What’s Covered:
- How to Pick the Right AP Classes for You
- Which AP Classes Do Students Find Hardest and Easiest?
- The Three Hardest AP Classes
- The Three Easiest AP Classes
- How AP Classes Impact Your College Chances
Advanced Placement classes offer students the opportunity to try out college-level courses and explore advanced topics in an area of interest while they’re still in high school. In some cases, students can even earn credit for college classes, ultimately saving time and money as they pursue their degrees. To that end, choosing the right AP classes to take is extremely important.
With the College Board offering a large number of exams on an annual basis, it’s only natural that students sometimes struggle to decide which classes to enroll in. In addition to any concerns about the difficulty of the relevant exams, students may wonder which courses are the hardest to pass. After all, the grades they earn in AP classes will affect their GPAs and may impact their odds of getting into their dream colleges and universities.
Keep reading for tips on evaluating the relative difficulty of various AP classes and determining which ones to fit into your schedule. For more tips regarding AP classes, especially after you’ve chosen the ones you’re going to take, check out CollegeVine’s large collection of AP guides!
How to Pick the Right AP Classes for You
Consider Your Strengths
When choosing AP classes, your own strengths and weaknesses are the most important factors to consider. After all, you’re likely to perform better on a test in a field that interests and excites you. So, if you’re strong in quantitative subjects and enjoy physics, you might want to take the Physics 1 AP exam despite the fact that it’s reportedly challenging.
On the other hand, if you struggle in something like art history, you might not want to take a course in this subject even if many students earn passing scores on the AP exam. When in doubt, take AP classes in the fields you’re most passionate about and willing to work at, rather than those that leave you feeling uninspired.
Check the AP Policies of the Colleges You Want to Attend
You should also think strategically when it comes to earning AP credit. In college, AP credits can be especially helpful for getting general education course requirements out of the way, or for getting placed into higher-level courses. If you know which colleges you hope to attend, check their AP credit and placement policies.
Some schools offer credits for all scores 3 and above, while others may require a 4 or 5 for specific classes. Very selective colleges might not offer AP credit at all, and may only use AP exam scores for placement. Based on the policies of your potential colleges, you might decide to take, or to refrain from taking, certain AP courses.
For instance, if more than half of the schools on your list require a general education math course, and they allow a 3 or above on the AP Calculus BC exam to fulfill that requirement, it might tempt you to take the AP Calculus BC course. On the flip side, if you were interested in taking AP Latin for credit, but only a couple of your schools offer credit for it, you might consider another class.
Of course, this is not to say that you should base your course decisions only on credit and placement policies; your interests should guide your choices before anything else. If you’re having trouble deciding between potential classes though, checking college policies can help guide your decision in a more practical way.
Assess Educator Experience
While strengths are a key consideration when selecting AP classes, students should also evaluate the experience level of their respective teachers. In general, the longer a teacher has been providing instruction in a particular AP subject, the better their students perform on the test.
If you’re choosing between taking a “harder” subject like Physics with a teacher who has ten years of experience, and taking an “easier” subject like Art History with someone who has just two years of experience, you might want to go with the former.
Of course, students shouldn’t write off an AP class that interests them just because the teacher is less experienced. If you’re passionate about a class and confident in your talent in that subject, it’s still worth signing up. However, you should expect to do some extra studying on your own or with the aid of a tutor.
The Easiest and Hardest AP Classes
The College Board grades AP exams on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 representing the lowest possible score and 5 representing the highest. In general, a score of 3 is considered to be passing. However, students should note that many colleges require a score of 4 or 5 for credit to be granted. Below is a list of the AP exams offered by the College Board, along with the percentage of students who received a passing grade on each:
AP Exam | Percentage of Students Who Scored 3 or Higher |
Art and Design – Drawing | 88.3 |
Chinese Language (Total Group) | 86.9 |
Art and Design – 2D | 86.6 |
Research | 82.7 |
Seminar | 82.6 |
Spanish Language (Total Group) | 81.7 |
Spanish Language (Standard Group) | 78.4 |
English Literature | 77.9 |
Calculus BC | 76.9 |
Japanese Language (Total Group) | 75.5 |
Art and Design – 3D | 73.6 |
Physics C Mechanics | 73.4 |
French Language (Total Group) | 71.6 |
Government & Politics Comparative | 70.5 |
Italian Language (Total Group) | 70.5 |
Physics 2 | 69.7 |
Physics C E&M | 69.4 |
French Language (Standard Group) | 68.5 |
Biology | 67.9 |
Computer Science A | 67.5 |
Italian Language (Standard Group) | 65.8 |
German Language (Total Group) | 65.5 |
Chinese Language (Standard Group) | 64.8 |
Spanish Literature | 64.2 |
Computer Science Principles | 63.5 |
World History | 62.1 |
Music Theory | 61.9 |
Art History | 61.5 |
Statistics | 60.5 |
Economics – Micro | 59.0 |
European History | 58.9 |
Psychology | 58.3 |
German Language (Standard Group) | 57.5 |
Latin | 57.0 |
Calculus AB | 55.7 |
English Language | 55.7 |
Chemistry | 54.0 |
Environmental Science | 53.8 |
Japanese Language (Standard Group) | 53.5 |
Human Geography | 53.2 |
Economics – Macro | 51.8 |
Government & Politics United States | 48.6 |
United States History | 48.2 |
Physics 1 | 43.3 |
Sourced from the College Board.
Which AP Classes Do Students Find Hardest and Easiest?
The percentage of students who earn a passing score on the AP exam is an indicator of how hard or easy an AP class is, but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
Consider that classes commonly thought of as the most challenging AP classes (like Physics C: Mechanics and Japanese) have high passing rates while classes often considered easier (like Human Geography and U.S. Government and Politics) are among the classes with the lowest passing rates.
There are a number of factors that can skew pass rates. For example, Chinese attracts a small, highly specialized group of students, many of whom have prior familiarity with language—just 15,277 students took the exam in 2022. Compare that to a class like Human Geography, which saw 221,815 test-takers in 2022.
Additionally, it’s not uncommon for classes with higher pass rates to have more stringent prerequisites at some schools, which filters out unqualified students. On top of that, not every school will offer the same selection of AP classes, and specific choices will depend on school size, location, and demographics, among other factors.
The Three Hardest AP Classes
1. AP Physics 1
Despite a reputation as one of the most difficult AP classes, Physics 1 is also one of the most popular—144,526 students took it in 2022. Physics 1 has the lowest pass rate of any AP exam (43.3%) along with one of the lowest percentages of students scoring a 5 (just 7.9%).
Physics 1 is an algebra-based physics class that explores topics such as Newtonian mechanics, simple circuits, and mechanical waves. The class will test your math skills, so the better you are at math, the better your odds of passing the AP Physics 1 exam will be.
In addition to the ability to solve algebraic and computational problems, AP Physics 1 is focused on hands-on learning: 25% of class time is devoted to performing college-level lab experiments, making observations and predictions, designing experiments, analyzing data, and constructing scientific arguments.
2. AP U.S. History
AP U.S. History is one of the hardest AP classes in the humanities and in general. U.S. History’s reputation for difficulty doesn’t scare many students away, though—it’s the second-most popular AP class (456,520 students took it in 2022). Its 48.2% passing rate is the third-lowest among all AP courses, and only about one in ten students (10.8%) score a 5.
What makes AP U.S. History particularly challenging is that it covers a relatively slim slice of history and a small geographic area, especially compared to other AP courses like European History and World History.Consequently, it requires students to possess a very detailed knowledge of U.S. history. For example, students would have to know facts such as the exact date a certain event took place.
To pass AP U.S. History, you’ll need more than just the ability to memorize key information; you’ll also need to be able to analyze historical events, interpret cause and effect, and write analyses and arguments.
3. AP United States Government and Politics
In a similar vein to AP U.S. History, AP Government & Politics remains one of the most popular AP exams taken by students, despite its high level of difficulty. In 2022, a total of 298,118 took the course, although only less than half of these students earned a passing score (144,973 students or 48.6%).
As a result, the course has cemented itself as one of the most difficult courses a student can take in high school. Nevertheless, it remains an exceedingly popular choice for students interested in an education in politics.
The material covered on the exam focuses entirely on the American political system. Even so, the course and its exam require students to not only have a fundamental understanding of the material, but to also be able to synthesize and develop cohesive arguments based on what they have learned.
Students will not only need to have a firm grasp on the course’s core concepts such as the Constitution, political parties and behaviors, Supreme Court cases, and public policy. They will also have to back up their knowledge with strong critical writing skills and argumentation. Much of American politics can be confusing and seemingly contradictory, which can cause many students to struggle with this course and exam.
The Three Easiest AP Classes
1. AP Psychology
With a reputation as one of the easiest AP classes, it comes as no surprise that AP Psychology is also one of the most popular—292,501 students took the exam in 2021. Despite the relative ease of this course, students still struggle; just 58.3% of students pass but 17.0% earned a 5.
Rather than the difficulty of the course and exam, however, the pass rate is likely the result of students not taking this course seriously enough, which many agree is its main issue.
AP Psych is commonly considered easy due to its uncomplicated coursework. Memorization is at the foundation of AP psychology—you’ll need to know psychology-specific vocabulary, understand psychological concepts and details about notable scientists in the field, and be versed in important experiments.
Another reason that AP Psychology is considered among the easiest courses is its exam. The AP Psychology exam is only two hours long and is predominantly multiple-choice.
2. AP Comparative Government and Politics
AP Comparative Government and Politics has a well-deserved place among the easiest AP classes, and the numbers back it up. Nearly three out of four students (70.5%) pass the exam and 15.9% of students score a 5.
What makes AP Comparative Government and Politics seem easy? The coursework is fairly broad, covering the political institutions and processes of six countries—China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom.Because the curriculum covers such a broad range of material—unlike a course like U.S Government and Politics, which has a 48.6% pass rate—it doesn’t go into the depths that other AP classes do.
Much like AP Psychology, the AP Comparative Government and Politics test also helps solidify its position as one of the easier AP courses. The test is only two and a half hours long and contains 55 multiple-choice questions and four free-response questions.
3. AP Environmental Science
Regarded as one of the easiest AP classes, AP Environmental Science still manages to give students trouble. Just 53.8% of students score a 3 or above and a mere 8.9% score a 5—one of the lowest rates among all the AP courses. However, the tough scores are generally attributed to students underestimating the effort required to successfully complete the class.
AP Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary course and while you don’t need a razor-sharp singular skill set, you will need knowledge from a wide range of fields, such as biology, geology, chemistry, algebra, and social studies. Relative to other AP courses, the curriculum is not particularly rigorous and has a hands-on lab component that is frequently supplemented with field trips.
Like the other less-challenging AP courses, the AP Environmental Science test is thought of as fairly easy. It’s under three hours and is mostly multiple-choice—the exam has 80 multiple-choice questions and just three free-response questions.
How AP Classes Impact Your College Chances
The number of AP classes you take can help make your admissions profile more competitive. Ivy League colleges and other highly selective institutions often use something called the Academic Index. A tool for assessing applicants, the Academic Index is a calculation that reduces a student’s overall academic record to one numerical score for easy comparison.
We’ve made it easy to understand the impact of your AP classes by creating a free Admissions Calculator. We recommend using it when deciding how many and which AP classes to take, since the calculator can help you see how these APs will factor into your own college admissions. You can also filter for other helpful things, such as location, major, cost, and even application difficulty!
FAQs
Which AP classes are the easiest? ›
- Physics C: Mechanics. 84.3% 41.6%
- Calculus BC. 81.6% 44.6%
- Spanish Literature. 75.1% 17.6%
- Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. 74.4% 40.4%
- Physics 2. 73.3% 14.0%
- Computer Science Principles. 71.6% 10.9%
- Psychology. 71.3% 22.4%
- Computer Science A. 70.4% 25.6%
United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests.
What is the least common AP class? ›Many of the least popular AP exams are world language tests, as these exams generally target a more niche group of students. What's more, some languages are less commonly taught at high schools than others (e.g., Japanese and Italian courses are rarer than Spanish courses).
What is the hardest AP to get a 5 on? ›AP Class/Exam | Pass Rate (3+) | Perfect Score (5) |
---|---|---|
2. Environmental Science | 53.4% | 11.9% |
3. Chemistry | 56.1% | 10.6% |
4. U.S. Government and Politics | 57.5% | 15.5% |
5. U.S. History | 58.7% | 13.0% |
Can you name the most frequently failed high school course? It's a subject that students have called “difficult,” “challenging,” and, at times, “torture.” Yes. It's a math class.
What AP classes do colleges like best? ›If you are going for the most competitive colleges, you should take the toughest core courses available at your school—including AP English Literature and/or Language, Calculus or Statistics (or both!), US, World, or European History, and at least one of the sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics).
What AP classes do colleges like the most? ›...
Best AP classes for Ivy League schools
- AP Biology.
- AP Computer Science Principles.
- AP World History.
- AP US History.
- AP Psychology.
- AP Economics (Macro)
- AP Economics (Micro)
- AP Spanish or AP French.
Environmental Science:
The second hardest AP class is environmental science, with a passing rate of 53.4%. This class is often known for students underestimating the course. It's 2 hours and 40 minutes exam with 80 MCQs and 3 free-response questions.
Math, science, and foreign language exams tend to give the most credit.
How many AP classes is impressive? ›To be competitive at some of the most highly selective colleges in the country, 8-12 AP courses may be the sweet spot amount, assuming the student can handle that level of rigor. There are no colleges out there that require you to take 14, 17, or some other obscene number of Advanced Placement offerings.
How many AP classes is too much? ›
Aim for four to eight AP exams in your junior and senior years. For competitive Ivy League schools, admission officers also want to see AP courses for core subject areas and additional courses. If possible, aim to pass about seven to 12 AP exams if applying to these highly selective schools.
What AP is most popular? ›#1: AP English Language and Composition | 476,735 Students.
Do colleges care about easy AP classes? ›Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.
What is a good first AP class? ›US Government, Psychology, Human Geography, and Environmental Science tend to be easier since there is comparatively less to cover before the exam. Also keep in mind that some schools weight AP classes, so they can boost your GPA if you do well.
What is the easiest AP exam to get a 5? ›The five easiest exams for self-study are as follows:
AP Environmental Science. AP Human Geography. AP Psychology. AP US Government and Politics.
However, our son thinks taking AP bio in junior year makes more sense since AP biology tends to be relatively 'easier' than AP chemistry for most kids and his next year classes are rigorous.
Is self studying AP worth it? ›Self-studying for an AP exam will be especially worth it if you already have a working knowledge of the subject you're hoping to study for. Remember that you'll want to aim for a score of four or higher. Most colleges won't give credit for a lower score.
What is the hardest year of high school? ›While junior year is often the hardest year of high school, the transition from middle school to 9th grade can also be tough. To make it easier, don't feel afraid to reach out to your teachers and counselors, and take advantage of the support resources that are available.
What is the hardest math class in high school? ›What is the Hardest Math Class in High School? In most cases, you'll find that AP Calculus BC or IB Math HL is the most difficult math course your school offers. Note that AP Calculus BC covers the material in AP Calculus AB but also continues the curriculum, addressing more challenging and advanced concepts.
What subjects do students struggle with the most? ›Mathematics is often considered to be one of the most challenging subjects for students. Recent surveys report that 37% of teens aged 13-17 found math to be harder than other subjects – the highest ranked overall.
Is 5 AP classes too much junior year? ›
Junior Year
Depending on what kind of school you want to go to, you should be taking between 3 and 5 AP® classes this year. You will need to manage your time well, however, as you also need to study for the SAT® or ACT® during this time.
While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class.
Do colleges care which APs you take? ›APs alone won't make or break your chances of getting into your preferred colleges. They're just one among many academic and personal factors that colleges consider, especially at schools with a holistic admissions process.
How many APs does the average student take? ›If that answer isn't fully satisfying, here is a look at the average number of APs students tend to take over the course of their high school years, broken down by college selectivity: Selective schools: around 7–12 APs. Semi-selective schools: 4–8 APs. Less selective schools: 1–5 APs.
Do colleges care more about GPA or AP classes? ›What am I missing about this? In general, colleges will care more about AP course grades before a student is admitted and AP test grades afterwards. Unlike AP test scores, AP course grades are part of a student's high school GPA, which is a significant factor for college admissions.
What GPA is an A in AP class? ›Many schools treat AP classes differently when calculating a student's grade point average (GPA). Rather than the traditional 4.0 scale, AP classes are weighted on a 5.0 scale — in an AP class, an A is equivalent to 5.0 instead of 4.0, and a B is equal to 4.0 instead of 3.0.
What is the lowest AP score? ›AP® Score of 1
Since a 1 is the lowest score that you can get on an AP® exam, this is not desirable. Thankfully, not many students leave the exam with a 1 unless complications arise during the test and they need to leave, or they are just trying to take the exam without knowing any of the material.
AP classes, however, are more challenging than honors classes. These courses cover information, teach skills and give assignments that correspond to college classes. High school students taking AP courses will be held to the same standard as college students.
How many people get a 5 on AP Calc? ›Exam | 5 | 3 |
---|---|---|
AP Calculus AB | 20.4% | 19.1% |
AP Calculus BC | 41.2% | 20.1% |
AP Computer Science A | 27.3% | 19.9% |
AP Computer Science Principles | 11.4% | 31.1% |
How does the AP GPA scale work? Unlike a traditional 4.0 scale, AP courses are graded on a weighted scale that goes up to 5.0. On a traditional scale, a 4.0 is an A, 3.0 a B and so on. On the AP weighted grading scale, a 5.0 is an A, 4.0 a B and so on.
What APs should I take junior year? ›
Junior Year: Based on your experience and scores from freshman and sophomore year, start taking APs in core classes, like AP English, AP Calculus, or AP Biology. Take as many as you can handle without spreading yourself too thin.
Is it OK to not take AP classes? ›AP classes show colleges that you are challenging yourself, and can handle the academic rigor of a college-level course. Schools are aware of the amount of AP courses that are offered at your school and what level courses you take through your transcript. There isn't any harm if you don't take any AP classes.
How many aps does Harvard want? ›Freshmen who have taken College Board Advanced Placement exams need a total of four full credits to be eligible for Advanced Standing. Credits are earned by scoring 5 on a minimum of four AP tests.
How many AP classes do valedictorians take? ›Additionally, starting with the class of 2027, students must take at least six advanced placement, dual enrollment or early college classes to be considered for valedictorian status.
How many APS do you need for Ivy League? ›How Many AP Classes to Take for Ivy Leagues and Other Top Schools in the US. For students aiming for the Ivy League and Top 20 schools in the United States, a good target is to take (and pass) 10-14 AP classes throughout your high school career — or 3-4 each year.
Can you get into an Ivy League without AP classes? ›The Ivy leagues don't discriminate if your school doesn't offer you AP classes. However, if your school offers AP classes and you don't take the opportunity to take them all they will notice that and it's not a good thing. This really depends on how many your school offers.
Is taking 4 AP classes too much senior year? ›Unless you're applying to the most selective universities, 4 to 5 AP courses over your high school years is more than enough. For students applying to the most selective colleges, you might need 7–12. But even so, taking 4 AP courses in a year can be extremely challenging.
Do AP classes matter senior year? ›While you don't have to take all of the AP classes your school offers, taking a few, especially during junior year or senior year, will definitely boost your college applications.
What AP class has the lowest pass rate? ›What Are the Most Failed AP Exams? All AP exams have a passing rate of at least 50%. The most failed AP exams are Physics 1 (failed by 48.4% of all students), Environmental Science (failed by 46.6% of all students), and Chemistry (failed by 43.9% of all students).
Do colleges like a lot of AP classes? ›Students looking to earn admission to highly selective colleges should take multiple AP classes to bolster their applications and demonstrate they can handle challenging coursework. Some college admissions experts recommend taking as many as 7-12 AP courses before applying to the most elite universities.
How rare is a 5 on AP? ›
...
2020 AP Score Distributions.
AP Test | AP U.S. History |
---|---|
Average Score | 2.83 |
5 | 13.0% |
4 | 19.2% |
3 | 26.6% |
- AP Psychology. With a reputation as one of the easiest AP classes, it comes as no surprise that AP Psychology is also one of the most popular—292,501 students took the exam in 2021. ...
- AP Comparative Government and Politics. ...
- AP Environmental Science.
- Physics C: Mechanics. 84.3% 41.6%
- Calculus BC. 81.6% 44.6%
- Spanish Literature. 75.1% 17.6%
- Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. 74.4% 40.4%
- Physics 2. 73.3% 14.0%
- Computer Science Principles. 71.6% 10.9%
- Psychology. 71.3% 22.4%
- Computer Science A. 70.4% 25.6%
AP Biology is one of the more difficult APs based on its challenging curriculum, the low rate of students who earn 5s on the exam, and the consensus from students on the demanding nature of the class. Ideally, you should take an Intro to Biology class before you take AP Biology so that you're fully prepared for it.
What APs should I take for pre med? ›- AP Biology. Study the core scientific principles, theories, and processes that govern living organisms and biological systems. ...
- AP Calculus AB. Explore the concepts, methods, and applications of differential and integral calculus. ...
- AP Chemistry.
Is AP Biology Easy Or Hard? AP Biology is considered quite hard, with class alumnae rating it 6.4/10 for overall difficulty (the 8th-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes surveyed). The pass rate is about average vs other AP classes, with 68% graduating with a 3 or higher.
What is the best AP class to take? ›Grade | Recommended Number of AP Classes to Take | Recommended AP Classes |
---|---|---|
11th Grade | 3-5 | English, Calculus AB, Biology, Spanish (or other foreign language), U.S. Government and Politics |
12th Grade | 3-6 | Chemistry, Physics C, Calculus BC |
Based on College Board pass rates, AP Physics 1 is more difficult than AP Chemistry.
What AP classes do colleges like to see? ›As a general rule, you should aim for the following AP class numbers: Most Selective Schools (Top 20): APs in most or all of the core courses (English, Mathematics, Science, History, and Foreign Language), plus additional AP courses that relate to your goals, future major, or interests.
Is AP Biology just memorization? ›Make connections instead of memorizing content
AP Bio is NOT memorization. In fact, if you just try to memorize terms and concepts, you'll have a much harder time keeping track of everything you need to know. Memorizing as a strategy is not ideal for any AP exam because it is way harder to answer the essays.
Should I take AP Chemistry without taking chemistry? ›
AP chemistry is a rewarding but extremely challenging class. Because of this, and to ensure that students have the proper lab experience to prepare them for college, the College Board recommends that students take regular chemistry first, followed by AP chemistry.
Is 4 APs too much junior year? ›Junior Year
Depending on what kind of school you want to go to, you should be taking between 3 and 5 AP® classes this year. You will need to manage your time well, however, as you also need to study for the SAT® or ACT® during this time.
While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class. This boost can prove particularly useful if you want to challenge yourself with more difficult training without punishing your GPA.
Why is AP Bio so hard? ›The AP Biology exam could also be considered more challenging than other AP tests because of its format. The free-response section consists of six questions (two long-form and four short-answer), which is on the higher end for AP exams.
Is AP Biology the hardest class? ›Is AP Biology Easy Or Hard? AP Biology is considered quite hard, with class alumnae rating it 6.4/10 for overall difficulty (the 8th-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes surveyed). The pass rate is about average vs other AP classes, with 68% graduating with a 3 or higher.