AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based

Note on 2021 Exams

There are differences between the paper and digital versions of some 2021 AP Exams, and those variations differ by course. The information below applies to AP Physics 2 only. View a summary of all 2021 AP Exam formats.

The AP Physics 2 digital exam will include:

• More multiple-choice questions than the paper exam
• Fewer free-response questions than the paper exam

Free-response questions will consist of familiar tasks that could appear on a traditional AP Exam, but they will be answerable with a regular computer keyboard and won’t require drawing or graphing. The digital exam app will include any symbols you would need to type your responses. All responses must be typed directly into the exam app. No handwritten or photographed work will be accepted.

You will be able to practice multiple-choice and free-response questions within the 2021 digital exam app, available in early April.

Digital Practice and Testing Information

Updated April 8

Digital Practice Now Available

Starting April 8, you can try out the test-day experience, by answering example questions in the digital testing application. See the Digital Practice page for general information about practice options.

AP Physics 2 students will have two options to answer example questions in the digital testing application. Both provide approximately the same time limit per question as the full exam.

• Digital Practice has the same sections as the actual digital exam, but with shortened MCQ sections:
  • Section I: 9 multiple choice, 15 minutes, followed by a shortened 5-minute break
  • Section II, Part A: 4 multiple-choice questions, 7 minutes, followed by a 1-minute pause
  • Section II, Part B: full-length FRQ section (2 questions, 45 minutes)
• The App Demo is an even shorter subset of the questions in Digital Practice–5 multiple-choice questions, a 2-minute break, and 1 free-response question.

We highly recommend you take the Digital Practice, and strongly advise that if you can’t take the Digital Practice, at least take the App Demo. Both can be taken multiple times, and can be accessed directly in the digital testing application. You can access your answers and solution materials (MCQ answer key, FRQ scoring guidelines) for the Digital Practice. Note: Taking the App Demo after completing Digital Practice may override your answers from Digital Practice.

Digital Practice and Testing Information

Digital Practice Now Available

Updated April 8

Taking the Digital Exam

You should be aware of some aspects of testing digitally that you’ll encounter–in the Digital Practice and on exam day:

• As a reminder, you will answer all multiple-choice questions and type all free-response answers directly in the digital exam application. Scratch paper is permitted for notes or planning, but you cannot handwrite or otherwise upload responses. 
  • The free-response questions won’t require you to draw diagrams, charts or complicated mathematical expressions. All responses can be typed on a regular computer keyboard, along with a selection of formatting options (including superscript and subscript) and additional characters that can be accessed by clicking the Omega button:

     

    

• Some free-response question prompts reference a specific question part. You can click on the » symbol shown in the prompt to automatically scroll to the referenced location.
• The AP Physics 2 Equation Sheet can be accessed with the Reference button in the upper right button bar of the application. The interface and layout are different in the digital testing application than in the paper exam booklet, so you should take a look when you take digital practice.
• A four-function, scientific or graphing calculator is allowed on the exam. However, you’ll need to bring your own calculator because the digital testing application does not include one.
• As a reminder, you cannot go back to questions you’ve already answered, and cannot skip ahead. 
• However, free-response questions will each be presented in multiple parts, and you’ll answer each part on a separate screen. You may move among the parts of the question currently being answered, with the Back and Next buttons. Once you’ve entered your response to the last part of a question and moved ahead to the next, you won’t be able to go back to any part of that question you finished.
• Exam directions and section-specific directions will not be read by a proctor–they’ll appear entirely in the application. You’ll see them at the beginning of each section, and can access them at any time during the exam. Please note that the exam timer starts when the directions appear. While you should read the directions, be aware that the timer will be running while you do so. You can view the full text of the exam and section directions in advance of the exam.