Many students struggle with the calculus integration required to solve problems—particularly using derivatives and integrals to connect position, velocity, and acceleration. Another common challenge is distinguishing between similar concepts (like work vs. energy, or impulse vs. momentum) and knowing which approach to use for a given problem. Time management during the exam is also critical, as students must solve multi-step problems under pressure while showing their work clearly.

Score improvement depends on where you're starting and how consistently you engage with tutoring. Students who work with a tutor to identify conceptual gaps, practice problem-solving strategies, and take full-length practice tests typically see meaningful gains—often 1-2 score points on the AP scale. The key is starting early enough to build strong fundamentals and leaving time for targeted practice on your weaker areas before the May exam.

Practice tests are essential—they help you understand the exam format, identify which topics need more work, and build stamina for the 90-minute exam. Taking full-length practice tests under timed conditions also reveals pacing issues; many students discover they need to work faster on certain problem types. Varsity Tutors connects you with tutors who can review your practice test results with you, pinpoint specific weaknesses, and develop a targeted study plan for the remaining weeks before the exam.

The exam has 45 minutes for 35 multiple-choice questions and 90 minutes for 3 free-response problems. A smart approach is to spend about 1 minute per multiple-choice question, then allocate roughly 30 minutes per free-response problem. During your tutoring sessions, you can practice this pacing with sample problems and learn to quickly identify which problems you can solve confidently versus which ones might require more time or a different approach.

Yes—calculus is fundamental to this course. You need to be comfortable with derivatives (rates of change) and integrals (accumulation), and understand how they apply to motion. If your calculus foundation is shaky, tutoring can help you strengthen those skills in the physics context, showing you exactly how derivatives and integrals are used to solve real problems rather than just abstract math exercises.

Ideally, start tutoring in the fall or early winter to build a strong conceptual foundation throughout the course. This gives you time to address gaps before the spring review period. However, even starting in March or April can be valuable—a tutor can help you prioritize the most important topics, work through practice tests efficiently, and build confidence in your problem-solving approach before the May exam.

Free-response questions reward clear reasoning and proper setup, not just correct answers. Start by identifying what you know, what you're solving for, and which physics principles apply. Show your work step-by-step, include units, and explain your reasoning—partial credit is awarded for correct method even if your final answer is wrong. Tutors can help you practice writing clear, organized solutions and learn what graders are looking for, which significantly boosts your score on this section.