Physics Foundations Assessment and Advanced Placement Tests

Credit: Caltech Strategic Communications

Physics Foundations Assessment

Physics is a large part of the Core curriculum at Caltech, so we try to understand the physics background of each incoming class of students. To this end, all incoming first-year students are required to complete the Physics section of the Foundations Assessment, which will be available in the summer before your first year through Canvas. Participation in the Foundations Assessment is mandatory. There is no need to study for the Foundations Assessment, as your score does not count towards your academic grades in any way. Please refer to the incoming To-Do List for more information about the Foundations Assessment deadlines. 

 
If you have any questions, please contact the Deans Office.

Physics Advanced Placement Exam

All incoming students have the option to take the Physics 1a Advanced Placement Exam during the summer. This exam is optional, independent of your performance on the Foundations Assessment. Note, however, that testing out of Ph1a is not easy, and this option is mainly for students that arrive at Caltech having already taken college-level physics courses. 

Students who score well on the Physics 1a Advanced Placement Exam will place out of Ph 1a; in this case, students will receive credit for Ph 1a and will not have to take the course to satisfy the Ph 1a requirement of the Core curriculum. Placement out of Physics 1a is only available by successfully completing this test in the summer. We do not accept grades in courses at other institutions. No additional opportunities to take this test will be available. Based on the results of your Physics 1a Advanced Placement Exam and your background in physics, you may be invited to take the Physics 1b Advanced Placement Exam. Some students who have placed out of Physics 1b will be invited to take the Physics 1c Advanced Placement Exam. The Physics 1b and 1c Advanced Placement Exams are taken in person once you have arrived at Caltech. In exceptional circumstances where it is clear that the student has already had all the material equivalent to, or more advanced than Ph1 abc, the student may be granted advanced placement of all of Ph1, based on an interview with a faculty member. In such cases, taking the advanced placement exams as described above may still be required following the interview.

The Physics 1a Advanced Placement testing window opens on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 12:00pm PDT, and closes on Friday, July 18, 2025 at 12:00pm PDT. This test will be available through Canvas and instructions for accessing the placement web page will be emailed. 

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].