AP Physics B Exam Information

Score and placement info for AP: Biology | Calculus AB | Calculus BC | Chemistry | English Language | English Literature | European History | Physics B | Psychology | Spanish Language | Statistics | U.S. Government | U.S. History | World History

The AP Physics B exam (non-calculus) covers Newtonian mechanics, fluid mechanics, thermal physics, electricity and magnetism, waves and optics, and atomic physics. In 2011, over 75,000 students took the exam and they earned a mean score of 2.92. Most colleges and universities have a science and lab requirement, so a high score on the AP Physics B exam will sometimes fulfill this requirement. Some of the more rigorous colleges and engineering schools will accept only the Physics C exam.

The chart below presents some representative data from a variety of colleges and universities. This information is meant to provide a general overview of the scoring and placement practices related to the AP Physics B exam. For other schools you'll need to search the college website or contact the appropriate Registrar's office to get AP placement information.

For more information on AP classes and exams, check out these articles:

• Is My AP Score Good Enough?
• AP Classes - Why They Matter

The distribution of scores for the AP Physics B exam is as follows (2011 data):

• 5 - 16.4%
• 4 - 19.2%
• 3 - 25.9%
• 2 - 17.3%
• 1 - 21.3%

To learn more specific information about the AP Physics B exam, be sure to visit the official College Board website.

AP Physics B Scores and Placement
College	Score Needed	Placement Credit
Georgia Tech	-	the Physics C (calculus-based) exam is required for credit
Grinnell College	4 or 5	4 semester credits; PHY 131 or 132
LSU	3, 4 or 5	PHYS 2001 (3 credits) for a 3; PHYS 2001, 2002 (6 credits) for a 4 or 5
MIT	-	no credit or placement for the AP Physics B exam
Mississippi State University	3, 4 or 5	PH 1113 (3 credits) for a 3 or 4; PH 1113 and PH 1123 or PH 2213 (6 credits) for a 5
Notre Dame	4 or 5	Physics 10111 and 10122 (6 credits) for a 4; Physics 30210 and 30220 (8 credits) for a 5
Reed College	-	no credit or placement for the Physics B exam
Stanford University	4 or 5	PHYSICS 23 and 25 (4 quarter units) for a 4; PHYSICS 25 (8 quarter units) for a 5
Truman State University	3, 4 or 5	PHYS 185 College Physics I and PHYS 186 College Physics II (8 credits)
UCLA (School of Letters and Science)	3, 4 or 5	8 credits and PHYSICS General "B"
Yale University	-	no credit or placement for the Physics B exam