How the AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism exam is scored
The exam is 3 hours long. Multiple choice (42 questions) is 50% of your score and free response is 50%. The free response has four questions: two worth 10 points, one worth 12 and one worth 8. Each part is scaled by its weight and added into a composite out of 100, which is then converted to a score from 1 to 5.
What does it take to get a 5?
About 70 of 100 composite points, by our estimate. One way to get there is roughly 30 of 42 multiple choice questions right and 28 of 40 free-response points. A 4 takes about 59 points and a 3 about 47. In 2026, 24% of students earned a 5 and 75% earned a 3 or higher.
Where students lose points
Expect Gauss's law, Ampère's law, and RC or RL circuits set up with integrals or differential equations. Points come from starting with the right law, so write it down before plugging anything in. A 5 takes a smaller share of the points than on most AP exams.
