How much is each AP Physics 1 FRQ worth?

FRQ 1 is 10 points, FRQ 2 is 12 points, FRQ 3 is 10 points, and FRQ 4 is 8 points. The four together total 40 raw points and contribute 50 percent of the composite score.

How long should I spend on each AP Physics 1 FRQ?

Roughly 25 minutes on FRQs 1 and 2, 30 minutes on FRQ 3 (Experimental Design), and 20 minutes on FRQ 4. Total time for the FRQ section is 100 minutes.

Is there a fluids FRQ on AP Physics 1?

Fluids is one of the eight tested AP Physics 1 units, so a fluids FRQ is possible on any administration. For practice, released AP Physics 2 fluids FRQs from 2024 and earlier test the same physics.

AP Physics 1 FRQ Guide

Q: How many FRQs are on AP Physics 1?

Four. The AP Physics 1 free response section has four FRQs since the 2024-2025 redesign: Mathematical Routines (10 points), Translation Between Representations (12 points), Experimental Design and Analysis (10 points), and Qualitative Quantitative Translation (8 points). Total 40 raw points across 100 minutes.

The free response section is half of your AP Physics 1 score and the part most students underprepare for. Since the 2024 to 2025 redesign, there are four FRQs with named task types, each testing a distinct skill. This page breaks down the format, what each task type wants from you, and the scoring patterns that show up year after year in the rubrics.

FRQs

One of each task type

Time

100 min

Roughly 25 min each

Raw points

10 + 12 + 10 + 8

Section weight

50%

Equal with MCQ

The four task types

FRQ Section II

Mathematical Routines

10 points · 25 minutes · Symbolic and numeric problem solving

Use physics equations to analyze a scenario and predict an outcome. You will be expected to derive a relationship symbolically, plug in to compute a numeric answer, and support your claim with appropriate equations and reasoning.

Show starting equations before plugging in. Substituting numbers first costs setup points.
If asked to compare two scenarios, derive a symbolic ratio rather than computing both values.
Include units in every numerical answer. Rubric points are explicitly tied to correct units.

Translation Between Representations

12 points · 25 minutes · Connecting graphs, diagrams, and math

Move fluently between graphs, free-body diagrams, motion diagrams, energy bar charts, and equations. The same physical situation is presented in one form; you must redraw or translate it into another and use both to reason quantitatively.

FBD lengths must reflect relative magnitudes. A normal force longer than gravity on a level surface loses points immediately.
Label every axis with a quantity and a unit. Unlabeled graphs cost easy points.
Match slopes and areas to the equation you cite. If you claim slope is acceleration, the units must check out.

Experimental Design and Analysis

10 points · 30 minutes · Designing a procedure and analyzing data

Design a lab procedure to test a stated relationship, identify what to measure with what equipment, then analyze data to draw a conclusion. Often involves linearization: rewriting an equation so plotting the right pair of variables produces a straight line.

Name specific equipment and what each piece measures (motion sensor for velocity, photogate for time interval).
State what you would vary, what you would hold constant, and what you would measure.
Linearize when asked. "Plot v squared vs h and the slope should equal 2g" is the kind of answer the rubric rewards.

Qualitative Quantitative Translation

8 points · 20 minutes · Explanation backed by math

Explain a physical phenomenon in words, then back it up with a mathematical relationship. The paragraph response is graded against a published rubric that lists each scoring point individually.

Use Claim, Evidence, Reasoning structure. State the claim, cite the equation or principle, explain why it applies here.
Address the prompt directly. Vague restatements of physics concepts without tying them to the scenario score nothing.
If two scenarios are compared, your paragraph must reference both explicitly.

Five FRQ scoring patterns that show up every year

Drawn from published College Board rubrics

Setup before substitution. Every Mathematical Routines and Translation FRQ awards a point for citing the starting equation in symbols. Skip this and you cap your score before you compute anything.
FBD direction and length both score. Forces drawn in correct direction earn one point; correct relative magnitudes earn another. Treat them as two separate skills.
"Justify your answer" means cite physics. An answer with no justification scores zero on those parts even if numerically correct. Write the principle by name (conservation of momentum, work energy theorem) and tie it to the scenario.
Linearization is testable. Roughly half of Experimental Design FRQs ask you to identify what to plot to get a straight line. Practice rewriting equations into y equals m x plus b form.
Sign convention matters. Work, displacement, and momentum can be negative; kinetic energy cannot. Mixing these up is the most common single-point loss on Mathematical Routines questions.

Released FRQs and scoring guides

Official College Board materials

The College Board posts each year's FRQs along with scoring guidelines and sample student responses on AP Central. Work through at least the most recent three administrations. For pre-2025 FRQs, ignore any parts that test content removed from the current scope (rotational dynamics was reorganized; some older problems map cleanly to current units, others don't).

For fluids FRQs, look at released AP Physics 2 fluids questions from 2024 and earlier. The content is identical to the new AP Physics 1 fluids unit.

Stop losing FRQ points to the same misconceptions

FRQ losses are rarely about not knowing the formula. They are almost always about a specific misconception: treating tension as an external force on the system, confusing average and instantaneous velocity, applying conservation of energy when there's friction. Diagnose which ones are costing you points.

Run a diagnostic

Common questions

FAQ

How many FRQs are on AP Physics 1?

Four. Since the 2024 to 2025 redesign, the AP Physics 1 free response section has four FRQs, one of each named task type: Mathematical Routines (10 points), Translation Between Representations (12 points), Experimental Design and Analysis (10 points), and Qualitative Quantitative Translation (8 points). Total of 40 raw points across 100 minutes.

How much is each FRQ worth?

FRQ 1 (Mathematical Routines) is 10 points, FRQ 2 (Translation Between Representations) is 12 points, FRQ 3 (Experimental Design and Analysis) is 10 points, and FRQ 4 (Qualitative Quantitative Translation) is 8 points. The four together total 40 raw points and contribute 50 percent of your composite score.

How long should I spend on each FRQ?

Roughly 25 minutes on FRQs 1 and 2, 30 minutes on FRQ 3, and 20 minutes on FRQ 4. The Experimental Design FRQ tends to have the most independent parts and benefits from the extra time.

Do I have to write paragraph-form responses?

The Qualitative Quantitative Translation FRQ requires a written paragraph response that follows a Claim, Evidence, Reasoning structure. Other FRQs may include short justification prompts. Bullet points are acceptable for shorter justifications, but the QQT paragraph is graded as connected prose.

Are the 2025 AP Physics 1 FRQs released?

Yes. The 2025 administration FRQs and scoring guidelines are posted on AP Central. These are the most recent FRQs that reflect the current four-task-type format and are the highest-fidelity practice you can do.

Is there a fluids FRQ?

Fluids is one of the eight tested units, so a fluids FRQ is possible on any administration. The 2025 exam included fluids content. For practice, use released AP Physics 2 fluids FRQs from 2024 and earlier; the physics tested is the same.