AP PHYSICS B

'AP Physics B' is an advanced placement science course that is separated into five different sections of study: Newtonian Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics, Waves and Optics, and Atomic and Nuclear Physics.

Contents

The exam

Purpose

Grade distribution

References

The exam

The exam is configured in two categories, a seventy (70) question multiple choice section and a six to eight (6 to 8) question free response section^[1]. In order to test knowledge as well as skills, the multiple choice section is taken without a calculator. The free response section permits the use of a calculator. The test is weighted such that each section is worth fifty percent (50%) of the final score. Overall, the exam is configured to approximately cover a set percentage of each of the five target categories:^[2]

★ Newtonian Mechanics (35%)

★ Fluid Mechanics and Thermal Physics (15%)

★ Electricity and Magnetism (25%)

★ Waves and Optics (15%)

★ Atomic and Nuclear Physics (10%)
On the exam students are provided with an extensive equation sheet for use during the free-response section of the test. The equation sheet is available straight from the College Board here.

Purpose

According to the College Board web site, "the B course provides a foundation in physics for students in the life sciences, premedicine, and some applied sciences, as well as other fields not directly related to science."^[3] Additionally, students who receive a certain score (usually 3 or above) on the AP Exam may have the opportunity to bypass the preliminary physics course at the college they choose to attend, depending on that institution's policy ^{[4][5][6]
[7][8]}

Grade distribution

In the 2006 administration, 50,987 students took the exam at 4,082 schools. The mean score was a 2.79.
The grade distribution for 2006 was:

Score	Percent
5	12.8%
4	18.4%
3	29.2%
2	14.3%
1	25.3%

References

1. http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/physics_b/exam.html?physicsb
2. http://collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/physics_b/topic.html?physicsb
3. http://collegeboard.com/prod_downloads/ap/students/physics/ap-cd-physics-0607.pdf
4. http://apps.collegeboard.com/apcreditpolicy/index.jsp
5. http://www.middlebury.edu/administration/records/student_info/APscores.htm
6. http://www.ohe.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=1647&1534-D83A_1933715A=895ee0845263f3
7. http://www.okhighered.org/student-center/jrhigh-highscl/earncredit.shtml
8. http://www.emory.edu/ADMISSIONS/admission-aid/ap-ib-credit-policies.htm