AAPT.org - American Association of Physics Teachers

AAPT PhysicsBowl

How the Contest Works

Each year, approximately 10,000 students take a 40-question, 45-minute timed, multiple-choice test under their school’s supervision. The 2010 exam will be given between April 1-15. Exam questions are based on topics and concepts covered in a typical high school physics course.

To enhance the distribution of awards, Division I is for first-year physics students and Division II is for second-year physics students. Each Division has 15 regions that have been established across the country to allow schools in each region to compete against one another. Specialized math and science schools compete in their own region.

Note: School Team scores are determined by the sum of the scores of the top five students competing.

To help your students prepare for the exam we have past exams available as PDFs.

To Enter:

Simply complete the short registration form on-line, or if paying by check or purchase order, you can download a PDF Form, complete and send to the AAPT National Office.  We encourage on-line registration.

You have three options for how you may receive the exam:

  1. Print copies of exams are sold in packets of five at $30.00 per packet (includes shipping and handling).  Packets will not be split.  PLEASE NOTE: This will be the final year that we offer print copies of the exam, in the future only PDF and WebAssign versions will be available.
  2. A PDF version of the exam is also sold in packets of five at $15.00 per packet (includes shipping and handling of the scantrons that you will receive for each student).  You will receive a password code sent to your school email address to download the PDF, you will need to make a copy for each student.
  3. You can register students to take the exam via WebAssign at $2.00 per student (you may enter one or more students via WebAssign, but you will need 5 students to qualify for team competition).  You do not need to have an account with WebAssign to use this method.

Teachers should reserve a room and arrange for supervision of the test between April 1-15, 2010. 

AAPT will ship tests and instructions (or email link for downloading PDF) on or about March 16. Notify AAPT if you have not received your test packets by March 30, 2010.

School, Teacher, and Student Awards

  • T-shirts awarded to the five top students in the top scoring school in each region.*
  • Certificate of Participation provided as a printable PDF for all teachers and students competing.*
  • Additional awards to be announced.

* School team scores are determined by the sum of the scores of the top five students competing.

PhysicsBowl Results (PDFs)