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AP Physics Practice Questions: FRQs, MCQs & Derivations
The fastest way to raise your AP Physics score is graded practice. This guide tells you where to get real questions for each of the four Physics exams, how many to do, and how to turn every rep into points.
Last updated June 24, 2026 · Written by the Cramapple team
Where to find real AP Physics practice questions
| Source | What you get | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| College Board AP Central | Every released FRQ + scoring guidelines + sample responses, for each of the four Physics exams | Free |
| AP Physics CED (2025–26) | Sample MCQs and FRQs in the back of each exam's Course and Exam Description | Free |
| AP Classroom (via your teacher) | Topic questions, personal progress checks, full practice exams | Free with class enrollment |
| Cramapple | MCQ and FRQ practice with diagram grading (P1/P2) and derivation grading (Physics C) | One-time $39.99 |
| Major review books | MCQs and full practice tests; varying alignment to current exam | $15–25 |
How many practice questions should you do?
- FRQs: 6–10 full prompts covering the highest-weight units of your specific exam.
- MCQs: 200+ for Physics 1/2, 150+ for Physics C.
- Full practice exams: 1–2 timed, end-to-end, in the last month.
The 5-step FRQ practice method
- Time yourself. 20 min per Physics 1/2 FRQ, 15 min per Physics C FRQ.
- Draw first. Free-body diagrams, ray diagrams, circuit diagrams, or field-line diagrams — the diagram is almost always a rubric point.
- Derive symbolically before plugging in numbers (especially Physics C).
- Use the official rubric. Grade by "did I earn each specific point?"
- Re-attempt only the missing step. Don't re-do the whole FRQ.
MCQ practice strategy
Why diagram-reading MCQs matter most
AP Physics MCQs lean heavily on reading graphs (motion diagrams, energy diagrams, v-vs-t), interpreting circuits and field configurations, and predicting outcomes from a scenario. If your practice is mostly formula recall, you're training for the wrong test.
FAQ
Where can I find free AP Physics practice questions?
The College Board publishes every released FRQ at apcentral.collegeboard.org for Physics 1, 2, C: Mechanics, and C: E&M, along with scoring guidelines and sample responses. AP Classroom (via your teacher) has topic questions and practice exams.
How many practice questions should I do?
For Physics 1 and 2: 6–10 full FRQs and 200+ MCQs. For Physics C: Mechanics or E&M: 6–10 full FRQs (fewer prompts but each is heavier) and 150+ MCQs. A graded FRQ is worth roughly 3× an ungraded one.
Are review-book questions as good as College Board ones?
No. Review-book FRQs tend to test the same content but with less rubric-realistic wording. Prioritize released FRQs; use review books for MCQ volume.
How long should an AP Physics FRQ take?
Match exam timing: about 20 minutes per Physics 1/2 FRQ, and about 15 minutes per Physics C FRQ. If you can't finish under time, the issue is usually diagram/setup speed, not math.
Keep going
- AP Physics study plan
- AP Physics FRQ tips
- AP Physics scoring
- AP Physics glossary
- Hand-drawn responses (FBDs, ray diagrams, circuits)
Practice that grades itself.
Cramapple grades every MCQ and FRQ at the criterion level — including the diagram — and tells you exactly which rubric point to repair next.
One-time purchase. No subscription.