How Can I Be Prepared for the AP Physics 2 Multiple Choice?
6 min read•september 29, 2021
Jed Quiaoit
AP Physics 2 🧲
61 resourcesSee Units
Every AP exam will have two main components: the multiple-choice (MCQs) and the free-response (FRQs). For AP Physics 2, each part makes up 50% of your overall exam score. You'll start with the MCQ section, take a short break to stretch out and decompress before proceeding with the FRQ section.
To really understand the exam, let's look at the MCQ section first.
Breaking Down the Format ⛏
In this section, you get 50 questions. You'll have an hour and 30 minutes to complete them. If you do the math, you'll find out that you have a maximum of 1.8 (almost 2) minutes to answer each question. Each correct answer gives you a point and you won't get penalized for wrong answers. What does that mean? ANSWER. EVERY. QUESTION. Educated guesses are welcomed if you're really pressed on time.
The first 45 questions will either be discrete (on their own) or in sets (in 2s or 3s) with a diagram or data set to look at. Questions 1 to 13 (pages 225-229) of College Board's AP Physics 1 CED has examples of both discrete and group questions. Check them out to see what they look like!
For the last 5 questions, there will be two right answers instead of just one. This also means that it's all or nothing: you need to get both answers right to get the point. No such thing as partial credit here. Questions 14 and 15 (page 230) of the same CED as above are good illustrators of what this mini-section will look like.
The MCQ section will be comprised of a mix of both conceptual and mathematical questions. Here's the thing, though: you're allowed to use a calculator and a formula sheet for you to use. No need to worry about mental arithmetic or memorizing every single formula before the test because they'll be provided.
Here's the breakdown of AP Physics 2 topics per unit. The percentages determine how much likely a question from a given topic will appear on the MCQ section.
- Fluids: 10-12%
- Thermodynamics: 18-22%
- Electric Force, Field, and Potential: 10-14%
- Electric Circuits: 10-14%
- Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction: 10-12%
- Geometric and Physical Optics: 12-14%
- Quantum, Atomic, and Nuclear Physics: 10-12%
Multiple Choice Skills ⚙️
Don't worry, the MCQ doesn't exist just for you to spend a grueling 90 minutes bubbling in answers. College Board states that the multiple-choice section will test your ability to:
- Interpret and describe representations and models
- Use mathematics to solve science problems
- Design an experiment to answer a scientific question or test a hypothesis
- Analyze data and evaluate evidence
- Work with scientific explanations and theories
- Make connections
In other words, the test-taking approaches and strategies you'll use in this section will carry on to college and beyond!
Tips 'n Tricks 🤔
🏃 1. Practice, practice, practice!
There's no better way to familiarize yourself with the test than taking sample exams! Your first few runs won't be as smooth as what you'd expect, but you'll be able to note the following:
- Speed: How much time do you spend per question on average? Do you have time to get through every question at least once?
- Mastery of Units: Which topics do you tend to struggle with or spend more time looking at? Which topics do you tend to breeze through comfortably? Take note of units that fall under either category as you figure out which units to focus on.
- Preferred Question Type: Which question types do you find easier to answer: conceptual, mathematical, data-based, or experimental design questions?
- Annotate the details they give you! Is the system closed? What values do they give you? Is acceleration constant? Is the circuit in series or parallel?
The best place to get AP-style multiple choice practice is a prep book. Here's a list of the best prep books we've picked out for you! (((TK)))
⭐ 2. Mark problems you struggle with to come back to later.
You only have less than 2 minutes per question, so you should get through the test doing the easier questions first before you spend tons of time on the longer and harder questions. A good idea is writing all the questions you have trouble within a centralized area so you don't miss any questions.
Once you confirm that you have time, double-check. Especially with conceptual questions, there will be a tiny difference between the correct answer and one of the wrong answers so make sure to double-check and avoid the answer choices' trickery!
🤡 3. Order doesn't matter!
Yep, that's right: you absolutely don't have to go in the order of the questions. In fact, the MCQ isn't ordered by unit so you might see a Unit 5 or 10 questions the moment you open your test booklet. Skip questions you think you'll spend more time than usual to cover easier questions and be efficient given the 90-minute time limit.
I recommend scanning for the questions on units you're most familiar with. For example, if you're stronger in dynamics over circular motion, look out for questions with diagrams of Atwood pulleys or trolleys rolling downhills. This strategy allows you to answer the most questions in the least amount of time. Then, you can go back and spend time working through the more difficult questions.
❌ 4. Eliminate, if possible, then guess.
Once again, you don't really have the luxury of time to closely evaluate choices A, B, C, and D in all 50 questions. What you can do, though, is do a handy, dandy strategy called the process of elimination (POE). Typically, you can take out up to 2 obviously wrong answers.
At that point, you'll be left with two choices that might sound so convincingly similar. It's okay to make an educated guess by then; if you're on the right track, you have a 50% chance of getting that question right instead of... 25% if you didn't do POE.
Still not convinced? Feel free to use your typical guessing strategies (like sticking with the same letter answer any time you guess). What you don't want to do is leave an answer blank. There's nothing to lose (literally — no penalties) if you get a question wrong. The more points you can snag (even with luck), the better!
⌛ 5. If you have time, go through your answers.
Remember how the arrangement of questions is so random and not necessarily based on unit order? That's something to keep in mind as you review your answers for accuracy.
The first time you go through the test is when you answer as many questions as you can. The second time around, go back to the questions you missed or thought to be time-consuming and really think them through. Doing it this way is more productive because by then, you've already answered every question you feel comfortable with and still not miss out on potential points!
🗯️ 6. Be careful with bubbling and/or transferring answers!
I almost made the most devastating mistake when I was taking the test two years ago: I bubbled my answer for #5 under #4 in the answer sheet, #6 under #5, so on and so forth. Be careful not to fall under the same trap! Transfer answers every page or two you complete in the test booklet.
In other words, don't be careless! It might sound trivial, but it could also be the sneakiest thing that'll bring you down if you're not on guard.
Closing Thoughts 💭
Honestly, seeing you here doing some reconnaissance on the MCQ format is already a great indicator of your preparedness for the exam. Once again, focus on three things: exam practice, pacing/time management, and content mastery.
Remember, physics is about conceptual understanding and mathematical reasoning. You can't rely on one practice to maximize your score in not only the MCQ section but also with FRQs! Don't worry, though. You don't have to get every right to still be on the running for a 5. Some students are better at FRQs than MCQs (or vice versa), so figuring out minimum score thresholds really depends on how you gauge yourself during these practice runs. Which section do you perform better on? That's a question only you can answer.
Be sure to mark questions (and, ultimately, topics) you got wrong and ask your teacher why you got it wrong. Write down the reasoning behind the correct answer and make sure you come back to it again. Remember, the more you know and the more you practice, the more confident you'll be once May hits!
You'll rock this section. Happy learning and make AP Physics 2 FIVEable. 😉
Browse Study Guides By Unit
💧Unit 1 – Fluids
🔥Unit 2 – Thermodynamics
⚡️Unit 3 – Electric Force, Field, & Potential
💡Unit 4 – Electric Circuits
🧲Unit 5 – Magnetism & Electromagnetic Induction
🔍Unit 6 – Geometric & Physical Optics
⚛️Unit 7 – Quantum, Atomic, & Nuclear Physics
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