<p>Okay, so I was thinking about self-studying AP Physics because my school doesn't offer any higher level physics courses, and I think it would be useful to have both the physics knowledge base and the extra bump in admissions for the (engineering) schools I plan on eventually applying to. I do have a couple of questions though. </p>
<ul>
<li><p>What exactly should I self-study? AP Physics B/C/what? I've heard AP Physics C requires some calculus, and although I'm in IB Math, we don't start calculus for another couple of months, so I'm assuming it would be best to do AP Physics B and then C next year.</p></li>
<li><p>How do I get credit for self-studying? Just take the AP Exam? How would I go about doing that if I'm not taking the class?</p></li>
<li><p>Would it count as taking a physics class (as in, would it most likely satisfy the requirement of taking 3 sciences at my school)?</p></li>
<li><p>If I do self-study, would it be pointless to take Physics Honors/IB Physics SL II? Or should I just take them anyways? </p></li>
<li><p>How time consuming is it? Will I be spending more than an hour a day studying for this until spring?</p></li>
<li><p>Lastly, what materials should I use? I was looking at some other threads and people said the Princeton Review AP Physics practice book and 5 Steps to a 5 were good, along with a college physics textbook like Giancoli 6/E or Cutnell and Johnson. </p></li>
</ul>
<p>It is possible to self study, but you’ll have to pay a lot of effort. I self studied AP Physics B but I got help from my physics teacher who gave me review material. My best advice is to get a college level textbook and work the problems in there. Also work the old free response exams.
If you take the AP exam and get a good score, depending on the school, you will mostly likely receive college credit.
It will take time to study; definitely don’t wait until the last minute.
For review books, use Princeton Review. It covers most of the essentials.
Hope this helps.</p>
<p>I’m self-studying AP Physics C this year (abeit with some help/review material from the regular Physics teacher, kind of like charlotte213). I haven’t taken a physics course before, though I took AP Calc BC last year, just to put things into perspective.</p>
<p>I feel like I’m getting the material pretty well, though it is tough. I usually spend at least one hour on it per day. I also use Princeton Review and some college-level textbooks (one that the physics teacher provided me, the other is one my brother gave me from his college physics class). If you haven’t taken Calc yet, I would just take B instead of C. I am getting credit at my high school for this “class”; just try talking to your counselor about it. One of my class hours at school is actually allotted for AP Physics, so I just go to the media center and work on physics there. If you get a high enough AP score, I’m sure you could get college credit as well.</p>