How do I pass AP Physics if I have a bad teacher?

Teaching yourself physics is hard. Teaching yourself physics while also having to spend hours per week sitting in a classroom not learning anything is even harder.

First, you need to separate class time from learning time. Your class might be required, but your progress is still under your control. Build your own AP roadmap, and start from the last topic you can solve on your own without help. If you skip this step, you waste hours practicing things you are not ready for - or hours re-learning topics you already know. If you use PhysicsGraph, the diagnostic test and knowledge graph find that point for you, quickly and precisely.

Second, spend most of your study time solving problems, not rereading notes. A good target is about 70% problem solving and 30% review. Keep a short error log: what you missed, why you missed it, and how to avoid that mistake next time. Then practice timed FRQs, because many students know the material but lose points on AP-style writing and setup.

Third, use your teacher strategically even if they are not great at teaching. Come in with one specific question and your attempted solution. That changes the conversation from "I do not get anything" to "can you check this step?" and usually gets better help. It also helps your class grade, since teachers notice students who are clearly putting in real effort.

The good news is, most physics teachers are there because they truly love physics, even if they are very bad at explaining it, or are worn down from the school system. If you come in with your knowledge from PhysicsGraph, they will be delighted to see your progress. And you might even start to understand their explanations.