If you’re a high school student who’s currently struggling with the choice of AP Bio vs. AP Physics, then this post is for you.
In high school, I took both AP Bio and AP Physics (AP Physics I and AP Physics C: Mechanics). In this article, I’ll be focusing on AP Bio and AP Physics I.
In this article, you’ll learn about:
- The similarities and differences between the two courses
- Questions you can yourself to determine which is a better fit
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Overview of AP Bio and AP Physics I
In AP Bio, you’ll focus mainly on the molecular basis of life, with a sprinkling of ecology at the end of the course. Through the course, you’ll learn things like the chemical reactions that provide us with energy, how traits are inherited from one generation to the next, and how species evolve. For more details, see this course at a glance.
In AP Physics I, you’ll be introduced to classical physics, covering topics like motion, energy, and forces. Through the course, you’ll learn things like why objects follow certain trajectories when thrown, how friction affects physical systems, and how to calculate characteristics of planetary orbits. For more details, see this course at a glance.
Now that you have a basic idea of the topics covered in the two courses, I’ll move on to their similarities and differences.
How are AP Bio and AP Physics I Similar?
Exam Format
While the AP Bio and AP Physics exams have a different number of questions, the overall structure of the exams is similar: 90 minutes for the multiple-choice section and 90 minutes for the free-response section, both of which account for 50% of the exam score.
Critical Thinking and Application >> Memorization
Both AP Bio and AP Physics require you to apply the theoretical concepts you learn to real-life scenarios.
On the AP Bio exam, questions are generally preceded by a description of an experiment. You’ll then be expected to analyze the results of the experiment. You will not find straightforward memorization questions like, “What is the powerhouse of the cell?” (I apologize for using this phrase.)
On the AP Physics exam, you’ll need to apply the theoretical concepts you learn to physical systems. You will also need to do some experimental analysis. For example, you might get a question about the trajectory of a skier as he leaves a ramp. However, you would not get a question like, “What is Newton’s third law of motion?”
In both courses, memorization of information is not enough. As with most AP classes, critical thinking and application skills are necessary to be successful.
How are AP Bio and AP Physics I Different?
AP Physics Involves More Math
As someone who’s taken both courses, I can vouch for the fact that AP Physics I is MUCH more math-intensive than AP Bio. While you hardly need any math in AP Bio, you’ll need to use math on almost every AP Physics question.
Fortunately, AP Physics I is entirely algebra-based with a little trigonometry, so if you’ve taken algebra and are concurrently taking pre-calculus, you’ll be prepared math-wise.
AP Bio Covers More Breadth of Material
AP Bio is relatively fast-paced—you’ll cover a LOT of material during the year. I remember taking nearly 20 unit tests during the year.
Fortunately, I took Honors Biology before taking AP Bio, in which we covered nearly half the material in AP. This made AP Bio much more manageable.
On the other hand, AP Physics I covers less material. I didn’t take any physics classes before taking AP Physics I and came in with zero knowledge of physics. Nevertheless, I was able to keep up with the course. However, due to my inexperience with physics, I did have to supplement my knowledge with more resources, like the class textbook and YouTube videos.
Is AP Bio harder or AP Physics?
This is a question I see frequently pop up online.
Based on the score distributions alone, AP Physics I appears to be the harder course.
In 2022, 67.9% of students passed AP Bio, while only 43.3% passed the AP Physics I exam. The exact score distributions were as follows:
| Score | AP Biology | AP Physics I |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 15.0% | 7.9% |
| 4 | 23.1% | 17.0% |
| 3 | 29.7 | 18.3% |
| 2 | 21.6% | 27.1% |
| 1 | 10.5% | 29.6% |
While these score distributions may point to AP Physics I being harder, you shouldn’t let them deter you from taking the course. Personally, I found AP Physics I to be harder than AP Bio, but it was still an entirely manageable class.
Yes, I had to put in more effort to learn the material. However, being an introductory course to classical mechanics, you will only cover the basics, and you won’t be tested on anything overly complex on the exam.
As long as you have a solid conceptual understanding and have done lots of practice, you should be able to solve every problem on the exam in a few steps.
Overview of AP Bio vs. AP Physics
| AP Biology | AP Physics I | |
|---|---|---|
| Exam Format | 90 minutes each on MC and FRQ; each section accounts for 50% of exam score | 90 minutes each on MC and FRQ; each section accounts for 50% of exam score |
| Skills | critical thinking and application; nevertheless, there is a lot of material to memorize | critical thinking and application; lots of math (algebra and basic trig) |
| Difficulty | moderate | hard |
| Recommended Prerequisites | Honors Biology | Algebra I and II; precalculus (taking it concurrently is fine) |
Questions to Ask Yourself
Finally, whether you take AP Bio or AP Physics I should depend on your circumstances. In this section, I’ll provide questions you can ask yourself to determine which is a better choice.
What are my strengths?
If you know you’re good at math, then AP Physics may be a good choice. However, if math is not your strong suit, AP Bio will be a less painful class to take.
AP Physics is all about applying theoretical concepts to problems by drawing and analyzing diagrams, as well as manipulating equations.
In AP Bio, you’ll hardly need to do any math. As long as you’re familiar with the four basic algebraic functions, you’ll be prepared.
What do I want to major in?
If you know you’ll be going into medicine, biotech, or anything else that requires knowledge of the life sciences, you should definitely take AP Bio. Here is a complete list of majors that AP Bio can help with, according to the College Board.
If you’re going into a field that’s highly analytical and involves math, like computer science or engineering, then AP Physics is a fantastic choice. Here is a complete list of majors that AP Physics I can help with, according to the College Board.
What schools will I be applying to?
If you’re applying for elite schools, you should take the most rigorous curriculum available at your high school. Therefore, if your school offers both AP Bio and AP Physics, and you take both and do well in both, that will demonstrate your academic capability and openness to challenge.
(However, keep in mind that admissions committees review applications holistically. Whether or not you take both AP Bio and AP Physics will not be the sole factor in making or breaking your application.)
STEM-oriented colleges like MIT, in fact, recommend that applicants have taken at least one year of biology, physics, and chemistry each.
At the end of the day, however, you shouldn’t only be focused on taking as many AP classes as you can. You also need to do well in them. If you know, for instance, that math is not your strength, then you shouldn’t take AP Physics and compromise your grades for the sake of an additional AP class on your transcript.
Who teaches the classes?
In my opinion, the rigor of an AP class and your success on the final exam depends largely on the teacher, not the way the AP exam is designed.
Therefore, you should talk to students at your school who’ve taken AP Bio and/or AP Physics. Every student’s experience will likely have been different, but by talking to several students, you should get a better idea of the teaching style and rigor of each class.
Final Thoughts on AP Bio vs. AP Physics
In the topic of “AP Bio vs. AP Physics: Which is better?” there is not a definitive answer. I believe both courses provide valuable skills, whether you intend to pursue a STEM-related field or not. These courses taught me to analyze problems logically and approach them step-by-step. The critical thinking skills I gained have benefited me in other areas as well.
Nevertheless, there are some factors you can evaluate to help you determine which class to take.
Both AP Bio and AP Physics are focused on application over memorization, thus requiring strong critical thinking skills. However, AP Bio covers more information, so you’ll be expected to memorize more. In contrast, AP Physics I involves a lot more math. Therefore, it’s important to reflect on your strengths before choosing which class to take.
Other factors you should consider in your decision-making are: your future major, which schools you want to apply to, and who teaches the classes.
I hope this article helped you decide which course to take. If so, let me know whether you’ll be taking AP Bio or AP Physics in the comments below!
For more posts on high school advice, check out:
- Most Impressive AP Classes (+ Useful Tips to Succeed in Them)—math and sciences
- Most Impressive AP Classes (+ Useful Tips to Succeed in Them)—humanities and social sciences
- The Ultimate Guide to Get a 5 on APUSH
- The Ultimate Guide to Get a 5 on AP Spanish Language and Culture
- 5 Simple Steps to Annotate a Book in AP English Language
- Why Junior Year is Not Too Late to Start Extracurriculars
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