How difficult is taking AP Physics concurrently with AP Calculus AB?

Groundwork2022
Fri, 14 Aug 2020 22:11:55 +0000

It depends on which AP physics you are talking about. Our high school requires students to take AP Physics 1 & 2 in order to take Physics C (many, if not most schools let students go from 1 to C). Taking AP Physics 1 alone with calculus should be manageable (AP Physics 1 is only algebra-based). Taking AP Physics C along with Calculus BC or multi-variable calculus are probably the two most difficult combinations offered in our high school. Around 12-15 out of 600+ graduating seniors take AP Physics C each year. The guidance counselors advise that it is a pathway for high-performing future engineers or those who want to study in a computer science program within an engineering college. So yes, it is very difficult (study groups are lifelines in DD’s HS), but as another poster said, it is a self-selecting group that chooses to do this.