In regular Physics 1 I got a 96% first semester and a 92% ( with a 6ish percent curve I believe) on my midterm.
I want to take AP Physics C (concurrent with AP Calculus AB, maybe BC), so I asked my teacher who teaches Physics C and he said Physics C is literally 10x harder and due to the amount of tests I’ve retaken he does not think I will do well in it.
Honestly, I do not spend much time at all in Physics 1 at home as I have harder classes and I barely pay attention in class (which is why I ask for help a few times).
So, if Physics C is my #1 most effort-implementing class and I pay attention to the best of my ability, how accurate is he with this information? Thank you.
FYI: There is no AP Physics 1 in my school; only Physics 2 AP and seeing that I’m going to be an engineer I do think Physics C will prepare me very well for college and give me more credit (assuming I do well).
Not knowing you or the teacher, i have the suspicion that your teacher was giving you a reasonable heads-up about the amount of work involved. You say yourself that you would need to pay more attention in class, so that’s probably the most important factor.
AP Physics C, both Mechanics and E&M, will undoubtedly be the hardest HS class you will take. The teacher probably is not exaggerating about the amount of work compared to a regular class. Have you taken/will take AP Calculus AB (or higher)?
AP Physics C is the hardest class I’ve taken so far, tbh, but having already taken physics before really helps. How many tests have you retaken and how bad did you do on them the first time? What’s your target grade for Physics C?
Honestly, it depends on if you really want to take the class & are actually going to pay attention, study frequently, etc. If you’re serious about changing your study habits in physics, go for it, especially if you take Calc AB since that will lighten your course load somewhat.
Personally, although I don’t always enjoy it in the moment, I’m very glad I’m taking it now because I know I’ll have to take it in college, and I’d rather struggle now in a class with 15 kids than a year from now in a 200 person lecture. YMMV, but I’d consider it if you want to be an engineer – you’ll probably retake it anyway in college, but with a better foundation.
One last thing – is the class AP Physics C Mechanics, or is it Mechanics plus E&M (electricity and magnetism)? Many schools just do Mechanics for the whole year, but others do both (aka twice as much material). I would not wish that on my worst enemy, omg. shudders
My daughter said AP Physics C was the single most useful HS class to prepare her for engineering. She took mechanics and E&M (one semester each). Definitely the most challenging course she took in HS, but again, the most helpful.
@supersenior17 so the way the tests work is we have several standards of each section going from beginning 5/10 to expert (10/10). Most of them That i don’t study in and I rarely pay attention in i get developing (6/10). My target grade is an A. I will have exceedingly smart friends in that class to ask for help if I ever get confused and the seniors I know that take it have As. They say it’s really hard, but yet they have an A so I do believe it is possible to get an A, especially since I heard labs are worth more than tests. It is both exams E and M as well as Mechanics so it will definitely be harder. Did you have an interest in physics 1? I do and assuming you want to be an engineer and you sometimes don’t enjoy physics C tells me that it’s not an interesting class.
Thank you.
IMO, the calculus isn’t a huge deal, at least for mechanics, as long as your precalc class includes derivatives. Several kids in my class are actually taking precalc concurrently and do okay. Strong algebra skills (manipulating equations, graphical analysis, etc) are more important in my experience.
I guess I posted before reading what others commented on mechanics vs. E&M – maybe others could give more input, but I think that would make a big difference. We don’t have the equipment to do E&M at my school, but my teacher says it’s very challenging but that, like others have said, extremely important in engineering.
How do you feel about the teacher? Do you mesh well with his teaching style? That could be a big factor as well.
@omghihowru that’s good, in theory AP Physics C is supposed to go hand-in-hand with AP Calc AB, though my kid’s teacher definitely went well ahead of pace from what my kid told me (most of the kids in AP Physics C had already taken either AP Calc AB or BC the year before).
If you have the AP Physics C with both Mechanics and E&M one semester each, it will essentially be at the same pace as taking a college-level Physics class, so if you take it, treat it as a really good trial run as to what college will be like.
@supersenior17 The teacher is very good and he always has time for me to ask for help. He is a very good teacher, I just don’t pay attention, mainly because I get less worried due to retakes so i don’t care as much. I’m going to try to actually start trying and see how I do. If I do well, I’m sure he’ll let me know that he changed his mind, but either or I think I’m going to take it. I’m just worried as I’m trying to get into a good school and as of right now I’m neck and neck with the average GPA so if I don’t get an A I’m worried my chances will decrease even though it’s an AP and the hardest one. Thanks for the help.
@ProfessorPlum168 thank you, I do indeed think it will help me. Due to the already lenient schedule for college, an even more
Lenient schedule will be nicer, even though I have to struggle in high school. Im just worried as someone else said, would if he’s right when he said I don’t think I should take it, because he does know I’m just missing a few key components and I get the overall jist of it when IAsk For Help after school. As I said, I’m going to try a little harder as I barely spend time with the class at home other than homework and labs.
@omghihowru That’s interesting; my class has a pretty standard grading system with each exam being scored on an AP-type scale – not a curve, but still, 75% is an A, so I think that’s what makes the class seem “hard.” The way my teacher frames it is you’re supposed to get comfortable with not always knowing the answer and learning to problem-solve, etc, all good skills for engineering. How is the grading scale for Physics C?
I don’t plan on being an engineer but maybe something in STEM. I actually do well in the class but it’s honestly just an adjustment having to work a little harder (another reason I’m glad I took it). I do like the class, actually; my teacher is really interesting and nice, so the class is usually fun. A positive attitude is really most important IMO…sometimes I lose the will to live during problem sets but it’s just about perseverance I guess. 
I didn’t take physics 1 but our school does a one-semester physics class that I took freshman year. I liked that too but Physics C is more heavy on concepts as well as math, whereas I found intro physics was more like applied math. Idk how physics 1 would compare.
I think i’m going to take Calc BC as well because if I’m taking Physics C I might as well take Calc BC. @SuperSenior19 @ProfessorPlum168