AP Physics 1 Progress Check walkthroughs.
Unit-by-unit explanations of the MCQ and FRQ content on AP Classroom Progress Checks. Each unit page shows the topics tested, the most common student mistakes, and a tip from someone who scored a 5.
All units, expandable.
Click a unit to see MCQ topics, FRQ structure, common mistakes, and a tip from a student who scored a 5.
U01Kinematics
- 1-D motion
- 2-D motion
- Vectors
- Position-time graph FRQs
U02Dynamics: Forces and Newton’s Laws
- Free-body diagrams
- Friction
- Apparent weight
- Atwood machine analysis
U03Circular Motion and Gravitation
- Uniform circular
- Universal gravitation
- Orbits
- Banked-curve problems
U04Energy
- Work-energy theorem
- Conservation
- Power
- Energy conservation in roller-coaster scenarios
U05Momentum
- Impulse
- Conservation
- Collisions
- Elastic vs. inelastic
U06Simple Harmonic Motion
- Springs
- Pendulums
- Energy in SHM
- Period derivation from F=ma
U07Torque and Rotational Motion
- Angular kinematics
- Rotational inertia
- Angular momentum
- Conservation of angular momentum
U08Electric Charge and Circuits
- Coulomb’s law
- Circuits
- Kirchhoff’s laws
- Multi-loop circuit FRQs
Pair the walkthrough with the calculator.
After each unit, plug your AP Classroom score breakdown into the calculator. You’ll see your trajectory in real numbers, not vibes.
Open Phys 1 calculatorFrequently asked questions
Quick answers — written by humans, not a chatbot.
What's the difference between Phys 1 Progress Checks and the real AP exam?
Progress Checks are unscaled — they’re unit-by-unit MCQ + FRQ practice that AP Classroom assigns. The real AP exam uses a curve to map your raw composite to a 1–5. The walkthroughs above explain the reasoning; the calculator estimates your exam score.
Should I do every Progress Check or skip around?
Do them in order the first time — each one builds on the last. If you’re reviewing in May, target the units where you’re weakest using the unit summaries above.
Why don't you publish exact answer keys?
AP Classroom assignments are graded as your own work. Posting raw keys would help cheaters and harm the students using Curve for actual studying. Our walkthroughs explain reasoning, not letter answers.