AP Physics C: E&M
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
More study resources
Cheat sheet
Keep the key ideas within reach.
ExploreKey terms
Get comfortable with the vocabulary.
ExploreStudy plan
Give each week a clear focus.
ExploreCommon mistakes
Understand the traps and how to avoid them.
ExploreCase studies
Put your knowledge to work in context.
ExploreExam-day guide
Prepare for the day ahead.
ExploreAbout this exam
AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is a College Board Advanced Placement course and exam equivalent to a semester-long, introductory calculus-based college physics course. It is intended for students who have already taken a calculus-based Newtonian mechanics course such as AP Physics C: Mechanics (or its equivalent) and who have taken or are concurrently taking calculus. The course content is organized into six units: electric charges, fields, and Gauss's law; electric potential; conductors and capacitors; electric circuits; magnetic fields and electromagnetism; and electromagnetic induction, including Faraday's and Lenz's laws and inductance with LR circuits. Students are expected to build representations of physical phenomena, derive and estimate quantities with calculus, and describe experimental procedures and analyze data. The exam is hybrid digital: multiple-choice questions and free-response prompts are delivered in the Bluebook app, while free-response answers are handwritten in paper booklets for scoring. Calculators are permitted. To prepare, work through the course and exam description, practice translating between verbal, graphical, and mathematical representations, and rehearse the free-response question types - mathematical routines, representation translation, experimental design and analysis, and qualitative/quantitative translation. This page is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the College Board.
What you'll study
About AP Physics C: E&M preparation
What is the format of the exam?
It is a hybrid digital exam. You answer multiple-choice questions and view free-response questions in the Bluebook testing app, then handwrite your free-response answers in paper booklets that are collected and returned for scoring. Reference materials are provided in Bluebook and printed and mailed to schools.
How long is the exam and how is it weighted?
Section I has 42 multiple-choice questions in 85 minutes and counts for 50% of the exam score. Section II has 4 free-response questions in 95 minutes and counts for the other 50%. The updated section structure takes effect starting with the May 2027 exam.
What are the four free-response question types?
Section II contains four free-response questions, one of each type: mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design and analysis, and qualitative/quantitative translation. Expect to justify reasoning, not just compute, so practice writing clear derivations and explanations under time pressure.
Can I use a calculator?
Yes. Calculators are permitted for this course's exam. Check the AP calculator policy for the list of permitted models before exam day so you are not relying on a device that is not allowed.
Should I take AP Physics C: Mechanics first?
The recommended prerequisites are a calculus-based Newtonian physics course, such as AP Physics C: Mechanics or its equivalent, plus having taken or concurrently taking calculus. The exam assumes fluency with derivatives and integrals, so starting without calculus puts you at a real disadvantage.
What is the hardest part of this exam?
Common failure modes are applying Gauss's law without a symmetry argument, confusing potential with field, mishandling sign conventions in circuits and induction, and losing points on free response by skipping justification. Lenz's law direction questions and LR circuit behavior also trip up students who memorize formulas instead of reasoning physically.
How should I order my studying?
Follow the unit sequence: charges, fields, and Gauss's law; electric potential; conductors and capacitors; electric circuits; magnetic fields and electromagnetism; electromagnetic induction. The first unit carries the largest multiple-choice share at 15%–25%, so do not rush it before moving to potential and circuits.
When is the exam offered?
The 2027 exam is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5, 2027, Session 2. Your AP coordinator will tell you when and where the exam will be administered, so confirm logistics with your school rather than relying on the published date alone.
Can I retake the exam, and how long are scores valid?
The available official source does not state a retake policy or a score validity period, so those details should be confirmed with the College Board or your school's AP coordinator. Plan to sit the exam once and use practice tests to gauge readiness.