Curriculum fit: US AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based. Format and units follow College Board's AP Central pages checked on 7 November 2026, which list the updated question numbers and timings effective with the May 2027 exam. Always check AP Central for your exam year.
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What Is It?
AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based is a US college-level physics course. It uses algebra and trigonometry rather than calculus and mainly covers mechanics, from motion and forces to energy, momentum, rotation, oscillations and fluids.
The exam has two sections of equal weight. Section I has 42 multiple-choice questions in 85 minutes and counts for 50% of your score. Section II has 4 free-response questions in 95 minutes and counts for the other 50%. That is 180 minutes in total.
The free-response questions are one of each of four types: mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design and analysis, and qualitative/quantitative translation. Knowing this helps you practise explaining and modelling physics, not just plugging numbers into equations.
Key Formulas and Ideas
- Section I: 42 multiple-choice questions, 85 minutes, 50% of the score.
- Section II: 4 free-response questions, 95 minutes, 50% of the score.
- Units and multiple-choice weighting: 1 Kinematics 10–15%; 2 Force and Translational Dynamics 18–23%; 3 Work, Energy, and Power 18–23%; 4 Linear Momentum 10–15%.
- 5 Torque and Rotational Dynamics 10–15%; 6 Energy and Momentum of Rotating Systems 5–8%; 7 Oscillations 5–8%; 8 Fluids 10–15%.
- Free-response types: mathematical routines; translation between representations; experimental design and analysis; qualitative/quantitative translation.
Worked Examples
Time per Multiple-Choice Question
Section I gives 85 minutes for 42 questions. How long is that per question on average?
- Divide the time by the number of questions: 85 ÷ 42.
- 85 ÷ 42 ≈ 2.02 minutes.
- Convert to seconds: 2.02 × 60 ≈ 121 seconds.
✓ Answer About 2 minutes (121 seconds) per question
Expected Questions From a Unit
Unit 2 is worth 18% to 23% of the multiple-choice section. About how many of the 42 questions is that?
- Find 18% of 42: 0.18 × 42 = 7.56.
- Find 23% of 42: 0.23 × 42 = 9.66.
- Round to whole questions.
✓ Answer About 8 to 10 questions
Time per Free-Response Question
Section II gives 95 minutes for 4 questions. What is the average time per question?
- Divide 95 by 4.
- 95 ÷ 4 = 23.75 minutes.
- Leave a few minutes at the end to check your work.
✓ Answer About 24 minutes per question
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Learning equations without understanding the model behind them. Free-response questions ask you to explain and justify.
- Skipping the smaller units. Units 6 and 7 are worth 5% to 8% each, which is still a few multiple-choice questions.
- Neglecting experimental design. One of the four free-response questions is about planning and analysing an experiment.
- Not drawing free-body diagrams, graphs or energy bar charts. Translating between representations is tested directly.
- Leaving timed practice until the last week.
How to Split Your Study Time
Start with the biggest units. Force and Translational Dynamics and Work, Energy, and Power together make up about 36% to 46% of the multiple-choice section, and many later ideas build on them.
Then cover the 10% to 15% units, and finish with the smaller rotation and oscillation units. Use free-response practice throughout, because it is half your score and tests explanation as well as calculation.
Practice Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are on the AP Physics 1 exam?
There are 42 multiple-choice questions and 4 free-response questions. The multiple-choice section lasts 85 minutes and the free-response section lasts 95 minutes.
Is AP Physics 1 calculus-based?
No. AP Physics 1 is algebra-based. The calculus-based courses are AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism.
Which AP Physics 1 units matter most?
By multiple-choice weighting, Unit 2 (Force and Translational Dynamics) and Unit 3 (Work, Energy, and Power) are the largest at 18% to 23% each. No unit is worth less than 5%, so none can be skipped.
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Reviewed by StudyMorrow editorial review on 7 Nov 2026.