pass rate because it attracts a more self-selected group of students who performed well in Physics 1 first.
Most Tested Topics
| Unit | % of Exam |
|---|---|
| Kinematics | 10–16% |
| Newton's Laws | 16–21% |
| Energy, Work, Power | 20–28% |
| Momentum | 12–18% |
| Rotation | 10–16% |
| Waves/Sound | 12–18% |
| Circuits | 12–18% |
Energy conservation (Units 3) is the most universally applicable concept — it appears in nearly every FRQ.