The F=ma exam is the entry point to the most prestigious physics competition pathway in the United States, and for many ambitious high schoolers it is the first real test of whether they can think like a physicist under pressure.
Named after Newton's second law, the F=ma exam is administered by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) as the opening round of the U.S. Physics Team selection process. It is the gateway to the USA Physics Olympiad (USAPhO) and, ultimately, the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO). If your student loves mechanics and wants a credential that genuinely stands out on a college application, this is where the journey begins.
What the F=ma Exam Tests
The exam is a focused, timed test of classical mechanics. Students answer 25 multiple-choice questions in 75 minutes, a pace that rewards both deep conceptual understanding and fast, accurate problem-solving. Crucially, the problems are algebra-based: every question can be solved without calculus, though students comfortable with calculus sometimes find shortcuts.
Topics commonly covered include:
- Kinematics and the equations of motion
- Newton's laws, statics, and force diagrams
- Momentum, energy, and conservation principles
- Rotational dynamics and oscillations
- Orbital mechanics and gravitation
- Fluids, dimensional analysis, and elementary data analysis
One reassuring detail: there is no penalty for wrong answers. Because incorrect responses are not deducted, students should answer every question, even when it means making an educated guess on the hardest problems near the end.
Who Can Take the F=ma Exam?
Eligibility is straightforward but specific. To sit for the F=ma exam, a student must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. permanent resident (green card holder), or currently enrolled in a U.S. school, and must be physically located in the United States when taking it. The exam must be proctored by a qualified, neutral supervisor rather than a relative or a for-profit testing service.
There is no formal minimum grade level, so motivated middle schoolers and underclassmen are welcome to attempt it for practice, even if the toughest competition realistically favors well-prepared high school students. Note that beginning in 2026, AAPT moved the F=ma and USAPhO exams to an online format delivered through Educational Vistas, so registration and proctoring logistics now run through that platform.
How the F=ma Exam Fits the Olympiad Pathway
The F=ma exam is a qualifier, not the final destination. A high enough score earns an invitation to the USA Physics Olympiad (USAPhO), a much longer, calculus-based free-response exam that spans mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermodynamics, waves, relativity, and modern physics.
- F=ma exam — thousands of students compete; the top scorers advance.
- USAPhO — invited students take a rigorous open-ended exam.
- Training camp — roughly two dozen of the top performers attend an intensive U.S. Physics Team camp.
- IPhO — five students are selected to represent the United States internationally.
The cutoff score that determines USAPhO qualification is set each year and is not published in advance, so treat past cutoffs as rough benchmarks rather than guarantees. Check the official site for current numbers.
How to Prepare
The best preparation is a deep, fluent grasp of mechanics combined with timed practice on past exams, which AAPT publishes openly. Students who have worked through olympiad-style problem sets, learned to set up clean force and energy equations quickly, and built the discipline to manage 75 minutes wisely tend to perform best. Strong contest-math skills also help, since the reasoning overlaps with the kind of analysis we coach in our math program.
At BIAA we treat the F=ma exam as part of a broader culture of scientific inquiry and research, helping students connect competition physics to real engineering and innovation. You can explore the full landscape of olympiad pathways on our competitions hub.
Ready to build the foundation that turns curiosity into a competitive edge? Start with BIAA and map a personalized plan toward the F=ma exam and beyond.