AP Physics 1 and 2 is considered to be one of the school’s most demanding courses, packing two years of material into one fast-paced academic year.
Walking into the classes taught by Thomas Casavant and Matt Welander, juniors and seniors find themselves contending with a whirlwind of concepts and equations, and it’s not uncommon for even high-performing students to feel overwhelmed. But don’t worry, you’re not alone in the struggle. Seniors Arthur Gabrilovich and Asheeka Noronha took the class last year and told The Falcon four key tips for surviving and thriving in it.
So why is AP Physics 1 and 2 a challenging class?
AP Physics 1, which covers algebra-based mechanics, is taught in the first semester, while AP Physics 2, which delves into electricity and magnetism, is taught in the second. Most high schools teach these two classes separately, so learning both courses in one-year results in a significantly faster-paced curriculum.
While some units, such as Kinematics, are easier for most students to grasp, other units — optics in particular — are much less intuitive. According to a survey conducted by the Falcon of 18 students who have taken AP Physics 1 and 2, optics, a second-semester module, was regarded as the toughest unit. The next most difficult unit was Magnetism and Electromagnetism, which 20% of respondents found to be the most challenging unit.
Gabrilovich also noted that the jump in rigor from the first two units of the first semester to the third, Work and Energy, was notable. On the Work and Energy test, his class scored an average of approximately 10% lower than on the two previous tests. So with that, here were the four most common tips to surviving and thriving in this class.
No. 1: Study to apply the concepts, NOT just memorize
If you think skimming through your notes the night before a test will suffice for an advanced science class, think again. This isn’t freshman-year biology. Noronha and Gabrilovich emphasized studying with the goal of being able to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios.
Gabrilovich notes that many physics problems appear straightforward at first glance, but they actually require a deep understanding of the underlying principles in order to connect multiple concepts and ultimately solve the problem.
Casavant agreed with this assessment, adding, “I think it’s actually the application — taking the book learning and using it in real life — that’s hard for people.”
To excel in the class, Gabrilovich stressed it requires a more active type of studying — engaging with the material in a way that goes beyond passive reading or watching videos. Active studying involves practicing the material by teaching it to a friend to check conceptual understanding or taking practice tests to build mastery of problem-solving techniques in the context of exam formats.
Asking yourself why each concept works the way it does — instead of just memorizing the formulas — helps develop a stronger understanding of the material, allowing students to later see the connections between different ideas and principles and apply them in a way that might have been directly explicitly taught in class.
No. 2: Review with outside sources such as the MIT workbook
Both Noronha and Gabrilovich found that the review problems given at the end of the unit were often insufficient to prepare them for the depth and variety of questions present on class tests and the AP exam. To bridge this gap, they also turned to external resources for additional practice and mastery.
The MIT workbook — covering both the AP Physics 1 and Physics 2 curriculum — contains nearly 1,000 pages of problems from the College Board, AAPT’s Physics Bowl, and US Physics Team Qualifying Exams. Noronha described the workbook as a lifesaver.
The extensive workbook provides a wide range of problems that challenge students to apply concepts in numerous different ways, making it an incredibly helpful tool for exam preparation. Working through this workbook not only solidified both Noronha and Gabrilovich’s grasp of the concepts, but also built their confidence in tackling the more challenging questions they faced on the AP exam in May.
In addition to the MIT workbook, Noronha emphasized checking out a variety of resources to review for test days, recommending, specifically, Welander’s lectures and the Flipping Physics’ YouTube channel.
Casavant also strongly suggests using AP Classroom to review content, as many of his test problems mirror the style of questions on the AP exam instead of the class textbook. This targeted practice can give students a better sense of what to expect and help them prepare more effectively for his tests.
No. 3: Make sure to get the easy points!
Labs in physics can be tricky due to their strict formatting requirements. For instance, labs will often require detailed, paragraph-style explanations, and failure to follow report instructions — including separating a section title from the rest of the reaction — results in a loss of up to 20% of points, so it’s important to follow instructions closely and not assume any part is optional.
On tests, Noronha advises attention to detail, encouraging writing out every step of your solution to maximize scores. Even if students make a mistake in the final calculation or if the answer is slightly off, demonstrating an understanding of the process and concept often still earns students partial credit. Additionally, writing out each step helps students catch any errors in logic or calculations before finalizing the answer, saving them from losing points due to careless mistakes.
No. 4: Get good sleep before tests and quizzes
Forget pulling an all-nighter before the big test; cramming information will just leave you too tired to think properly, Casavant said. For him, a good night’s sleep the night before the test is his No. 1 tip for success.
Lastly, for underclassmen considering AP Physics 1 and 2 in their junior or senior year, Casavant advises building a strong foundation in mathematics, particularly in Algebra and Trigonometry. Despite its challenges, the course not only prepares students for the AP exam but also lays a solid foundation for future studies in STEM-related fields.
“Although it was fast-paced at times, Physics 1 and 2 was a really rewarding class and I enjoyed the challenge,” Noronha said. “I would highly recommend the class to students at SHS, especially if you’re considering pursuing engineering or a similar STEM-related degree.”