AP Physics Revisions for 2024-25
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: Algebra-Based and AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based, we’ve received feedback on ways to improve and clarify these course frameworks.
We’ve revised those courses—alongside AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism—to align the content and skills across the four AP Physics courses and provide more transparent, sequential frameworks for teachers and students.
The revisions take effect with the 2024-25 school year (May 2025 AP Exams).
AP Physics 1
Course Changes
- 8 units—an increase from 7.
- Fluids (previously Unit 1 of AP Physics 2) will now be Unit 8 of 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.
- Uncoupling specific science practices from specific learning objectives. 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
- 40 multiple-choice questions (MCQs)—a decrease from 50 MCQs.
- Removing multiselect questions.
- Decreasing Section I (MCQs) time from 90 to 80 minutes.
- 4 free-response questions (FRQs)—a decrease from 5 FRQs.
- All 4 FRQs will be new question types:
- Mathematical routines
- Translation between representations
- Experimental design and analysis
- Qualitative/quantitative translation
- Increasing Section II (FRQs) time from 90 to 100 minutes.
Learn More in the Revised CED
For details on the updated course and exam, download the AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based Course and Exam Description, Effective Fall 2024 (.pdf).
AP Physics 2
Course Changes
- Fluids will no longer be part of AP Physics 2 and will move to AP Physics 1, as Unit 8.
- Including a full treatment of waves (mechanical waves, standing waves, sound waves, and the Doppler effect), which was previously covered in AP Physics 1.
- The current AP Physics 2 Unit 6: Geometric and Physical Optics will become two separate units: Geometric Optics (Unit 13) and Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics (Unit 14).
- Renumbering the AP Physics 2 units beginning at 9, sequent to the 8 units of AP Physics 1.
- Including a more comprehensive treatment of circuits.
- Including topics about blackbody radiation (which connects thermodynamics and modern physics) and Compton scattering.
- Uncoupling specific science practices from specific learning objectives. 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
- 40 MCQs—a decrease from 50 MCQs.
- Removing multiselect questions.
- Decreasing Section I (MCQs) time from 90 to 80 minutes.
- All 4 FRQs will be new question types:
- Mathematical routines
- Translation between representations
- Experimental design and analysis
- Qualitative/quantitative translation
- Increasing Section II (FRQs) time from 90 to 100 minutes.
Learn More in the Revised CED
For details on the updated course and exam, download the AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based Course and Exam Description, Effective Fall 2024 (.pdf).
AP Physics C: Mechanics
Course Changes
Even though there are no major content changes, the course framework is receiving the following revisions parallel to AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2:
- Making language consistent across all 4 courses where appropriate. For example, the AP Physics C: Mechanics learning objective for Newton’s third law will use the same language as AP Physics 1.
- More clearly defining the scope and depth of certain topics that will be assessed on the exams, such as gravitational forces within an extended mass and physical pendulums.
- Stronger alignment between the essential knowledge statements, the learning objectives, and the science practices.
Exam Updates
- 40 MCQs—an increase from 35 MCQs.
- Increasing Section I (MCQs) time from 45 to 80 minutes.
- Changing all MCQs from 5 options to 4.
- 4 FRQs—an increase from 3 FRQs.
- All 4 FRQs will be new question types:
- Mathematical routines
- Translation between representations
- Experimental design and analysis
- Qualitative/quantitative translation
- Increasing Section II (FRQs) time from 45 to 100 minutes.
- Extending the format and timing to a full exam session.
- The exam will no longer share the same session in the exam schedule as AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.
Learn More in the Revised CED
For details on the updated course and exam, download the AP Physics C: Mechanics Course and Exam Description, Effective Fall 2024 (.pdf).
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
Course Changes
Even though there are no major content changes, the course framework is receiving the following revisions parallel to AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2:
- Making language consistent across all 4 courses where appropriate. For example, the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism learning objective for Ohm’s law will use the same language as AP Physics 2.
- Adding language to clearly define the scope and depth of certain topics, such as the definition and properties of dielectrics and descriptions of LC Circuits to be assessed on the exams.
- Stronger alignment between the essential knowledge statements, the learning objectives, and the science practices.
- Renumbering the units beginning at 8, sequent to the 7 units of AP Physics C: Mechanics.
Exam Updates
- 40 MCQs—an increase from 35 MCQs.
- Increasing Section I (MCQs) time from 45 to 80 minutes.
- Changing all MCQs from 5 options to 4.
- 4 FRQs—an increase from 3 FRQs.
- All 4 FRQs will be new question types:
- Mathematical routines
- Translation between representations
- Experimental design and analysis
- Qualitative/quantitative translation
- Increasing Section II (FRQs) time from 45 to 100 minutes.
- Extending the format and timing to a full exam session.
- The exam will no longer share the same session in the exam schedule as AP Physics C: Mechanics.
Learn More in the Revised CED
For details on the updated course and exam, download the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Course and Exam Description, Effective Fall 2024 (.pdf).
Teacher Resources
To support teacher planning and student learning, free AP Physics resources will be added to AP Classroom on a rolling basis, starting in July:
- Hundreds of topic questions and progress checks
- Updated AP Daily videos
- Comprehensive question bank
What to Expect
- March 2024: The AP Course Audit opens for 2024-25. Learn how to reauthorize your course in the FAQ below.
- June 2024: AP Summer Institutes (APSIs) will begin training teachers on the revised CEDs.
- July 2024: We’ll start updating AP Classroom with new progress checks, topic questions, AP Daily videos, and an updated question bank. We’ll continue adding resources throughout the school year.
- Fall 2024: AP Physics teachers will start implementing the revised CEDs in their classrooms.
- May 2025: Students will take AP Physics Exams that align with the revised CEDs.
Send Us Your Questions
Contact us using this feedback form.
FAQ
Will AP Physics teachers need to resubmit in the AP Course Audit?
Yes. All new and returning AP Physics teachers will need to complete an AP Course Audit form attestation in 2024-25. They can select one of these three submission options:
Adopt a sample syllabus or unit guide (preferred)
Claim an identical syllabus to a colleague who has been authorized for the 2024-25 school year
Submit a new or revised course document
For teachers selecting the third option: The original course document should only outline how the course fulfills the curricular requirements and does not need to be the full syllabus used in the classroom. Teachers should not submit syllabi that include classroom management policies.
Information about AP Course Audit requirements and updated sample syllabi and syllabus development guides are available on the AP Physics Course Audit pages on this site.
How do the revised frameworks give teachers more clarity for lesson planning?
The revised frameworks include specific terminology in the Essential Knowledge statements, making the revised frameworks more focused than the current frameworks and providing greater clarity for teachers and students about what concepts are considered “in scope” for AP Physics.
Will there be new AP Classroom resources for the revised courses?
Yes. AP Classroom resources will be updated for the 2024-25 school year, including AP Daily videos, progress checks, topic questions, and an updated question bank.
Most resources will be available on July 1, 2024, when AP Classroom updates to the next school year. Additional resources will be released on a rolling basis throughout the school year.
How will AP Classroom align the existing question bank items with the revised content?
We're evaluating and revising current question bank items as needed to align them to the revised courses and exams. We’re also developing new question bank items to give students opportunities for formative assessment and retrieval practice for each topic in the courses and the types of questions that will appear on the AP Physics Exams.
What will happen to the questions and quizzes that teachers created in AP Classroom?
Questions and quizzes authored by teachers will stay in AP Classroom. We’ll contact teachers in the coming months with more information about how to retag their questions and quizzes to the new frameworks.
What professional development opportunities will be available to help teachers prepare for the new content?
AP Summer Institutes and other opportunities for learning and collaboration will be available to teachers to help prepare them for the revised courses.
Will the textbooks we currently use work with the revised courses?
Yes. Current textbooks adequately address the material needed for the revised courses.
Textbook requirements have not changed: students should have access to a college-level introductory physics textbook that has been published in the last 10 years.
We’ve informed publishers of the changes. They’re working to update their materials to align with the revised courses so that schools wishing to purchase textbooks aligned to the changes can do so.
Who was involved in the revisions?
As with all AP courses, development committees of experienced educators and college faculty were responsible for revising AP Physics. The AP Physics Development Committees also worked with high school teachers and higher education faculty reviewers and consultants.
Were universities consulted during the revision process, and will they still have the same credit policies?
Universities were consulted during the revision process, and many faculty members were included on the revision committees. We expect these revisions will preserve current credit and placement policies and create opportunities to broaden them.
How and when will the revised cut scores for the AP Physics Exams be established, and when will they be revisited?
The revised cut scores will be established during the standard setting in summer 2025.