Is AP Physics 1 -- such low pass rates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's weird is that AP Bio and AP Chem are 2 semester college courses. But students take HS Bio and Chem first

AP Physics C is split into half (Mechanics , E&M), and mechanics is usually a full year course, because students didn't take a high school physics class.

So basically it was a high school year and and college semester , in one intensive year.

Physics 1/B used to be rare but now is more common. It's the science equivalent of the new AP Precalc - AP for non majors.

So if you take Physics 1, and then Physics C, makes a lot more sense to take mechanics and e&m together in one year (one semester each) to complete two college semesters, similar to the Bio and Chem sequences.

I'm not sure I understand you. AP Chem is equal to ONE semester of college chemistry. AP Bio is also equivalent to ONE semester of college biology.

AP Physics C - mech is like one semester of college Physics.

No, AP chem/bio each cover a full year (two semesters) of college courses, as per the AP descriptions and AP credit policies at most public colleges. Private colleges tend to be stingier with granting credit, so they may offer only one semester of credit or none at all. Each of the two Physics C exams covers a semester, and high school courses may either cover only mechanics or both.

OH! I didn't realize that AP Chem and AP Bio actually cover TWO semesters of content.

And that's interesting that AP Physics C Mech. would only be coving ONE semester of college physics, but they teach the AP class over the course of a full school year (2 semesters). Thanks for clarifying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Generally because of who takes it; a broader swath of students and those who are not far enough ahead in math to be in calculus and physics at the same time. So more who will get lower scores. The most capable students will take Physics C with or after calculus instead, which is a harder test, but usually is taken only by only the most capable students.

THIS. Physics 1 is generally taken by kids that will "give it a shot" rather than AP Bio or Chem. C generally stronger (and fewer) students.

[Anonymous]

https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/APGenEd.pdf

For AP score 5,
UMD gives
* 8 credits for Bio (I think, it's displayed as 2 separate rows: macro micro cellular)
* 6 credits for Chem ("Energetics" is a 2 credit course?!)
* 4 credits for each of Physics C Mech and E&M
* 4 gened-only credits for each of Physics 1 Mech and 2 E&M/Waves (not counted for major progress for science majors)

My general rule of thumb, but I'm sure there are exceptions, is that
a HS year course is one college semester. (And high schoolers take 6-8 classes yearlong classes per year, vs 8-10 semester courses per year in college).

But if it's a 2-year sequence, like Chem, Bio, or Calc AB+BC, then the higher level course counts double.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.transfercredit.umd.edu/plc/APGenEd.pdf

For AP score 5,
UMD gives
* 8 credits for Bio (I think, it's displayed as 2 separate rows: macro micro cellular)
* 6 credits for Chem ("Energetics" is a 2 credit course?!)
* 4 credits for each of Physics C Mech and E&M
* 4 gened-only credits for each of Physics 1 Mech and 2 E&M/Waves (not counted for major progress for science majors)

My general rule of thumb, but I'm sure there are exceptions, is that
a HS year course is one college semester. (And high schoolers take 6-8 classes yearlong classes per year, vs 8-10 semester courses per year in college).

But if it's a 2-year sequence, like Chem, Bio, or Calc AB+BC, then the higher level course counts double.

(But the lower level course in the sequence doesn't count *also*)