AP Physics 2 Score Calculator 2026
Enter your multiple-choice and free-response raw scores to estimate your AP score (1–5) and see where you stand relative to the national score distribution.
Exam time: 3 hr 15 min
Enter Your Raw Scores
50 questions · 1 pt each · no penalty for wrong answers
4 FRQs including 1 experimental design and 1 argument question
Approximate Score Cutoffs (% of max composite)
Score Distribution (approximate, recent years)
66% of test-takers score 3 or higher (passing rate)
About the AP Physics 2 Exam
AP Physics 2 is an algebra-based course covering fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, electrostatics, electric circuits, magnetism, electromagnetic waves, optics, and modern physics. The course assumes students have completed AP Physics 1 or an equivalent algebra-based physics course.
The exam runs 3 hr 15 min. The multiple-choice section has 50 questions and accounts for approximately 50% of the total score. The Free Response Questions (FRQ) accounts for the remaining 50%.
What Is a Good AP Phys 2 Score?
About 66% of students earn a 3 or higher, making AP Physics 2 more accessible than AP Physics 1. A 4 or 5 demonstrates strong conceptual physics understanding across a broad range of topics.
The College Board assigns a label to each score level. A 5 means Extremely Well Qualified, a 4 means Well Qualified, a 3 means Qualified, a 2 means Possibly Qualified, and a 1 means No Recommendation. Most colleges award credit only for scores of 3 or higher, with many competitive schools requiring 4 or 5 for the same credit.
AP Physics 2 College Credit Policy
Most schools award 3 to 4 credits for scores of 3 to 5. Like AP Physics 1, it is algebra-based and may not satisfy calculus-based physics requirements for STEM programs.
Credit policies vary significantly between institutions. Some universities, particularly highly selective ones, use AP scores for placement rather than credit. That means they let you skip ahead in a course sequence but do not reduce your graduation credit requirement. Always verify with your specific school's registrar or AP credit chart before assuming your score earns a particular number of credits.
How Is the AP Phys 2 Score Calculated?
The College Board converts raw scores into a composite score, then maps that composite to a final AP score of 1 to 5. The multiple-choice section is scored by counting correct answers. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so it always pays to attempt every question. Free response answers are scored by trained AP readers using detailed rubrics.
The exact composite-to-AP-score conversion (called the "raw score conversion chart") is set after each exam administration based on the difficulty of that year's exam. The cutoffs used in this calculator are based on historical averages and are intended as estimates. Your actual score will be determined by College Board after scoring is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2?
AP Physics 1 covers Newtonian mechanics, waves, and circuits. AP Physics 2 covers fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics. Both are algebra-based courses.
Is AP Physics 2 easier than AP Physics 1?
AP Physics 2 has a higher pass rate (66% vs 47%), suggesting students find it more manageable. However, the lower enrollment means the student pool tends to be more experienced with physics going in.
Should I take AP Physics 1 before AP Physics 2?
Yes. AP Physics 1 is the recommended prerequisite for AP Physics 2. The conceptual reasoning skills developed in Physics 1 are foundational for the electrostatics and thermodynamics content in Physics 2.
Does AP Physics 2 prepare me for college physics?
AP Physics 2 provides good conceptual preparation for algebra-based college physics. For calculus-based sequences required in most STEM programs, AP Physics C is a stronger preparation.
What modern physics topics are on AP Physics 2?
Modern physics topics include the photoelectric effect, atomic spectra, nuclear reactions, radioactive decay, and the basics of quantum mechanics. These topics typically appear in a smaller portion of the exam.