Should I self-study for AP Physics C?

Hello! I’m going to be a junior this upcoming year and since my high school offers only 3 APs, I’m planning on self-studying for a couple. I took AP Chem and APUSH at school this past year, and I’m taking AP Lit this year.

Here are the APs I’d like to self-study:

  • AP Bio: I have a very strong background in bio already, so I don’t think it’ll be too hard. I have Campbell’s Biology and I plan on reading it as a review.
  • AP Calc BC: I took precalc last year and will be in calc this school year. I’ve been working through Stewart’s Calculus: Early Transcendentals and so far, it seems pretty fun and makes total sense.
  • AP Physics C (both Mech and E&M): Here’s my dilemma. I’m taking a basic high school physics class this upcoming year, so I have barely any physics experience so far. I’d rather not wait until senior year to take AP Physics C since I plan on studying physics in college; at the same time, I’d rather not waste my time cramming and end up not truly learning anything. Would taking Mech this year and leaving E&M for senior year be somewhat more reasonable? (I have University Physics with Modern Physics)

For AP Calc and AP Physics, I value the information I’ll learn much more than the AP exam score. Even if I end up not taking the exams, I’ll study the subjects because they both interest me. However, if I do all the work, I might as well take the exams. (Right?)

Any feedback/suggestions would be much appreciated!

Calm down. I know how eager you are. I’m little confused why you “rather not wait until senior year to take AP Physics C since [you] plan on studying physics in college.” Are you doing DE or something your Senior year? Otherwise, it would make more sense to wait Senior year, so when you get into college, you’d have the knowledge fresh in your mind.

I’m going to tell you what I did and what I’m doing. I’m a rising Senior and took AP Physics 1 and AP Calculus AB this year as a Junior. AP Physics 1 is like that “introductory Physics course:” it doesn’t offer much in terms of practice, but it does give you insight and comprehension of the applications in Classical Mechanics. Not much calculations, which is what AP Physics C: Mechanics is all about. I will be self-studying AP Physics C (Mech and E&M) and will be taking AP Calculus BC at my school this year. Note: I have already started self-studying for AP Physics C: Mechanics. Yes, it’s June, but AP Physics C is considered the hardest AP exams, and you need plenty of practice if you want to guarantee a 5 on both exams!

AP Physics C involves Calculus and is directed toward Physics majors. Self-studying AP Calculus BC and both AP Physics C exams in one year through self-studying without any prior Calculus or Physics knowledge is putting too much strain on your year, and might not be doable, especially with the mere experience of 2 AP exams. These AP exams are no joke, and your focus could rather be directed toward extracurricular activities. I say this because of another AP you are taking: AP Biology. I took AP Biology my Sophomore year, and let me tell you that AP Biology, in my opinion, has the most content in any AP course ever taken, perhaps even more than World History. Self-studying requires a lot of time, and colleges hardly look at AP exam scores.

Here’s what I advise: If you are truly enthusiastic and have a strong foundation in Math, then the best I would recommend is spreading out Mechanics in Junior year and E&M in Senior year. Start learning limit and derivatives now, because AP Calculus BC requires a lot out of someone who has never taken Calculus before. Good luck!

@ObitoSigma Thank you so much for your response!

The reason I’d rather not wait until senior year is because I participate in an academic competition each year. The past two years, I’ve competed in biology simply because that was the only subject in which I stood a chance. I’d like to be able to compete in physics these next two years, and hopefully place first by senior year. In addition, the competition is hosted by the university I’ll most likely end up attending, and so any scholarship money from them would ease the upcoming burden of college on my parents. I know this isn’t much of a reason, but…

As for AP Biology, I’ve tried a couple of practice exams and if the grading curves I’ve found on the internet are fairly accurate, I already have a solid shot at getting a 5. Studying for that academic competition has really paid off in the long run, because I have most of the content down.

“the best I would recommend is spreading out Mechanics in Junior year and E&M in Senior year”
From what I’ve seen, most people take both the exams together in one year. Would it make sense if I started studying now, but left the exams for senior year? I think it’d be more of a long-term goal to work towards, but doable.