AP® Physics 1 Score Calculator
Use this calculator to predict your 2027 AP Physics 1 exam score. Adjust the sliders to match how you think you'll do on the multiple-choice and free-response sections, or use your scores from practice MCQs and FRQs. You can also find more information about AP Physics 1 exam scores below.
The 2027 AP Physics 1 exam has two sections. Section I has 42 multiple-choice questions (MCQ) worth one point each, and the section is weighted as 50% of your score. Section II has 4 free-response questions (FRQ) worth a total of 40 points, and the section is weighted as 50% of your score. Both sections are converted to a 0–50 scale and added together to get a composite score out of 100.
Your composite score is then converted to an AP score from 1 to 5. The score thresholds (curve) used in this calculator are estimates based on previous exam score distributions, so your actual exam score may differ. College Board does not publish the score thresholds and they vary year to year. For more information about how AP exams are graded see About AP Scores and 2025 AP Exams: Scoring, Standards, and Security.
Here's how students scored on the AP Physics 1 exam in previous years based on data from College Board.
Here's a more detailed breakdown on the AP Physics 1 score distributions and statistics from previous years, including the pass rate (3+), average score and the number of test takers.
| Year | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Pass rate (3+) | Mean score | Test takers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | ||||||||
| 2026 | 17% | 15% | 25% | 24% | 19% | 68% | - | - |
| 2025 | 19% | 13% | 23% | 25% | 20% | 67% | 3.12 | 174,401 |
| 2024 | 27% | 26% | 19% | 18% | 10% | 47% | 2.59 | 164,481 |
| 2023 | 26% | 28% | 19% | 18% | 9% | 46% | 2.55 | 159,582 |
| 2022 | 30% | 27% | 18% | 17% | 8% | 43% | 2.47 | 144,526 |
| 2021 | 31% | 26% | 19% | 16% | 7% | 42% | 2.41 | 137,229 |
| 2020 | 22% | 27% | 25% | 18% | 9% | 52% | 2.65 | 149,488 |
| 2019 | 26% | 29% | 21% | 18% | 7% | 46% | 2.51 | 161,071 |
| 2018 | 31% | 27% | 20% | 15% | 6% | 41% | 2.36 | 170,653 |
| 2017 | 29% | 29% | 20% | 16% | 5% | 42% | 2.40 | 170,447 |
| 2016 | 30% | 30% | 21% | 14% | 5% | 40% | 2.33 | 169,304 |
| 2015 | 31% | 30% | 21% | 14% | 5% | 39% | 2.32 | 171,074 |
AP exam scores are typically released online in early-mid July (the 2026 exam scores were released on July 6). You should receive an email from College Board once your score is available.
These are the recommendations from College Board about how qualified you are to receive college credit and placement if you earn that score on the AP Physics 1 exam. Credit policies vary by school, some accept a 3 and others only accept a 4 or 5. Check with a college's admissions office, or you can find the minimum score required, the credit offered and the equivalent college course using the College Board AP Credit Policy Search.
| Score | Recommendation | College credit for AP Physics 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Extremely well qualified | 1,754 colleges offer credit for a 5 |
| 4 | Very well qualified | 1,725 colleges offer credit for a 4 |
| 3 | Qualified | 1,298 colleges offer credit for a 3 |
| 2 | Possibly qualified | Does not receive college credit |
| 1 | No recommendation | Does not receive college credit |
To get a 5 on the AP Physics 1 exam you really need to understand the concepts/equations, and then practice a lot until everything clicks. The best way to improve closer to the exam is to practice with MCQs and FRQs and notice where you're getting stuck. What topics are tripping you up on the MCQs? Where are you missing points on the FRQs? Once you know what you're struggling with you can go back and review those topics and scoring guidelines.
The MCQ practice tests include solutions for every question so you'll understand how to solve them and what topics to review.
Work through FRQs from previous exams to get practice with each topic, and review the scoring guidelines to see how points are earned.
If you feel like you're having a hard time applying the concepts and equations to actual questions, it's usually a sign that you weren't taught the material in the right way. The AP Physics 1 Course breaks down every topic in a way that's easy to understand with videos, study guides, practice problems and more.
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You can learn more about the issue here at Teachable Status.