{"id":2294,"date":"2021-04-01T13:53:57","date_gmt":"2021-04-01T20:53:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/areteem.org\/blog\/?p=2294"},"modified":"2025-04-02T12:23:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T19:23:04","slug":"ap-physics-12-vs-c-whats-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/areteem.org\/blog\/ap-physics-12-vs-c-whats-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"AP Physics 1+2 vs C: What&#8217;s the difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are AP Physics 1+2 and AP Physics C?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>AP Physics 1+2 and AP Physics C are the two sets of AP physics exams offered by the College Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>AP Physics 1+2 cover algebra-based physics. The two courses cover topics in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, and nuclear physics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AP Physics C covers calculus-based physics. The two separate components cover mechanics and electricity &amp; magnetism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Differences:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One key difference between the AP Physics 1+2 sequence and AP Physics C is the mathematical background. AP Physics 1+2 are algebra based, requiring only knowledge in Algebra II or Precalculus . AP Physics C requires calculus, with topics in AP Physics C: Mechanics using derivatives and integrals from single variable calculus (such as AP Calculus AB or BC). AP Physics C: Electricity &amp; Magnetism uses many concepts that are taught in a multivariable calculus course. While multivariable calculus is not necessary for AP Physics C, a strong mathematical background is definitely helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second key difference is the depth of knowledge. AP Physics 1+2 cover more topics while AP Physics C focuses on two key areas: mechanics and electricity &amp; magnetism. AP Physics 1+2 provide an introduction to the big ideas in the field of physics, while AP Physics C starts teaching students the details they&#8217;ll need if they want to continue with physics or engineering in college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Which course and exam should you take?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Students who are planning on pursuing physics, math, or engineering in college should try to take the AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity &amp; Magnetism AP exams in high school. These courses are equivalent to the first and\/or second physics courses offered in college to STEM majors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is recommended, however, that AP Physics C be the <em>second<\/em> Physics course high school students take. Thus, a student who plans to take AP Physics C their junior or senior year might want to take AP Physics 1 and\/or 2 in the first two years of high school to help prepare themselves for AP Physics C. Some schools might even require a physics course before letting students take AP Physics C, so be sure to plan ahead!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Students not pursuing STEM in college can still benefit from taking AP Physics 1+2, or C in high school. Taking and succeeding in AP courses helps with college admissions and good exam scores can allow students to test out of physics requirements in college.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to Prepare:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Students preparing for an AP exam should take an accompanying AP course to prepare for the exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>AP Courses at your school:<\/strong> Many schools offer AP courses during the school year and these are a great way to take AP courses prepare for the exam.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AP Courses outside your school:<\/strong> Fitting AP courses into a high school schedule can be difficult! Many schools have restrictions on how many AP courses a student can take or have a lot of prerequisites before a student can take an AP course.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Areteem offers online AP courses, both in the summer and during the school year. <a href=\"https:\/\/programs.areteem.org\/ap-courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Click here for more information about upcoming offerings!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to a full course, many options for review are available before the exam each Spring:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/apstudents.collegeboard.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">College Board:<\/a> The College Board website features official descriptions for AP Calculus AB and BC, plus released exam questions from previous years (Free response archives: <a href=\"https:\/\/apcentral.collegeboard.org\/courses\/ap-physics-1\/exam\/past-exam-questions?course=ap-physics-1-algebra-based\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Physics 1<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/apstudents.collegeboard.org\/courses\/ap-calculus-bc\/free-response-questions-by-year\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Physics 2<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/apcentral.collegeboard.org\/courses\/ap-physics-c-mechanics\/exam\/past-exam-questions?course=ap-physics-c-mechanics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Physics C: Mechanics<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/apcentral.collegeboard.org\/courses\/ap-physics-c-electricity-and-magnetism\/exam\/past-exam-questions?course=ap-physics-c-electricity-and-magnetism\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Physics C: Electricity &amp; Magnetism<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.khanacademy.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Khan Academy:<\/a> Khan Academy offers free review content for students preparing for the AP exam (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.khanacademy.org\/science\/ap-physics-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Physics 1 Review<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.khanacademy.org\/science\/ap-physics-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Physics 2 Review<\/a>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/programs.areteem.org\/ap-exam-preparation\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Areteem 8 Week Review Courses<\/a>: With so many resources available, it&#8217;s hard to know how to best prepare. Areteem offers personalized final review with small class sizes to helps ensure your 5 on the AP exam.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn the difference between AP Physics 1+2 and AP Physics C. Get advice on which course to take and how to prepare!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":2295,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[86,195],"tags":[186,188,189,193],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>AP Physics 1+2 vs C: What&#039;s the difference? - Areteem Institute Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the difference between AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC. 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