You’re probably scouring the web because a teacher mentioned AP Physics A and B or you found an old dusty textbook in a basement. Here’s the reality check: you won't find those classes on any official College Board roster today. They’re gone. Vanished.
People still search for them, though. There's this lingering myth that physics is split into a simple "A" and "B" track. Honestly, it makes sense why you'd think that. Most high school subjects follow a linear path. But the College Board loves to complicate things. Back in 2014, they killed off the old "B" program and replaced it with a two-year sequence. They basically chopped the old curriculum in half to give students more time to actually think rather than just memorizing formulas for a frantic May exam.
If you’re trying to plan your junior or senior year, you need to understand the current landscape. It's not about "A and B" anymore. It's about Physics 1, Physics 2, and the "C" variants which are a totally different beast involving calculus.
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The Ghost of AP Physics B
Let’s talk about what the old B course actually was. It was a survey course. You’d start with kinematics in September and by May, you were expected to be an expert in everything from fluid mechanics to nuclear physics. It was a sprint. A brutal, soul-crushing sprint.
The College Board realized students were "learning" the math but they didn't understand the why. They could plug numbers into $F = ma$, but if you asked them to explain what happens to an object's acceleration if the surface becomes frictionless, they’d freeze. They were calculators, not physicists. That’s why AP Physics A and B—or specifically the B track—was retired. It was replaced by AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2.
Each of these new courses is a full year long. Physics 1 covers the basics: motion, force, energy, and momentum. Physics 2 dives into the "weird" stuff like thermodynamics, electricity, and magnetism. It’s slower. It’s deeper. And if you’re hoping to get college credit, most universities now expect you to pass both exams to get the same credit you used to get for just the B exam. Kinda annoying, right?
Why the "A" Label is a Misnomer
Technically, there was never an official "AP Physics A." In the old days, schools sometimes used "Physics A" to describe a regular, non-AP honors physics class. Or, they used it to refer to the first semester of the B course.
If your counselor is talking about AP Physics A and B, they are likely using outdated lingo. They probably mean AP Physics 1.
Here is the breakdown of what people usually mean when they use those old labels:
- AP Physics 1: This is the "Intro" level. It’s algebra-based. No calculus required. This is the closest thing to what people think of as Physics A.
- AP Physics 2: This is the sequel. Again, algebra-based.
- AP Physics C Mechanics: This is the "real" physics for future engineers. It uses calculus.
- AP Physics C Electricity & Magnetism: The most difficult AP exam, period.
Choosing between them is a big deal. If you're pre-med or just want to satisfy a lab science requirement, Physics 1 and 2 are your friends. If you want to build rockets or design software, you’ve gotta suck it up and take Physics C.
The 2024-2025 Curriculum Shakeup
Just when we got used to the "1 and 2" system, the College Board changed it again. Starting in the 2024-2025 school year, they updated the CED (Course and Exam Description). They actually added some topics back into Physics 1 that were previously only in Physics 2 or Physics C.
For instance, Fluids is back in Physics 1 now.
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Why does this matter for you? Because if you use a prep book from 2022, you’re going to miss entire sections of the exam. You’ll be sitting there in the testing hall looking at a question about buoyant force and realize your "updated" textbook didn't mention it. Always check the copyright date on your study materials. Seriously.
Is AP Physics Actually Harder Than College Physics?
Sorta. It depends on the college.
Trevor Packer, the head of the AP program, often shares data showing that AP students perform as well as, or better than, college students in introductory courses. But there’s a catch. AP classes last an entire year. A college semester is only 15 weeks.
In a high school AP Physics A and B equivalent course, you have time to fail. You can blow a midterm and recover. In college, if you don't get the hang of vectors by week three, you're sunk.
The downside of AP is the "one-shot" exam. You spend nine months working, and it all comes down to a three-hour window in May. If you have a bad cold or a breakup that week, those college credits might vanish.
How to Survive the Modern Physics Track
If you’re currently enrolled and feeling underwater, you aren't alone. Physics is a different way of thinking. It’s not biology where you can just memorize the parts of a cell. It’s a puzzle.
- Stop looking for the "right" equation. That's the biggest mistake. Students look at the variables given ($v, a, t$) and hunt for a formula that fits. Instead, ask what's happening physically. Is energy being conserved? Is there an outside force?
- Draw everything. If you don't draw a Free Body Diagram (FBD), you're basically guessing. Even the pros draw diagrams.
- Use "The Organic Chemistry Tutor" on YouTube. I know, the name says chemistry. But his physics videos are legendary. He explains things in ten minutes that take some teachers three weeks to muddle through.
- Check the "C" vs "1" credit. Many top-tier universities (Ivies, MIT, Stanford) won't give you credit for Physics 1 or 2. They only care about Physics C. Check the "AP Credit Policy Search" on the College Board website before you stress yourself out.
What You Should Do Next
If you are a student or a parent trying to navigate the mess of AP Physics A and B labels, start with these specific steps.
First, go to your school’s guidance office and ask for the "Course Audit" description. This is the official document they submitted to the College Board. It will tell you exactly which AP exam the class is designed for.
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Second, look at your math level. If you aren't in at least Pre-Calculus, do not touch Physics C. You will drown in the derivatives. If you're in Algebra II, stick with Physics 1.
Third, get your hands on a 2025 or 2026 prep book. Princeton Review or Barron's are the standard for a reason. Make sure it specifically mentions the "updated fluids" curriculum for Physics 1.
Finally, don't get discouraged by the low pass rates. Physics 1 famously has some of the lowest scores in the entire AP program. That doesn't mean the students are dumb; it means the exam is designed to test conceptual mastery, not just math skills. Focus on the concepts, and the math will follow.
Stop searching for the ghost of Physics B. Look forward at the 1, 2, and C tracks, pick the one that fits your major, and start practicing those Free Body Diagrams now.
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