<p>AP Physics is very tough at son's high school. Almost no one passes the AP final test. Had I known this I would not have let son, who's a junior, enroll. Last year our Val got an A in the class yet only got a 2 on the AP test.</p>
<p>Right now son is getting a low B and struggling. We already know his 4.0 will no longer stand after this class and will be thrilled with a B but he may get a C. After all the material will just get tougher. Anyway, is it better to have him drop the class at semester or trudge on and risk having the colleges he will apply to see that he did not pass the AP final.</p>
<p>My S, who was a straight A kid from elementary through high school, got his very first B in AP Physics B as a junior. Actually, it was a B- that he ended the year with. He took the AP exam just for the h-ll of it and I think got a 1 or 2, yikes! By comparison, he had numerous other AP’s that he got 4’s and 5’s on. He still made the AP with Distinction Scholar, and just had the Physics one not count. He had a very high GPA and still did after this class because everything else were A’s or A+'s. He did not take AP Physics C as a senior, just Calc and Stat.</p>
<p>It’s the hardest AP class in our school, well Physics B and Physics C. The kids who took Physics C were the Math & Science kids who wanted to major in it in college.</p>
<p>More importantly, is he interested in going into a College major that will require Physics? If he is learning the material and being challenged, I wouldn’t focus so much on the grade. My College freshman son just told me last weekend how he was very glad that he took honors and AP English throughout HS because the writing required in college is proving to be very hard for some of the other students in his classes, but he feels prepared. There’s a difference between failing and being challenged.</p>
<p>cbug:
Honestly I don’t think it mattered one bit if it was reported or not. My S was still notified that he had made the AP Scholar with Distinction even though he had that one low AP score. I really don’t think a college would not accept a kid for that reason alone. In our case, my S applied and was accepted ED way before the AP exams came out, but since he had so many other exams that were higher scores, the college did not rescind their acceptance! I doubt your S would have that problem. I think the colleges will be impressed he gave it a try at the junior year level! :)</p>
<p>AP Physics is also the hardest AP at our school. D1 took it and struggled the whole year - ended up with about an 85 for the final grade. Got a 2 on the AP test. S2 opted for regular physics (we don’t have an honors level) and currently has a 107. Both kids are fine arts types so I really don’t think the lack of the AP designation will hurt him for college admissions.</p>
<p>Cbug, if generally good students are getting an A in the class and a 2 on the AP exam, I’d say it is likely that the class is very badly taught–not tough.</p>
<p>My S had an AP physics teacher who was simply awful. The kids actually circulated a letter/petition complaining about him, and he was eventually fired. For that matter, MY physics teacher in HS was appallingly bad…</p>
<p>Both my DDs squeezed out As in AP Physics with ALOT of effort and extra help from the teachers and classmates. D1 - the math kid - took the AP test and got a 3 - she said the multiple choice format was very different from her problem sets and problem oriented tests in the class. D2 opted not to take the test. She is not a math kid and saw no reason to go for a science AP credit, and did not want the stress.</p>
<p>Physics is a whole different way of seeing the world. Some people are born with physics brain and it is easy, most are not and it is hard.</p>
<p>My D got a 1 (!!!) on the AP Physics exam, but 4s and 5s on 9 others. I think she had maybe a B- in the class, but she really struggled. She would have gladly skipped the exam but it was required in her school. I don’t think that score hurt her in admissions, but she was not looking for a math or science major. And, all of your AP scores are reported at once. It’s not like SAT score choice, where you can pick and choose.</p>
<p>I will give you an insight on this: I received C’s both semester of AP Physics B, but got a 4 on the test. I messed up on the FRQs, so I expected a 3, but apparently I aced the multiple choice or the curve was very forgiving. I am now in AP Physics C, I can say that it is all about mentality. Your son will be much more scientifically literate after physics. I believe that the benefits far outweigh the costs (a C or B). Make sure your son thinks and just visualizes everything. It really does make it easier on your son. Even if he does not know the equations by heart, if he is able to visualize and imagine the situation given by the problem, he will do fine. All the equations can be derived from other equations and really grasping physics will make his life so much better. I mean you can have fun just thinking about the natural phenomena that occurs on a daily basis; that is how I pass my time (seriously, I literally spent hours imagining how a light bulb works).</p>
<p>Seriously though, one can know all the equations in the book, but without imagination, he can never grasp physics.</p>
<p>“One should guard against preaching to young people success in the customary form as the main aim in life. The most important motive for work in school and in life is pleasure in work, pleasure in its result and the knowledge of the value of the result to the community.”-Albert Einstein</p>
<p>If it’s only a question of doing poorly on the AP test, I wouldn’t worry about it. You don’t have to report your score and you don’t have to take the test unless your school requires it. (Ours does.) I have to wonder what is going on in the class though, even my non math guy did reasonably well on the AP Physics C exam (which is the one that requires calculus). He did not spend hours studying by any means - especially since that exam was spring senior year!</p>
<p>I agree with consolation that the issue here is a poorly taught class, not necessarily crazy hard material. My daughter took many APs in HS and thought AP Physics C was tough but pulled a 98 average and a 5 on the exam. Well taught and a result that reflects that.</p>
<p>It’s hard to see kids struggle. But getting tough math/science classes in high school can give useful insights when considering college majors. Good luck !</p>
<p>*P Physics is very tough at son’s high school. Almost no one passes the AP final test. Had I known this I would not have let son, who’s a junior, enroll. Last year our Val got an A in the class yet only got a 2 on the AP test.
*</p>
<p>This class isn’t “tough”…it’s not taught correctly. If it was a thoroughly taught tough class at least half of the class would be passing. My kids’ school expects everyone to get 4s and 5s and the teachers are tough and thorough. If kids weren’t passing, the teacher would be changed/fired. Period! (and that’s happened!!)</p>
<p>Your child’s school needs to explain to the parents how it’s possible for an AP class to be well-taught, yet its best students don’t pass the AP exam…when the rest of the nation is able to. </p>
<p>Is AP Physics this tough at most schools?</p>
<p>The question should be…Is AP Physics this poorly taught at most schools? The answer is “no.” See below.</p>
<p>AP Physics </p>
<p>Physics B…C…C-M
8414…3982 …7860 Students got 5s
11639… 3400…7783 Students got 4s</p>
<h2>16859… 1793…6451 Students got 3s</h2>
<p>12203… 2395… 4571 Students got 2s
14539… 1695… 3929 Students got 1s</p>
<p>So, most of the test takers are passing…your school has some 'splaining to do. Go in with the stats and demand some answers. </p>
<p>If the school refuses to do anything about this class, then I would have my child drop the class, self-study for the exam, ace the exam and make sure everyone at the school knew it.</p>
<p>Can he still drop it? I would if he is not going to take the AP test, and getting anything below 4 wouldn´t be good for top tier school application. I think schools would wonder why he didn´t take the AP test.</p>
<p>D1 thought AP Physics was quite easy, but she was a math major. She had A+/A in that class and received a 5 on the AP test, but most kids in her class also got 4/5. When most kids do not pass an AP exam, it is more of a reflection on the quality of teaching rather than on a student.</p>
<p>If your kid decides to stay on, I would get a tutor from a nearby school which has a better track record with AP physics. D1 tutored quite a bit when she was in high school, because she was very familiar with those courses, it was easy for her to tutor and she was cheap compared to teachers.</p>