Published November 1, 2026.
AP Physics 2 is Thursday, May 6, 2027, in Session 1. It is an algebra-based exam. College Board changed the multiple-choice count and the section timing for this administration: 42 multiple-choice questions in 85 minutes, then 4 free-response questions in 95 minutes. Each half is 50% of the score. In May 2025, 72.6% of 24,211 students scored 3 or higher. The mean was 3.38. A 5 was 21.8%, and a 1 was 7.2%.
Check the schedule early. AP World History: Modern and AP French Language and Culture are in the same session, so a student taking one of them alongside Physics 2 sits one exam at the regular time and needs a plan for the other. The AP Physics 1 guide covers the first course in the sequence.
The May 2027 format
| Section | Task | Share of score |
|---|---|---|
| I. Multiple choice. 42 questions, 85 minutes | About 2 minutes a question. | 50% |
| II. Free response. 4 questions, 95 minutes | One each of mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design and analysis, and qualitative/quantitative translation. | 50% |
Four free-response questions in 95 minutes is just under 24 minutes each, and they carry half the score. Students answer multiple choice in Bluebook and read the free-response questions there, then write their answers by hand in a paper booklet. Practice should look the same: reading on a screen and writing out the steps on paper.
Unit weights
| Unit | Multiple-choice weighting |
|---|---|
| 9. Thermodynamics | 15-18% |
| 10. Electric Force, Field, and Potential | 15-18% |
| 11. Electric Circuits | 15-18% |
| 12. Magnetism and Electromagnetism | 12-15% |
| 13. Geometric Optics | 12-15% |
| 14. Waves, Sound, and Physical Optics | 12-15% |
| 15. Modern Physics | 12-15% |
The numbering starts at 9 because Physics 1 ends at Unit 8. Units 10 through 12 are the electricity and magnetism block, and together they are 42-51% of multiple choice. No single unit dominates, though, so a student who leaves optics or modern physics for the last week gives up a real share of the exam.
College Board recommends AP Physics 1 or a comparable introductory physics course first, plus precalculus taken earlier or at the same time. Calculus-based physics is a different pair of exams. See the Physics C: Mechanics guide, the Electricity and Magnetism guide, and how many AP classes to take.
Score distributions
| Year | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 or higher | Students | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 20% | 29% | 23% | 21% | 7% | 72% | Not yet listed | Not yet listed |
| 2025 | 21.8% | 28.8% | 22.0% | 20.2% | 7.2% | 72.6% | 24,211 | 3.38 |
| 2024 | 19.1% | 18.0% | 33.4% | 22.9% | 6.6% | 70.5% | 22,804 | 3.20 |
The share at 3 or higher barely moved between 2024 and 2025, but the mix did. A 4 rose from 18.0% to 28.8%, and a 3 fell from 33.4% to 22.0%. The 2026 row looks much like 2025. About one student in five still earns a 2.
Physics 2 is a small exam, with about one student for every seven in Physics 1, and a 1 is far less common: 7.2% against 19.2% in 2025. College Board recommends a physics course first, so the two sets of numbers are not a fair read on which exam is easier. Credit is in the AP Credit Policy Search.
The free college admissions data tool lists acceptance rates and score ranges from each Common Data Set. No sign-in. The first section of CollegePrep Foundations is free.
Questions families ask
When is the 2027 AP Physics 2 exam?
Thursday, May 6, 2027, in Session 1, the same session as AP French Language and Culture and AP World History: Modern. For most schools, including those in the lower 48, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C., Session 1 starts at 8 a.m. local time.
What changed for May 2027?
College Board updated the multiple-choice count and the section timing. The exam page now lists 42 multiple-choice questions in 85 minutes and 4 free-response questions in 95 minutes. Each section is 50% of the score.
Do you need AP Physics 1 first?
College Board recommends it. Its student page says a student should have completed AP Physics 1 or a comparable introductory physics course, and should have taken or be taking precalculus or an equivalent course.
Is Physics 2 calculus-based?
No. College Board describes it as an algebra-based, introductory college-level course. Physics C: Mechanics and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism are the calculus-based exams.
What percent of students scored a 3 or higher?
On the May 2025 exam, 72.6% of 24,211 students scored 3 or higher. The mean was 3.38. A 5 was 21.8%, and a 1 was 7.2%. College Board’s 2026 table, still missing a test-taker count, shows 72% at 3 or higher.
What calculator is allowed?
A four-function, scientific, or graphing calculator on both sections, plus Desmos scientific and graphing calculators in Bluebook. A reference sheet is printed and is in Bluebook.
Does a 3 earn college credit?
Only if that college’s policy says so. Check the AP Credit Policy Search. A college may also ask for lab notebooks and reports, so keep them.
Sources
- AP Physics 2 exam page, for the May 6, 2027 date, section timing, and the hybrid digital format.
- AP Physics 2 course page, for the algebra-based description, unit weights, and the note on lab materials.
- AP Physics 2 student page, for recommended prerequisites.
- AP Physics 2 score distributions, for 2024, 2025, and the partial 2026 row.
- AP Exams calculator policy, for four-function, scientific, and graphing calculators on both sections.
- 2027 AP Exam dates, for the shared Session 1 slot and start time.
Where to go next
- AP Physics 1 exam guide
- AP Physics C: Mechanics
- AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
- How many AP classes to take
- College admissions data, free
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