(taken from The Teacher's Guide to Advanced Placement Courses in Physics)

The AP Physics curriculum represents a significant intellectual and psychological challenge for a high school student.  The intellectual challenges are obvious: there are mathematical complexities and abstractions; higher order analytical skills must be used more regularly than in previous courses.   The psychological challenges are likewise substantial: questions in which the first step is not obvious to the student occur frequently and are followed by even more difficult parts; the demand is relentless... there is never a time to relax or mourn over a poor test score; an excellent score is not always 100 percent but sometimes only 80 percent.  These challenges represent obstacles for the students' successful completion of the course;any one can be fatal; each must be overcome in a different manner.  Motivation and a supportive environment are keys.  The student must want to be in the class and must be willing to risk a past history of successes for the challenge to course represents.  Encouraging the excitement of learning does much to promote motivation.  The mood of the class must be supportive, with constant and unlimited support coming not only from the teacher, but also from peers.  A sense of teamwork does much to encourage confidence and motivate students to success.  Yes, the challenges are significant and the chance for failure is real.  If a student, regardless of his/her level of success in the course and on the exam, leaves the course hating physics or science in general, the course has seriously failed the student.   Unfortunately, such horror stories do occur and represent the basis of much criticism of the Advanced Placement program and rightfully so.  But if the mood and environment can be supportive and exciting, there is an equal, if not greater, chance for success.  Students recognize the fine line between assignments which are challenging and those which are punitive.  Challenging tasks will have clear and worthwhile goals and objectives in mind.  Challenges are wrapped in support and encouragement.   Students rise to challenges.  It is the responsibility of the teacher to create the atmosphere for success.