Are APs Physics C – E/M and Mechanics easy or hard? Read on to discover why we’ve given AP Physics C a difficulty rating of “Very Hard”, based on our unparalleled, deep-dive analysis of 2024 (and historic) pass rate data and over 3200 course reviews from alumnae.
An overview of the data: how difficult are AP Physics C – E/M & Mechanics?
Here’s an overview of all the data we’ve analysed on AP Physics C, from both 2024 pass rates and alumnae reviews:
First up: Electricity and Magnetism
- AP Physics C – E/M is considered very hard, with class alumnae rating it 8.0/10 for overall difficulty
- In fact, it’s the most difficult course out of the 28 large AP classes we surveyed
- The pass rate is about average compared with other AP classes, with 67% graduating with a 3 or higher
- AP Physics C – E/M is a very small class (approximately 29,000 entries a year)
- And 94% of alumnae would recommend the class
Next up: Mechanics
- AP Physics C – Mechanics is also considered very hard, with class alumnae rating it 7.5/10 for overall difficulty
- And that makes it the 2nd-most-difficult course out of the 28 large AP classes we surveyed
- However, the pass rate is higher than other AP classes, with 75% graduating with a 3 or higher
- AP Physics C – Mechanics is a bigger class than E/M, but still quite small (approximately 61,000 entries a year)
- And 95% would recommend the class.
Alumnae recommendations: the tl;dr
Although alumnae reviewers rated both AP Physics C courses hard, they found them manageable with a strong grasp of the underlying concepts and calculus required, and consistent practice for the exams.
Taking a visual comparison:
Here’s a fun visual on how the two AP Physics C classes compare to other classes, by difficulty, the amount of study time required, and class size:
We’ve only highlighted the four physics classes here (Physics C – E/M and Mechanics, and Physics 1 and 2). But you can see the full multi-coloured version of this chart in our popular, definitive difficulty ranking of ALL the AP classes!
Psst: we’ve also got a deep-dive into AP Physics 1 and 2 if you want a full comparison of physics tracks!
Behind the scenes: our Data Analyst and methodology
Exam Study Expert founder William Wadsworth is a Cambridge University trained psychologist and data analyst. Since he first started crunching AP data in 2019, over half a million AP students have used his difficulty ratings analysis to choose their AP classes.
Additional research, graphics, and article review by Dr Kerri-Anne Edinburgh
Analysing AP class data: the methodology
We want to be transparent about how we research, collect and analyse the AP data we use to provide you with our assessments and recommendations. This methodology gives a brief outline of our source material and analytical processes:
Please click here to learn more about our rigorous editorial policies here at Exam Study Expert.
Source material for AP data:
We use two primary sources of data:
- Pass rate data from College Board itself, including the proportion of students who pass overall (3+ score) and the proportion of students who score a 5. This data is taken from the College Board website plus tweets from Head of AP Trevor Packer, which include the score breakdown and numbers of students taking each class.
- Student reviews posted by users from r/APStudents who actually took the AP courses (as of 2024 the dataset includes 3,295 reviews). These reviews include a rating for:
- Overall difficulty rating
- Difficulty if self-studying
- How much time is required
The data we post is based on College Board’s June data release and may shift slightly as late-arriving exams are scored. This shift has historically been negligible.
How we evaluate and use the data on AP classes:
We consider class alumnae’s difficulty ratings to be the most reliable indicator of difficulty, more so than pass rate.
Pass rate, or percentage of students scoring a certain grade, is a misleading metric for two main reasons:
- Some classes attract highly able students, so may have a high pass rate, but this is more a reflection of the calibre of students taking the class. This particularly applies to language classes.
- Research has shown that popular, widely taken AP classes tend to have lower passing rates. So, a low passing rate could indicate a larger variety of student skill, not necessarily class difficulty.
Our assessments of course difficulty
We have given each every AP class a graded ranking of difficulty, primarily based on class alumnae difficulty ratings. Many other important factors are taken into consideration when making our recommendations for how easy or hard you may find the AP course.
The rankings are determined as followed:
- Very Easy – scores less than 4.0
- Quite Easy – scores between 4.0 and 4.9
- Moderate Difficulty – scores between 5.0 and 5.9
- Quite Hard – scores between 6.0 and 6.9
- Very Hard – scores more than 7.0
You should take every available metric into account when making your choice of AP classes. Remember that some students tend to find certain fields easier or harder than others, based on pre-existing experience.
And remember, as College Board’s Trevor Packer reminds us, an AP score is only one indicator of student learning and achievement.
A deep dive into the 2024 exam data on the AP Physics C classes
If you want to know more about how AP Physics C stacks up against the average AP class, and against previous years’ results: read on for five charts that set out all the data you could want.
1. Difficulty: a look at the ratings
AP Physics C – E/M is considered very hard, with class alumnae rating it 8.0/10 for overall difficulty, making it the most difficult out of the 28 large AP classes we surveyed.
AP Physics C – Mechanics is also considered very hard, with class alumnae rating it 7.5/10 for overall difficulty, making it the 2nd-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes we surveyed.
2. The AP Physics C pass rates in 2024
In 2024, the Electricity and Magnetism pass rate was about average compared to other AP classes, at 67%. A noteworthy 27% of candidates attained a 5.
In comparison, the Mechanics 2024 pass rate was higher than the all-AP average, at 75%. The highest percentage of candidates (29%) achieved a 4, with 23% attaining a 5.
3. So, how does this compare to the last five years?
Over the many years we’ve been doing this analysis, we’ve learnt that AP pass rates can fluctuate wildly – although some subjects remain steady. So to get a better picture, let’s examine the score distribution for the past five years of exams – all the way back to 2020.
First up: Electricity and Magnetism
The AP Physics C – Electricity and Magnetism score distribution did not vary significantly over the past 5 years of exams, with the exception of 2020, which saw an increased pass rate of 74%.
Second up: Mechanics
In contrast, the AP Physics C – Mechanics score distribution has varied somewhat over the past 5 years of exams.
As with E/M, 2020 saw an increased pass rate, with an amazing 83% of students graduating with a 3 or more. 2021 saw a drop of 10% from 2020, and the pass rate has remained around this level since then.
4. How time consuming will the AP Physics C classes be?
Electricity & Magnetism is rated as very time-intensive, and Mechanics is rated as quite time-intensive, relative to other AP classes.
N.B. A survey of AP alumnae asked for a rating out of 10 for time needed to study each class, with 1 = least time needed, 10 = most time. The average rating for AP Physics C – E/M was 7.1/10 (vs the average across all AP classes of 5.4/10). The average rating for AP Physics C – Mechanics was 6.5/10.
5. How hard is it to self-study for the AP Physics C classes?
Electricity & Magnetism is rated as very hard to self-study relative to other AP classes, and Mechanics is rated as quite hard to self-study.
N.B. A survey of AP alumnae asked for a rating out of 10 for how easy each class is to self study, with 1 = easiest to self study, 10 = hardest to self study. The average rating for AP Physics C – E/M was 7.8/10 (vs the average across all AP classes of 5.7/10). The average rating for AP Physics C – Mechanics was 6.9/10.
Reviewing the course: 52 alumnae share their experiences
If you’re looking forward to taking one or both AP Physics C classes, it’s important to take both the positive and negative feedback in context. There are multiple factors that could contribute to a great or poor experience of the class, such as your teacher and your personal preferences as a learner.
An impressive 94% of Electricity and Magnetism alumnae and 95% of Mechanics alumnae would recommend the classes.
The majority of the reviews focus on course enjoyment and difficulty, the underlying concepts and calculus required, and the importance of practice for and thorough knowledge of the exam.
1. Students found both AP Physics C courses tricky but enjoyable
“[E/M] was such an interesting, albeit difficult, course! I personally found it more confusing than mechanics since it had a lot of aspects that were difficult to grasp, especially induction and magnetism rip. It definitely takes work to understand the content, but I think anyone’s capable if they’re willing to sit down and take the effort!” – E/M Score: 5
“Definitely takes a lot of time to understand and practice the material well for the exam. It’s a challenge if you’re looking for one, and it’s a pretty fun and rewarding class with content that isn’t comparable to any other normal high school course.” – E/M Score: 4
“I found E&M a little easier than Mech, maybe since I got used to basic physical concepts. However I routinely found that I had absolutely no comprehension of a concept for a good 3-4 days after it was introduced, after which everything made sense.” – E/M Score: 5
“The material is hard to grasp at first, but once it clicks, it really clicks.” – E/M Score: 5
“This was a really really fun and interesting class! It definitely is one of the most difficult courses i’ve taken though – it really does take a lot of focus and work, but it’s well worth the effort once stuff finally clicks. Definitely work through past mc and frqs, since the timing was a struggle for the mc and sometimes the frqs can be curveballs.” – Mechanics Score: 5
“The credit for this course was super valuable for me for college. Not too bad if you get the hang of thinking in a physics mindset. AP test MC section is rushed and difficult though.” – Mechanics Score: 5
2. Both AP Physics C classes require a lot of calculus!
“There’s MUCH more calculus in E&M than there is in Mech, so the math can probably be a pretty large struggle for some who aren’t used to it; buuuut, the thing is, after you do a lot of problems, they start to become almost formulaic, and you become fluent in the style of math it requires … [and] you can focus more on the problem-solving and concept application.” – E/M Score: 5
“Make sure you have a thorough understanding of calculus as you will be required to derive formulas on the exam from general laws involving integrals/derivatives.” – E/M Score: 5
“It’s a math-based class revolving around complex problem-solving, whereas Physics 1&2 are more concept-based classes revolving around demonstrating understanding of individual principles; that’s why colleges more readily give credit for Physics C than 1&2 for STEM majors, because you get much more training in both the math aspect and the complex problem-solving aspects of STEM.” – Mechanics Score: 5
“Try to get really familiar with the formula sheet. Do a lot of practice FRQs to get used to the style. The calculus involved is fairly basic so don’t worry about that too much.” – Mechanics Score: 5
“You have to understand how the calculus relates to the concepts and how it could be manipulated” – Mechanics Score: 4
3. Both classes are conceptual – and there’s a focus on problem solving
“The concepts were certainly more abstract [in E/M] than Mech, because most electromagnetic phenomena aren’t really tangible, and it’s harder to do labs to demonstrate them; however, it’s still doable material. Honestly, I think the problems in E&M were often a little bit easier in terms of complexity than Mech–I’d guess this is because the math in E&M is assumed to be harder than in Mech, so there’s fewer of the complex multi-step types of problems … important E&M concepts that happen to have more complicated mathematical formulas that are often a little more difficult for students to plug-and-chug their way through.” – E/M Score: 5
“Be ready to apply several different physics principles simultaneously to complex, multi-step problems. Many problems look extremely confusing to people at first glance, but if you take a moment to dissect some of the problems and break them down into several smaller component problems, they’re really not bad at all–people just seem to struggle with combining different areas of physics for some reason.” – Mechanics Score: 5
“Note, mechanics is less definition heavy in a sense, lots of problem solving on the other hand.” – Mechanics Score: 5
4. Understanding the grading curve was really helpful for students
“In any case, the curve is really generous if you look at the score distributions for both parts of Physics C, so don’t worry too much about making little errors in the meticulous computations, as long as you can show you understand the bigger picture and how to apply electrical and magnetic equations and concepts.” – E/M Score: 5
“The curve on this exam makes it a piece of cake if you at least vaguely understand the concepts. Seriously, in past years the cutoff for a 5 has been something like a 50% raw score. The formula sheet is extremely helpful, know it front and back (but don’t memorize it – it’s provided on the test). Overall the course is pretty interesting, would recommend to anyone interested in physics.” – E/M Score: 5
5. If you’re self-studying, having a tutor helps
“I self-studied this class and I would have struggled a ton with the math without having already taken Calc BC.” – E/M Score: 5
“Our class’s teacher was very very capable. Students who did their work for the class would do well on the exam. Suggestions for if you don’t have a great teacher, may want a tutor or such services that could work with you on some more personal level.” – E/M Score: 5
What does it take to succeed in the AP Physics C exams?
Well, a good starting place is knowing what’s required of you – and what the experts say went well (or not!) this year. We’re going to look at Electricity & Magnetism first, followed by Mechanics:
What is AP Physics C – Electricity and Magnetism? Course Outline & Requirements
According to College Board:
“AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a calculus-based, college-level physics course, especially appropriate for students planning to specialize or major in physical science or engineering.”
Both AP Physics C courses are half-year courses equivalent to a semester-long introductory calculus-based college course. E/M follows on from Mechanics.
Prerequisites for AP Physics C – E/M are a prior or concurrent course in calculus.
There is a lab requirement for AP Physics C – E/M: “students should spend a minimum of 25% of instructional time engaged in hands-on laboratory work”.
You will develop skills in:
- Analyzing representations of physical situations and quantitative data
- Determining scientific questions and methods
- Creating models of physical situations
- Determining theoretical relationships
- Solving problems using mathematical relationships
- Developing explanations and scientific arguments
The exam consists of one 1 hour 30 minute exam, with 50% (45 minutes) of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and 50% (45 minutes) of free-response questions.
For more details, see: College Board’s AP Physics C – E/M course page.
Takeaways for success from the Head of AP
Every year as the exam results come out, College Board’s Head of AP, Trevor Packer, offers an update on what’s gone on in each subject this year, including what people found easy and hard.
In 2024, Trevor made the following comments about the AP Physics C – E/M exam results:
- “So far, 2 students, out of ~16,000 worldwide, have earned all 90/90 points on the AP Physics C: E&M exam. We’ll notify them and their schools in September.”
- “Once again, students scored highest on AP Physics C: E&M MC questions about Electric Circuits (Unit 3), with 15% earning at least 6 of 7 possible pts; most challenging was Electromagnetism (Unit 5), with an average score of 36%.”
- “AP Physics C: E&M FR questions: students again scored best on the Experimental Design question (Q2); Electromagnetism (Q3) continued to have the lowest scores. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap24-frq-physics-c-em-set-1.pdf… https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap24-frq-physics-c-em-set-2.pdf“
What is AP Physics C – Mechanics? Course Outline & Requirements
According to College Board:
“AP Physics C: Mechanics is a calculus-based, college-level physics course. It covers kinematics; Newton’s laws of motion; work, energy, and power; systems of particles and linear momentum; circular motion and rotation; oscillations; and gravitation.”
Both AP Physics C courses are half-year courses equivalent to a semester-long introductory calculus-based college course. E/M follows on from Mechanics.
Prerequisites for AP Physics C – Mechanics are a prior or concurrent course in calculus.
There is a lab requirement for AP Physics C – Mechanics: “students should spend a minimum of 25% of instructional time engaged in hands-on laboratory work”.
You will develop skills in:
- Analyzing representations of physical situations and quantitative data from graphs
- Determining scientific questions and methods
- Creating models of physical situations
- Determining theoretical relationships
- Solving problems using mathematical relationships
- Developing explanations and scientific arguments
The exam consists of one 1 hour 30 minute exam. 50% (45 minutes) is multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and 50% (45 minutes) is free-response questions.
For more details, see: College Board’s AP Physics C – Mechanics course page.
Takeaways for success from the Head of AP
In 2024 Trevor Packer, College Board’s Head of AP, made the following comments about the AP Physics C – Mechanics exam results:
- “Like last year, students scored highest on AP Physics C: Mech MC questions about Kinematics (Unit 1); lowest scores were on Work, Energy, & Power (Unit 3) and Rotation (Unit 5).”
- “AP Physics C: Mech FR questions: students had strong performances on the Experimental Design question (Q2); lowest scores were on the question on Rotation (Q3). https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap24-frq-physics-c-mech-set-1.pdf… https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap24-frq-physics-c-mech-set-2.pdf“
How to (self) study for the AP Physics C classes, with advice from alumnae
Let’s turn back to those alumnae reviews. Many students who’ve taken the course also have great advice on how to study – and self-study – for the exam, including what to practice and the best resources. We’ve collated a selection for you:
1. Success in AP Physics C often comes down to practice and dedication!
“Doing Practice problems is the best studying method. There is no other studying method. Same applies for Mechanics.” – E/M Score: 4
“Practice with as many quizzes as possible.” – E/M Score: 5
“Past practice exams helped me get the score I need since my school accepts 4’s and higher for equivalent courses” – E/M Score: 4
“Do the homework. Don’t catch senioritis like I did.” – E/M Score: 4
“Do practice problems, both multiple choice and free response, and take mock exams.” – Mechanics Score: 5
“Do lots of FRQ practice using the CollegeBoard website FRQs” – Mechanics Score: 5
2. Finding resources that clicked really helped AP Physics C students
“Use Yale courses online on YouTube-has a very solid physics e/m course with a prof that is extraordinarily knowledgeable in his field. Do practice consistently and understand concepts as they continuously come back.” – E/M Score: 5
“I struggled with this class for quite a long time, but then once I started using the 5 Steps to a 5 book (which I bought 3 weeks before the exam), I really understood the material to a much higher level and came to love this class.” – E/M Score: 5
“1. Unless you’ve sat and struggled with the problem for at least like 10 minutes, don’t google solution. 2. Do every problem in your textbook, I recommend HRK.” – Mechanics Score: 5
“My teacher rushed through the course because it was set up as Physics C Mech for semester 1 and Physics C E&M for semester 2. I couldn’t understand much just using the lesson notes, so I had to turn to Dan Fullerton’s videos as an additional resources. This helped a lot.” – Mechanics Score: 5
Best books and test prep resources for AP Physics C
If you’re looking for the best books to study to help you ace AP Physics C, we’ve crunched the numbers on the available textbooks. Check out the winners, according to reviews from successful AP students, in our overview of the best AP study guides for every subject.
Where next?
Find out how AP Physics C – E/M and Mechanics compare to other classes: click here for our popular, definitive overview of all AP Classes ranked by difficulty.
Or compare how the AP Physics C classes compares to the other physics courses with our deep-dive into AP Physics 1 and 2.
If you’ve found our analysis helpful, have a question for our Data Analyst and AP expert, William – or just have some thoughts to share: please leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Good luck!
Exam Study Expert founder William Wadsworth is a Cambridge University trained psychologist and data analyst. Since he first started crunching AP data in 2019, over half a million AP students have used his difficulty ratings analysis to choose their AP classes. William’s research on effective study strategies has been presented at top education conferences and reported in The Times, and he also hosts the top-rated Exam Study Expert podcast, with 1 million downloads to date.
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