AP Physics Revisions for 2024-25

We’re revising AP Physics for the 2024-25 school year.

AP periodically revises course frameworks to ensure alignment with comparable introductory college courses and more clearly communicate the required course content and skills. Since the launch of AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2, we’ve received feedback on ways to improve and clarify these course frameworks.

Those two courses, alongside AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, are being revised together to align the content, language, and skills across the courses, and to provide more transparent and sequential frameworks for teachers and students. Updates to the AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C: Mechanics, and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism course and exam descriptions (CEDs) will take effect with the 2024-25 school year (spring 2025 AP Exams).

AP Physics 1

Course Changes 

  • 8 units instead of 7. Unit 8: Fluids is moving from AP Physics 2 to AP Physics 1. 

  • Adding connections between rotational and translational motion. 

  • Adding specific learning objectives referencing power.

  • Adding equations of motion for objects in simple harmonic motion.

  • Removing specific links between the learning objectives and the science practices. In the revised course framework, any learning objective can be tested with any science practice, which allows a greater range of questions to be written to the new framework.

Exam Updates

  • 45-50 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) (multi-select questions have been removed).

  • Section I time remains 90 minutes.

  • 4 free-response questions (FRQs) (decreased from 5 FRQs).

  • All 4 FRQs are new question types:

    • Math routines question

    • Translation between representations question

    • Experimental design question

    • Qualitative/quantitative translation

  • Section II time remains 90 minutes.

View the revised AP Physics 1 framework.

AP Physics 2

Course Changes

  • Unit 8: Fluids is moving from AP Physics 2 to AP Physics 1. 

  • A full treatment of waves, including standing waves and sound waves.

  • A full treatment of circuits.

  • An inclusion of blackbody radiation to allow for a connection between thermodynamics and modern physics.

  • Removing specific links between the learning objectives and the science practices. In the revised course framework, any learning objective can be tested with any science practice, which allows a greater range of questions to be written to the new framework.

Exam Updates 

  • 45-50 MCQs (multi-select questions have been removed).
  • Section I time remains 90 minutes.
  • 4 FRQs.
  • All 4 FRQs are new question types:
    • Math routines question
    • Translation between representations question
    • Experimental design question
    • Qualitative/quantitative translation
  • Section II time remains 90 minutes.

View the revised AP Physics 2 framework.

AP Physics C: Mechanics

Course Changes

Even though there are no major content changes, the course framework is receiving the following same revisions as AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2:

  • Confirmed consistent language across all 4 courses where appropriate. For example, the learning objective for Newton’s third law has the same language in AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C: Mechanics. 
  • Inclusion of all terms to be assessed.
  • Tighter alignment between the essential knowledge statements, the learning objectives, and the science practices.

Exam Updates

  • 45-50 MCQs (increased from 35).
  • Section I time is changing from 45 minutes to 90 minutes.
  • All MCQs are going from 5-option choices to 4-option choices.
  • 4 FRQs (increased from 3).
  • All 4 FRQs are new question types:
    • Math routines question
    • Translation between representations question
    • Experimental design question
    • Qualitative/quantitative translation
  • Section II time is changing from 45 minutes to 90 minutes.

View the revised AP Physics C: Mechanics framework.

AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Course Changes

Even though there are no major content changes, the course framework is receiving the following same revisions as AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2:

  • Confirmed consistent language across all 4 courses where appropriate. For example, the learning objective for Ohm’s law has the same language in AP Physics 2 and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.
  • Inclusion of all terms to be assessed.
  • Tighter alignment between the essential knowledge statements, the learning objectives, and the science practices.

Exam Updates 

  • 45-50 MCQs (increased from 35).

  • Section I time is changing from 45 minutes to 90 minutes.

  • All MCQs are going from 5-option choices to 4-option choices.

  • 4 FRQs (increased from 3).

  • All 4 FRQs are new question types:

    • Math routines question

    • Translation between representations question

    • Experimental design question

    • Qualitative/quantitative translation

  • Section II time is changing from 45 minutes to 90 minutes.

View the revised AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism framework.

What to Expect

  • February 2024: AP Summer Institute consultants will be trained on the revised frameworks.
  • March 2024: The revised course and exam descriptions (CEDs) will be released.
  • Summer 2024: AP Summer Institutes will begin training with the revised frameworks. AP Classroom resources will be updated with new progress checks, topic questions, AP Daily videos, and an updated question bank.
  • Fall 2024: AP Physics teachers will implement the revised frameworks in their classrooms.
  • May 2025: Students will take AP Physics exams that align with the revised frameworks.