At a Glance
Use current AP Physics-style timing: 40 multiple-choice questions in 80 minutes and 4 free-response questions in 100 minutes. Treat this as a reasoning test, not a formula hunt.
3 Hours40 MCQs4 FRQsFluids IncludedRepresentation Heavy
Format checked against College Board AP Physics 1 exam information for the May 2026 administration.
Official-Style Structure
| Section | Questions | Time | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple Choice | 40 | 80 minutes | Conceptual reasoning, quantitative relationships, graphs, diagrams, lab/data interpretation. |
| Free Response | 4 | 100 minutes | Mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design/analysis, qualitative/quantitative translation. |
Topic Mix Blueprint
| Topic | Mock Presence | Review Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Kinematics | High | Graphs, vectors, constant acceleration, qualitative motion. |
| Forces and dynamics | High | Free-body diagrams, Newton's laws, friction, circular motion. |
| Energy and momentum | High | System choice, conservation, impulse, collisions. |
| Rotation | Moderate | Torque, angular momentum, rotational energy. |
| Oscillations and fluids | Moderate | SHM models, pressure, buoyancy, continuity, Bernoulli reasoning. |
Run Rules
BeforePrepare timer, calculator if allowed by your practice rules, equation sheet, scratch paper, and answer sheet.
During MCQMark hard questions after 90 seconds and move. Draw diagrams before equations.
During FRQState assumptions, define systems, show reasoning, and connect equations to physical meaning.
AfterReview by error type: concept, diagram, algebra, graph, units, or explanation.
Pacing Targets
- MCQ: about 2 minutes per question.
- FRQ: budget roughly 25 minutes per question, with time to write explanations.
- If you cannot identify the system or force/energy/momentum model quickly, pause and draw.
- Check units and limiting cases before finalizing numeric answers.
Official References
Verify details through AP Central AP Physics 1 Exam and AP Students exam information.