AP Exams
AP Physics 1 Pass Rate
68% of students who took AP Physics 1 in 2026 scored a 3 or higher, and 19% scored a 5. That is the 10th lowest pass rate of the 40 AP exams.
Pass rate (3+)
68%
10th lowest of 40
Scored a 5
19%
16th highest of 40
Scored a 4 or 5
43%
2026 exam
Physics 1 score distribution, 2026
| Score | Percent of test takers |
|---|---|
| 5 | 19% |
| 4 | 24% |
| 3 | 25% |
| 2 | 15% |
| 1 | 17% |
Keep these numbers
Frequently asked questions
What is the pass rate for AP Physics 1?
68% in 2026, according to College Board. Passing means a score of 3 or higher.
What percent of students get a 5 on AP Physics 1?
19% scored a 5 in 2026 and 24% scored a 4, so 43% earned a score that many selective colleges require for credit. That is the 16th highest share of 5s among the 40 exams.
Is AP Physics 1 hard?
By pass rate it ranks 10th of 40, where 1st is the lowest pass rate. 32% of test takers scored a 1 or a 2. Pass rates depend on who takes the exam as well as on the exam itself, so use them as one signal, not a verdict.
Source: College Board, 2026 AP Score Distributions. Percentages are whole numbers as College Board publishes them.
