APE - About the AP Physics II Exam

About the Physics II Exam

The exam consists of a 90 minute multiple choice section and a 90 minute free response section. Each section counts for 50% of the exam score. According to the College Board, each section includes questions designed to assess your ability to:

  • Provide both qualitative and quantitative explanations, reasoning, or justification of physical phenomena, grounded in physics principles and theories.
  • Solve problems mathematically-including symbolically-but with less emphasis on only mathematical routines used for solutions.
  • Interpret and develop conceptual models.
  • Transfer knowledge and analytical skills developed during laboratory experiences to design and describe experiments and analyze data and draw conclusions based on evidence.

The multiple choice section will consist of 50 MC questions (45 will be single-select while the last 5 will be questions with multiple correct answers). The free response section will have four questions that will include the following types:

  • Experimental design (1) - pertains to designing and describing an investigation, analysis of authentic lab data, and observations to identify patterns or explain phenomena
  • Qualitative/quantitative translation (1) - requires translating between quantitative and qualitative justification and reasoning
  • Short-answer questions (2) - one of which will require a paragraph-length coherent argument.

You will be provided with a commonly used equation sheet and will be allowed a calculator for both portions of the exam.

Terminology

Different terms on the exam mean very specific things. Familiarize yourself with these terms and their meanings.

  1. Describe or Explain - Both terms require the ability to demonstrate an understanding of physics principles by providing an accurate and coherent description or explanation.
  2. Justify - A justification is an argument, supported by evidence. The evidence may consist of statements of physical principles, equations, calculations, data, graphs, and diagrams.
  3. Calculate - Calculate means that you are expected to show work leading to a final answer, which may be algebraic but more often is numerical.
  4. Derive - Derive means your answer needs to begin with one or more fundamental equations, such as those provided on the equation sheet. The final answer will usually be algebraic.
  5. What is and determine - These are indicators that work need not necessarily be explicitly shown to obtain full credit. Showing work is still a good idea as you can still earn partial credit in the absence of the correct answer.
  6. Sketch - Sketch means to draw a graph that illustrates key trends in a particular relationship, such as slope, curvature, intercepts, or asymptotes. Numerical scaling or specific data is not required.
  7. Plot - Plot means to draw the data points given in the problem on the grid provided, either using the given scale or indicating the scale and units when none are provided.
  8. Draw and label - When problems require a free-body diagram you will be required to draw and label the specific forces (not their components). Later, if necessary, you can redraw the diagrams using components if it is useful in solving another portion of the problem.
  9. Design and outline - Some questions will require you to design an experiment or outline a procedure that investigates a specific phenomenon or would answer a guiding question. The steps should be orderly and clearly understandable.