Overview
PhysicsBowl is one of the most widely respected high school physics contests in the world — a national credential that has been challenging first- and second-year physics students for more than four decades. Run by the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT), the professional body that sets the standard for physics education in the U.S., the contest draws thousands of students from schools across North America, Asia, and the Middle East every spring. There is no project, no team to assemble, no application essay. Just 40 questions, 45 minutes, and a regional ranking that means something on a transcript.
PhysicsBowl sits in the broader landscape of physics competitions as the most accessible serious contest your child can take. It is not the F=ma exam or the U.S. Physics Olympiad — those come later, for students aiming at the international team. PhysicsBowl is the entry point: a rigorous, school-administered exam that introduces strong physics students to timed competition and offers genuine recognition for those who excel.
The contest is offered in two divisions. Division 1 is for students in their first physics course — anything from conceptual physics through AP. Division 2 is for students in a second physics course or any student looking for a tougher challenge. Schools can compete in both. The exam is given each spring at participating high schools, online or as a printed PDF, under a qualified proctor.
How the Contest Works
The mechanics are straightforward, which is part of what makes this contest accessible:
- The exam: 40 multiple-choice questions, 45 minutes, no penalty for wrong answers. Calculators are allowed (non-programmable, or with programs cleared); equation sheets and constants are provided.
- The format: Schools choose either an online version or a printable PDF that gets scanned and uploaded after the contest.
- The team component: There is no team to form. Each school's team score is automatically calculated from its top 5 individual scores in a given division. A school can compete with fewer than 5, but the math gets harder.
- The regions: More than 20 regions span the U.S., Canada, Asia, and the Middle East. Specialized math and science schools compete in their own region, as do test prep centers (which are eligible for student awards only).
Who It's For
A strong fit for the kid who is enrolled in physics this year and wants to find out what they actually know. The questions are written by physics teachers who do this for a living — they reward conceptual understanding and clean reasoning more than computational speed. Average scores typically land between 40 and 50 percent, and that is by design. This is a contest where doing genuinely well means something, and where finishing in the middle of the pack still tells your child something useful about where they stand.
What Makes This Different
Most physics competitions sit at one of two extremes: low-bar science fairs that reward effort, or olympiad-track exams that require years of dedicated training. PhysicsBowl is neither. It is the rare contest that takes students at the level they are actually at — first or second year of physics — and measures them against a global field using a single, consistent exam. The result is a recognized credential a high schooler can earn from inside their regular physics class, without summer training camps or specialized coaching. For students considering physics or engineering in college, a strong PhysicsBowl finish is a quiet but meaningful signal.
Application & Eligibility
- Open to high school students
- Homeschooled students can register, but must arrange proctoring through a community college, university, or library (not a parent or relative)
Cost & Information
- Entry: $10 per student
- Registration typically closes in late February
- Testing window: Any day during a designated stretch in late March through early April
- Awards: Top 2 students and top 2 schools recognized in each region/division. All teachers and students receive a printable Certificate of Participation. There are no cash prizes — the recognition is the prize.
- Specific dates and award details vary year to year — check the contest website for the current cycle
Important Note on Proctoring
This is a contest schools enter, not one a student signs up for on their own. If your child's high school does not currently participate, a teacher (typically the physics teacher) will need to register the school and proctor the exam. It is worth asking — many schools are happy to participate when a student or family raises it, but the logistics need to start with the school, not the student.