What if My School Only Offers Physics 1/2 and Not AP Physics C, or Vice Versa?
Or, What if My School Doesn’t Offer AP Physics at All?
Ideally, you should enroll in the AP class for the exam you wish to take. But, not every school offers
exactly what you want to take.
If your school offers one exam or the other, you are much better off taking the exam for which your
teacher prepared you. Sure, if you are an absolute top Physics 1 student, you can probably pass the
Physics C exam with some extra preparation; but if you’re a top Physics 1 student, why not just earn your
5 on the 1 exam rather than take a chance at merely passing the C exam? Or, if you’ve been preparing for
Physics C, you might think you have a better chance for success on the “easier” 1 exam. But, the 1 exam
tests different topics and is in a completely different style than Physics C so you’re still most likely better
off on the exam your class taught toward.
If your school doesn’t offer either AP course, then you should look at the content outline and talk to
your teacher. Chances are, you will want to take the 1 exam, and chances are you will have to do a good
bit of independent work to learn the topics that your class didn’t discuss. But, if you are a diligent student
in a rigorous course, you will probably be able to do fine.
What Should I Bring to the Exam?
On exam day, I suggest bringing the following items:
• Several pencils and an eraser that doesn’t leave smudges.
• Black or blue colored pens for the free-response section.^1
• A ruler or straightedge.
• A scientific calculator with fresh batteries. (A graphing calculator is not necessary.)
• A watch so that you can monitor your time. You never know if the exam room will have a clock on the
wall. Make sure you turn off the beep that goes off on the hour.
• Your school code.
• Your photo identification and Social Security number.
• Tissues.
• Your quiet confidence that you are prepared.
What Should I NOT Bring to the Exam?
Leave the following at home:
• A cell phone, PDA, or walkie-talkie.
• Books, a dictionary, study notes, flash cards, highlighting pens, correction fluid, etc., including this
book . Study aids won’t help you the morning of the exam ... end your studying in the very early
evening the night before.
• Portable music of any kind. No iPods, MP3 players, CD players, cassette players, or record players.
• Clothing with any physics terminology or equations on it.
• Panic or fear. It’s natural to be nervous, but you can comfort yourself that you have used this book well
and that there is no room for fear on your exam.