In 2020, as a response to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the College Board modified the AP exams so they were shorter, administered online, covered less material, and had a different format than previous tests. But thousands of students faced technical problems and had to retake their exams.
This year, the College Board is providing 3 testing dates starting in early May for each AP exam with options for in-school and at-home, as well as traditional and digital, testing.
“While this year’s exam options look different from years past, this schedule will maximize opportunities for AP students in a variety of different situations to test and earn college credit and placement,” according to the College Board.
The AP Physics C exam for 2021 — both AP Physics C Mechanics and AP Physics Electricity & Magnetism — will be a full-length exam that students can take in school and/or at home, either traditionally (i.e., paper and pencil) or digitally, depending on the testing date.
Here are the key changes you need to know to do well in the upcoming AP Physics C exam.
Will I get college credit for the 2021 AP Physics C exam?
Students who take the 2021 AP Physics C exam will be eligible for college credit.
As in previous years, a student must obtain a score of 3, 4, or 5 to be eligible for college credit.
How long is the 2021 AP Physics C exam?
The 2021 AP Physics C Mechanics exam will be 90 minutes long. Students can take it in school or at home depending on the testing date (details below).
The 2021 AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism exam will also be 90 minutes long, and students can take it in school or at home depending on the testing date (details below).
What’s the 2021 AP Physics C exam date?
The College Board is offering 3 exam dates for both the AP Physics C Mechanics exam and the AP Physics Electricity & Magnetism exam this year. The times and locations for the two exams vary by date.
The charts below show the dates and locations for each exam.
| AP PHYSICS C MECHANICS EXAM | |||
| Date | Time | Location | Method |
| Monday, May 3, 2021 | 12 PM Local Time | In School | Paper & Pencil |
| Monday, May 24, 2021 | 12 PM Local Time | In School | Paper & Pencil |
| Wednesday, June 9, 2021 | 4 PM EDT | In School & At Home | Digital |
| PHYSICS C ELECTRICITY & MECHANISM | |||
| Date | Time | Location | Method |
| Monday, May 3, 2021 | 2 PM Local Time | In School | Paper & Pencil |
| Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | 8 AM Local Time | In School | Paper & Pencil |
| Thursday, June 10, 2021 | 12 PM EDT | In School & At Home | Digital |
It is up to individual schools, though, to choose the exam options that work best for them.
What will be tested on the 2021 AP Physics C exam?
Both the AP Physics C Mechanics exam and the AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism exam will test students on the whole course content regardless of the version of the exam they take — traditional or digital.
For AP Physics C Mechanics, be prepared to answer questions on these topics:
- Unit 1: Kinematics
- Unit 2: Newton’s Laws of Motion
- Unit 3: Work, Energy, and Power
- Unit 4: Systems of Particles and Linear Momentum
- Unit 5: Rotation
- Unit 6: Oscillations
- Unit 7: Gravitation
For AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism, be prepared to answer questions on these topics:
- Unit 1: Unit 1: Electrostatics
- Unit 2: Conductors, Capacitors, Dielectrics
- Unit 3: Electric Circuits
- Unit 4: Magnetic Fields
- Unit 5: Electromagnetism
What is the AP Physics C exam format for 2021?
Both the 2021 AP Physics C paper exam and the digital exam are 90 minutes long. But the format is different for both the AP Physics C Mechanics and the AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism exams.
In both the AP Physics C Mechanics and the AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism exams, the paper exams will be split equally between 2 sections: multiple-choice and free-response. Each section is worth 50 percent of the exam score. You will have 45 minutes to answer 35 multiple-choice questions and 45 minutes to answer 3 free-response questions.
| PAPER EXAM FORMAT | |||
| Section | # Questions | Time Allocation | Exam Weight |
| I: Multiple Choice | 35 | 45 minutes | 50% |
| II: Free Response | 3 | 45 minutes | 50% |
The digital exams, however, will NOT have a free-response section. You will have 45 minutes to answer 35 multiple-choice questions in the first section (as in the paper exams), which is worth 50 percent of the exam score. In the second section, you will have 45 minutes to answer 35 more multiple-choice questions.
| DIGITAL EXAM FORMAT | |||
| Section | # Questions | Time Allocation | Exam Weight |
| I: Multiple Choice | 35 | 45 minutes | 50% |
| II: Multiple Choice | 35 | 45 minutes | 50% |
For free examples of AP Physics C Mechanics free-response questions, check here for the questions posed in the 2019 exam and here for those posed in the 2018 exam.
For free examples of AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism free-response questions, check here for those posed in the 2019 exam and here for the 2018 exam.
You can also practice multiple-choice and free-response questions within the digital exam app starting early April.
Is there a difference between the traditional and the digital AP Physics C exam for 2021?
Both the 2021 AP Physics C paper exam and the digital exam will allow you to use a 4-function, scientific, or graphing calculator, such as this TI-84 graphing calculator by Texas Instruments.
However, if you’re taking the digital AP Physics C exam, there will be more multiple-choice questions in the digital exam (twice the amount) and no free-response section (described above).
What device should I use to take the 2021 AP Physics C exam digitally?
What you will need to take the exam digitally will depend on whether you’re taking the digital exam in school or at home. In either case, you should make the determination of which device works best for you beforehand.
If you’re taking the digital exam in school, you will need a laptop (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook) that has a built-in camera. This can be a personal or school-provided computer. If it’s a school-provided computer, it must not be shared between students once the exam setup is completed.
To take the digital exam at home, you will need a laptop or desktop computer (Mac, Windows, or school-managed Chromebook) that has a built-in or attached camera. This can be a personal or school-provided computer. If it’s a school-provided computer, it must not be shared between students once the exam setup is completed.
No matter the type of device or who owns it, make sure that your computer is fully charged on exam day so it will last for the whole exam. If you’re taking the digital exam at home, be sure that your setup includes charging during the exam if necessary.
You should also install the digital testing app no later than the day before the exam.
You will, of course, also need reliable access to the internet if you’re taking the digital exam.
Is the College Board offering any free AP Physics C exam review courses?
The College Board is offering free AP resources to students.
The College Board’s AP YouTube channel gives students access to APLive classes and recordings delivered by AP teachers from across the country. Additionally, to help students review course content and skills before their exam, the College Board will give students access to AP Daily: Live Review sessions from April 19 to 29. You can sign up for the live review sessions here.
What are my other options for preparing for the 2021 AP Physics C exam?
If you don’t have an AP Physics C review book already, check out TUN’s Textbook Save Engine to compare prices and get the best deals.
There are also online resources that you can use to help you prepare for the 2021 AP Physics C exam.
EdX
Advanced Introductory Classical Mechanics
The Advanced Introductory Classical Mechanics course is taught by MIT professors. Designed to help students prepare for the AP Physics C Mechanics exam, the course covers the requisite topics and learning objectives. Students will learn about Newton’s Laws, Kinematics, Energy, Momentum, Rigid Body Rotation, and Angular Momentum.
You can audit this course for free.
Preparing for the AP* Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Exam
Taught by professors from Georgetown University, edX’s Preparing for the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Exam course will teach you “introductory electricity and magnetism topics (using calculus) from a standpoint of continually asking ‘how do we know’, addressing this using experimental evidence, conceptual logic, derivation, and application of equations.” You will learn key concepts of introductory electricity and magnetism to help you prepare for the AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism exam.
You can audit this course for free, but there’s a fee of $50 to obtain a Verified Certificate.
Princeton Review
If you would like to get one-on-one instruction to help you prepare for the AP Physics C exam, the Princeton Review offers private tutoring, available both in-person or online, for a fee starting at $167 an hour. If you decide to go with this personalized option, expert tutors will work with you to “make a plan, set goals, and exceed them.” The Princeton Review guarantees that if you’re not 100% satisfied, they will match you with another tutor and your next lesson will be free.
If you’re taking more than one AP exam in 2021, check TUN’s AP Exam Review for details on other revised AP exams.
