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APGrades 11-12

AP Physics 1

Algebra-based mechanics, waves and basic circuits, built around the exam's experimental-design questions.

60-min sessions, weekly

Why a TutorA tutor

AP Physics 1 is College Board's algebra-based introductory physics exam — no calculus required — covering mechanics, waves, and simple circuits. Since the 2014 exam restructuring, it's the exam most people mean today when they say "AP Physics." A TutorA tutor for this subject is matched to you specifically, reviewed by our team before being approved to teach, and works with you live rather than through a fixed-cohort class. Pricing is shown before you book, and if a match isn't the right fit we'll rematch you at no extra cost.

Backed by our Tutor Match Guarantee

What you’ll learn

  • Newtonian mechanics and rotational motion
  • Simple harmonic motion and mechanical waves
  • Designing and justifying experiments
$35/hr

Tutors for AP Physics 1

We don’t have a tutor actively teaching AP Physics 1yet — send a request and we’ll match one for you.

More AP subjects

AP BiologyGrades 11-12AP CalculusGrades 11-12AP Calculus ABGrades 11–12AP Calculus BCGrades 11–12

AP Physics 1 FAQ

AP Physics 1 is algebra-based and covers mechanics, waves, and circuits at an introductory level. AP Physics C is calculus-based and split into two separate exams — Mechanics, and Electricity & Magnetism — usually taken alongside or after calculus. If your course is calculus-based, see our AP Physics C page instead.

It's consistently one of the lower-pass-rate AP exams nationally, largely because it rewards conceptual reasoning over formula plugging. 1:1 tutoring that focuses on problem-solving process rather than just content review tends to help most.

On a 1–5 scale, combining multiple-choice and free-response sections. A 4 or 5 is typically needed for college credit, though policies vary by school.

Many students start a few months before the May exam, though ongoing 1:1 support through the course year is common for a subject this conceptually heavy.