<p>How did you do in the course? This is my first AP science course. I have taken AP Human (3) and AP World. I am not the best at math (college prep), but received an A in honors chemistry. I am also taking AP US next year, I'll be a junior. Any Advice?</p>
<p>I personally hated this course. My grades in the class were good thanks to an relatively easy teacher, but the subject itself was horrendous. The content was OK, but application on practice AP questions was so difficult! Sure enough, the AP exam was pretty scary.</p>
<p>But then again, some people really have a flair for physics. Some CC’ers have even successfully self-studied the course! I don’t think any of the prep books will get you a 5 guaranteed but PR and 5 Steps are decent for review. I think your best bet is to read the textbook throughout the year. But for me, that only went so far. For a non-physics oriented student, a good teacher is necessary to really understand the material and its application, at least in my perspective.</p>
<p>P.S the Math is just simple trig and plug and chug. Nothing to worry about in that realm.</p>
<p>AP B isn’t that hard as long as you keep up with the material. My advice is to practice, practice, practice, doing whatever problems you can get your hands on. The old AP problems are somewhere on the internet. I myself took AP C, but the basic concepts (kinematics, etc) are the same. I believe there’s an MIT open courseware link: [Free</a> Online MIT Course Materials for High School | Physics | MIT OpenCourseWare](<a href=“http://ocw.mit.edu/high-school/physics/]Free”>http://ocw.mit.edu/high-school/physics/) that can help. It’s for physics C, but some topics, like kinematics, are the same for both C and B.</p>
<p>AP Physics B was alright for me. The first term, we were learning mechanics and my teacher’s tests were easy. However, third term, we learned electricity and magnetism and my teacher busted out past AP MC questions for his tests. They were extremely hard and I got a C on the first test and it was the highest grade. However, adapting to the mindset allowed me to get A’s afterward. The Physics B exam was extremely hard for me and it has been the hardest exam I have ever taken.</p>
<p>With APUSH, you’ll still be fine. I got AP Physics and APUSH the same term, but most of my time was spent on APUSH due to the workload.</p>
<p>If you aren’t strong in math, physics will be difficult for you.</p>
<p>I was actually in honors math freshman year and got two D’s, so I dropped down. I had the worst teacher though. She would give us homework before teaching the lesson. But math has always been my hardest subject, but college prep math is easier for me. I am taking Int Alg II next year lol. I am usually fine in math with a <em>slower</em> pace. I really liked chemistry, I’m not a lab person though. I had the best teacher, but I learned lots of the material the day before the test and failed the final because I forgot the material. My only worry is it will go too fast and I will be completely lost. I usually take longer with math tests, so a time AP physics test will be even harder. We cannot even drop down at all once school started, new rule. People said chemistry was all math, but I found it rather easy. I thought Bio was a lot harder. I am a language arts and social studies person. </p>
<p>I would have taken AP Lang and Honors Physics, but I didn’t get into AP Lang. I wanted to take more then one and AP Physics is my only option. My number one choice is NYU. I’m just worried if I do really bad, this class may ruin my GPA and a chance at a good school. I will try very hard and hopefully I will get a B. We get 10 points added to our final grade.</p>
<p>This is one of the most enlightening courses you can take in high school.</p>
<p>Don’t worry about the math. For AP Physics B, all you need is proficiency in basic algebra (not even algebra 2) and basic trig. (Sure, they use vectors, but they teach them to you in the first chapter or two, and the vector math here doesn’t require much more than basic algebra and trig, anyway.)</p>
<p>You need to make sure you do all the homework and maybe additional problems if you feel you don’t have a solid grasp of the material; being able to do problems is a test of your understanding of the concepts. Focus on the problems that are marked as moderately challenging in your textbook (if your textbook does that), as those will probably be at the level the AP exam expects. If possible, start on AP-like questions as early as possible (maybe your teacher will give them on quizzes/tests or homework).</p>
<p>One resource that really helped me was having a book full of solved problems (and a few practice problems) like [Schaum’s</a> Outline](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-College-Physics-10th/dp/0071448144/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278360016&sr=8-1]Schaum’s”>http://www.amazon.com/Schaums-Outline-College-Physics-10th/dp/0071448144/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278360016&sr=8-1) or [3000</a> Solved Problems](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/000-Solved-Problems-Physics-Schaums/dp/0070257345/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278360016&sr=8-3]3000”>http://www.amazon.com/000-Solved-Problems-Physics-Schaums/dp/0070257345/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278360016&sr=8-3). Being able to look at the solutions to many kinds of problems that varied in difficulty was a great asset in learning how to solve these problems. (I have both of those books, by the way. I found them so useful that I’m keeping them for AP Physics C!)</p>
<p>In conclusion, if you are willing to put in the time and effort to learn this material, you will probably do well on the AP exam (and hopefully your class!). Good luck.</p>
<p>(As an aside, I am one of the self-studiers mentioned earlier in the thread. I got a 5 on this year’s AP Physics B exam as a sophomore and am self-studying AP Physics C as a rising junior. 
I don’t think I have much of a “flair” for physics, though…)</p>
<p>Thanks! I think I will do fine, :)</p>
<p>i got a 1 on the ap exam.
yet i passed ap calc o_O</p>