Exam Overview

The AP Physics C: Mechanics Exam includes questions posed in a laboratory or experimental setting. Questions assess understanding of content as well as experimental skills. The exam may also include questions that overlap several major topical areas or questions on miscellaneous topics, such as identification of vectors and scalars, vector mathematics, or graphs of functions.

The Quantitative Skills in the AP Sciences reference guide is for students to use as they develop their quantitative skills throughout the course.

Encourage your students to visit the AP Physics C: Mechanics student page for exam information and exam practice.

AP Calculator Policy

A four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator is allowed on both sections of the exam.

• Calculator Policies and Approved Calculators
• Make sure you and your students know what calculators are permitted.

Exam Format

Section I

Multiple Choice — 35 Questions | 45 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score

• Individual questions
• Questions in sets

Section II

Free Response — 3 Questions | 45 Minutes | 50% of Exam Score

• Laboratory based
• Discrete questions

Exam Questions and Scoring Information

For free-response questions from prior exams, along with scoring information, check out the tables below.

Be sure to review the Chief Reader Report. In this invaluable resource, the Chief Reader of the AP Exam compiles feedback from members of the reading leadership to describe how students performed on the FRQs, summarize typical student errors, and address specific concepts and content with which students have struggled the most that year.