Well we can at least thank AP Physics for becoming easier rather than harder, unlike AP US History…
For the school year of ‘14-‘15, the AP Physics classes have been changed, thankfully in a more positive way. The AP Physics B class has been split into two different classes, AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2. Those are the most original names I have ever heard.
AP Physics 1 is quite similar to the current Physics Honors class. It focuses on the same sub subjects: Newtonian Mechanics, work, energy and power, but at a faster pace.
Originally the other half, which is now its own separate class, AP Physics 2 focuses more on fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, optics, and atomic and nuclear physics. I don’t even know what half of those words even mean, next year is going to be great…
Now that the class has been broken into two classes, it saves students from banging their heads on their textbooks every night. Originally the AP Physics B class was crammed with information and very fast paced. The AP exam for the original class would be the day after completing the material. The school board recognized this and thought it was necessary to make changes.
The school board is also making changes to AP US History along with AP Physics, but instead of making it easier, they’re making it harder because “too many people are passing the AP exam.” If that’s the reason for making it harder, would that mean that if AP Physics 1 and 2 are deemed too easy, are they going to completely change the course again? Well I guess if you’re planning on taking it, take it before it does get changed and made nearly impossible to get a 5 on again.
Being in Physics honors this year, I am quite excited and grateful for the changes to Physics because it now covers less and goes at a slower pace than it used to. Having the much more rigorous AP Physics B on my already AP filled joy of a schedule would just be too much. But now, I can have AP Physics 1 and switch around a couple classes for an extra AP, which just means I’ll decay in front of my textbooks slower than I would have. Thank you school board!
Hopefully, the new changes will bring positive improvements to grades and scores on AP exams, but just because it becomes easier doesn’t mean it should be neglected. Remember, it’s still an AP course and it will still be rigorous.