Physics Bowl · OverviewPhysics Bowl · 赛制
Format, Divisions and Scoring
形式、组别与计分
One paper, two starting points, one point a question, and a tie-break that reads the paper backwards.
一份试卷、两个起点、每题一分，同分时从最后一题往前比。
Every fact on this page is taken from the cover instructions of the archived 2013, 2024 and 2025 papers, or from the AAPT Physics Bowl pages as captured on 6 May 2026. Rules and dates can change; check aapt.org before you enter.
本页的每条信息都取自已存档的 2013、2024、2025 年试卷封面说明，或 2026 年 5 月 6 日抓取的 AAPT Physics Bowl 页面。规则与日期可能调整，报名前请查看 aapt.org。
The paper试卷
The paper prints 50 numbered multiple-choice questions, each with five options (A–E), but no student answers all of them: each answers 40, in 45 minutes. That is about 67 seconds a question in either division. Students enter through their school, with a teacher's AAPT code, and sit the test under a proctor's supervision; the answer sheet is machine-graded, and a student who fails to fill in the name, teacher code, region and division is disqualified with a score of zero.
试卷印有 50 道编号的选择题，每题五个选项（A–E），但没有人要全部作答：每位学生只答 40 道，限时 45 分钟，两个组别都是约 67 秒一题。学生通过学校报名（使用老师的 AAPT 教师代码），在监考人监督下作答；答题卡由机器阅卷，姓名、教师代码、赛区、组别没有填涂好的学生会被取消资格，成绩记为零。
Two divisions两个组别
| Division组别 | Questions answered作答题号 | Who适用对象 |
|---|---|---|
| Division 1Division 1 | Q1–40Q1–40 | Taking physics for the first time (even if that first course is AP Physics)第一次学物理（即使第一门课是 AP 物理） |
| Shared共同部分 | Q11–40Q11–40 | Thirty questions answered in both divisions两个组别都要作答的 30 道题 |
| Division 2Division 2 | Q11–50Q11–50 | A second (or later) physics course, or anyone wanting a challenge第二门（或更多）物理课，或任何想挑战自己的学生 |
The division rule is the one most often got wrong: it follows the student's physics course, not age or grade. A student in a first physics course sits Division 1 even if that course is AP Physics; a student in a second course sits Division 2. Division 1 students never see Q41–50, and Division 2 students skip Q1–10.
组别规则最容易弄错：它看的是学生正在上第几门物理课，而不是年龄或年级。第一次学物理的学生，即使上的是 AP 物理，也参加 Division 1；上第二门物理课的学生参加 Division 2。Division 1 的学生不做第 41–50 题，Division 2 的学生跳过第 1–10 题。
Scoring and ties计分与同分
A student's score is the number of correct answers; there is no deduction for a wrong answer, so no question should be left blank. When scores tie, the answers are compared from the end of the test forward until the tie is resolved, which makes the last few questions of each division worth extra care.
个人成绩就是答对的题数；答错不扣分，所以任何一题都不该空着。同分时从试卷最后一题往前逐题比较，直到分出先后，因此每个组别最后几道题值得多花心思。
A school's team score in each division is the sum of its five highest student scores in that division. A school may compete in either division or both. Schools compete within regions: the 2024 and 2025 papers describe two divisions, each with nineteen regions.
学校在每个组别的团体分是该组别中最高五名学生的分数之和；学校可以参加其中一个组别，也可以两个都参加。学校在各自的赛区内比较：2024、2025 年试卷写明两个组别各有十九个赛区。
Awards奖项
The contest exists, in AAPT's words, to recognise outstanding high-school physics students and their teachers through their performance. Individual and team results are compared within each region and division. The current award categories and the lists of past winners are published by AAPT; we do not reproduce them or state any score thresholds. See aapt.org.
按 AAPT 的说法，这项比赛是为了通过成绩表彰优秀的高中物理学生及其老师。个人与团体成绩在各赛区、各组别内比较。当年的奖项设置与历年获奖名单由 AAPT 公布；本站不转载，也不给出任何分数线。详见 aapt.org。
Conventions on the day考场约定
- Treat g = 10.0 m/s² for all questions (printed on the 2013, 2024 and 2025 papers).所有题目取 g = 10.0 m/s²（2013、2024、2025 年试卷都写明）。
- A hand-held calculator may be used; its memory must be cleared and it may not be shared.可以使用手持计算器，存储须清空，不得共用。
- Only the formulas and constants provided with the contest may be used.只能使用试卷提供的公式和常数。
- 45 minutes for 40 questions; no penalty for a wrong answer.45 分钟 40 道题；答错不扣分。
Timeline时间线
| Year年份 | Contest window比赛时间窗口 | Source来源 |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 – 17 April 20132013 年 4 月 3 日至 17 日 | archived 2013 paper已存档的 2013 年试卷 |
| 2020 | No contest未举办 | AAPT past-exam listingAAPT 往年试卷列表 |
| 2024 | 20 March – 5 April 20242024 年 3 月 20 日至 4 月 5 日 | archived 2024 paper已存档的 2024 年试卷 |
| 2025 | 19 March – 4 April 20252025 年 3 月 19 日至 4 月 4 日 | archived 2025 paper已存档的 2025 年试卷 |
| 2026 | 18 March – 3 April 2026; registration closed 25 February 20262026 年 3 月 18 日至 4 月 3 日；报名截止 2026 年 2 月 25 日 | AAPT contest page, May 2026AAPT 比赛页面（2026 年 5 月） |
Past papers and their solutions are published free by AAPT: practice and past exams. Our question bank holds 15 of them (2010–2025) sorted by topic.