what is the easy ap course

What's the hardest AP class?

AP Physics 1 is considered one of the hardest AP classes, covering topics like Newtonian mechanics and electrical charge and force. Students also spend about 25% of their class time performing college-level lab experiments and writing reports.

Which AP classes should you take?

Students who prefer social sciences and language arts can try their hand at:

• AP English Literature & Composition
• US History
• Psychology
• Or Government & Politics.

What is the easiest AP science class?

The easiest AP classes – ranked by student difficulty ratings

• Human Geography: 4.1
• Environmental Science: 4.2
• Microeconomics: 4.3
• Macroeconomics: 4.4. [1] AP Chinese is often taken by people already familiar with the Chinese. ...

What's the hardest AP exam?

Top 10 Hardest AP Classes by Exam Pass Rate

AP Class/Exam	Pass Rate (3+)	Perfect Score (5)
1. Physics 1	51.6%	8.8%
2. Environmental Science	53.4%	11.9%
3. Chemistry	56.1%	10.6%
4. U.S. Government and Politics	57.5%	15.5%

What AP course is the hardest?

Top 10 Hardest AP Classes by Exam Pass RateChemistry. 56.1% 10.6%U.S. Government and Politics. 57.5% 15.5%U.S. History. 58.7% 13.0%Human Geography. 59.0% 11.8%European History. 59.3% 13.7%Statistics. 60.0% 16.2%English Literature. 60.1% 9.3%World History.More items...

What is the best AP class to take?

When Should I Take AP Classes?GradeRecommended Number of AP Classes to TakeRecommended AP Classes11th Grade3-5English, Calculus AB, Biology, Spanish (or other foreign language), U.S. Government and Politics12th Grade3-6Chemistry, Physics C, Calculus BC2 more rows

What is the most common AP course?

1. AP English Language and Composition. AP English Language and Composition is by far the most popular AP test, with over half a million students taking the exam in 2021.

Which AP test has the lowest pass rate?

Despite a reputation as one of the most difficult AP classes, Physics 1 is also one of the most popular—137,229 students took it in 2021. Physics 1 has the lowest pass rate of any AP exam (42.1%) along with one of the lowest percentages of students scoring a 5 (just 6.9%).

What is the easiest AP Exam?

The five easiest exams for self-study are as follows: AP Human Geography. AP Psychology. AP US Government and Politics. AP Comparative Government and Politics.

What APs do colleges like?

A score below a 3 is unlikely to help you much, and many colleges require 4s or 5s for credit or higher placement. It also depends which AP courses and exams you've taken.

What APs should I take freshman year?

Freshmen usually take 0-2 APs in areas such as Human Geography, Environmental Science, or Computer Science Principles. Sophomores usually take 1-3 APs in areas such as Psychology, World History, European History, Art History, or Economics.

Should I take 2 AP classes sophomore year?

Sophomore Year: Take one to three AP classes. Consider adding a more challenging AP class, like World History or US History, and one or two less-demanding APs. Continue to take honors courses if possible in your other core classes.

How many AP classes should I take?

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.

How many people fail AP exams?

According to a recent study by The College Board, nearly 50% of high school students taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses do not pass the exams to qualify for college credit.

Is AP Biology easy?

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 happens if you fail an AP exam?

But what happens if you fail an AP exam? Basically, nothing happens if you fail an AP exam. Whether you get a passing or failing AP exam grade, you can still go to college. Colleges do not take a look at the AP exam as the only a criterion for accepting or rejecting a student.

What AP classes do Ivy Leagues like?

Best AP classes for Ivy League schoolsAP English.AP Chemistry.AP Biology.AP Computer Science Principles.AP World History.AP US History.AP Psychology.AP Economics (Macro)More items...•

Do AP classes boost GPA?

GPA Weight At many high schools, honors and AP classes both offer more heavily weighted training compared to regular classes. 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.

What AP classes should a freshman take?

Freshmen usually take 0-2 APs in areas such as Human Geography, Environmental Science, or Computer Science Principles. Sophomores usually take 1-3 APs in areas such as Psychology, World History, European History, Art History, or Economics.

Is 4 AP classes too much?

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.

What is the easiest AP Physics class?

While the process of identifying easy AP classes is subjective, looking at the pass rate may help students assess the potential difficulty. Accordi...

Is it hard to pass AP classes?

Many high school students find AP classes challenging, especially if they aren't already familiar with the subject at hand. That said, students who...

Can I take an AP test without taking classes?

Yes. Students can access test guides and sample tests that outline the subjects required to pass the exam. Taking the class is not required to take...

What are the easiest AP courses to self-study for?

Students commonly self-study for classes like psychology, environmental science, and human geography. The exams for these subjects are relatively s...

How Do Your Skills Affect Which AP Tests Are easiest?

The very first thing you should consider when deciding which AP tests are easiest is, well, you! Any topic that you are good at or comfortable with...

How Does Your School Affect Which AP Tests Are easiest?

Another important factor to consider is your school and teachers. For example, if there is a teacher at your school who has taught AP US History fo...

What About The AP Class itself?

Another factor to consider is how hard the class itself will be, not just the AP exam. This is something that varies based on your school and the t...

Average AP Passing Rates: What We Can Learn

The passing rate for each AP test is where many students start when trying to figure out the easiest AP classes. Check out our table below to see w...

by Reputation, What Are The Easiest AP exams?

We’ve talked about personal strengths, teachers, and passing rates. But you’re probably still wondering: across the board, which AP classes and tes...

Are AP Language Classes Easy?

Finally, we want to address the language AP exams. As we saw above, AP Chinese has the highest passing rate of any exam. AP Spanish also has a very...

What is AP Physics C?

AP Physics C: Mechanics is recommended for students planning to pursue a physics, math, or engineering degree, as is Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. This class combines hands-on labs with coursework in topics like kinematics, Newton's laws, and systems of particles and linear momentum.

How long is the calculus exam?

The course covers college-level differential and integral calculus concepts and functions. The exam lasts for roughly three hours and includes both multiple-choice and free-range questions. It is administered both in person and in a digital format.

What is the pass rate for Physics C mechanics?

This results in a very high pass rate and a perfect score rate above 40%.

How long is the coding exam?

The exam spans three hours and includes multiple-choice and free-response sections. Students can take the exam on paper or in a digital format. Topics covered include writing program code, method and control structures, and 2D arrays.

What countries are in AP Comparative Government and Politics?

AP Comparative Government and Politics compares and contrasts the governmental systems of countries like China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom. The curriculum touches lightly on each of these governments. Many students find the coursework less rigorous than that of the AP U.S. Government class.

What does a high pass rate mean in AP classes?

While no single statistic can fully indicate the level of difficulty of an AP class, a high pass rate provides a starting point for narrowing course options. Students also can explore subjects of interest, self-study classes, and quick study courses while looking for the easiest AP classes.

What are the factors that determine if an AP class is the easiest?

These factors include a student's academic strengths and weaknesses and the volume and nature of the course material.

What About the AP Class Itself?

Another factor to consider is how hard the class itself will be, not just the AP exam. This is something that varies based on your school and the teacher teaching the class.

Are AP Language Classes Easy?

As we saw above, foreign languages have some of the highest pass rates of all the AP exams. AP Spanish has a pass rate of 80%, AP Chinese's pass rate is 88%, and other languages have similarly high pass rates.

What Do Colleges Want?

As a final note, you should keep in mind why you are taking AP classes in the first place—to get college credit, and also to strengthen your college applications.

Why are AP language exams so high?

Why are their passing rates so high? It's because students don't just learn these languages in one year. Most students only take AP language if they have been taking a language for several years. Many students who take the AP language exams even speak that language at home or may have studied abroad. This explains the high passing rates.

Why do high schools let sophomores take AP classes?

One reason is that many high schools let freshmen and sophomores take these courses since they are comparatively easier. However, since they are many students' first-ever AP exam, the students can struggle because all AP exams are challenging and tough to pass.

What is the most important part of college application?

One of the single most important parts of your college application is what classes you choose to take in high school (in conjunction with how well you do in those classes). Our team of PrepScholar admissions experts have compiled their knowledge into this single guide to planning out your high school course schedule. We'll advise you on how to balance your schedule between regular and honors/AP/IB courses, how to choose your extracurriculars, and what classes you can't afford not to take.

Why do AP classes have high pass rates?

They have high pass rates because the students who take those classes are ones, in general, who have had plenty of prior preparation. This also includes the AP Studio Art Classes—the AP exam is really a portfolio you submit. AP art students put in tons of work during the year preparing pieces for their portfolio.

Why is AP important in college?

When applying to universities in the US, Advanced Placement courses and strong AP test scores can provide a significant advantage — especially if your sights are set on the Ivy League or similarly competitive schools. However, when choosing which courses to take, it’s important not to let the ‘easy vs. hard’ dichotomy decide for you! Some courses may look ‘harder’ on paper, but be better suited to your interests and skills; taking ‘harder’ courses also illustrates your ability to handle rigorous coursework that challenges you intellectually.

How does AP class differ from traditional classes?

AP classes differ from traditional classes in the sense that they are designed to prepare students for a standardized test each spring that’s developed by the College Board with the goal of demonstrating a student’s comprehension of college-level subjects. The standardization ensures that every student who passes the AP exam is actually able to keep up with college-level coursework — so scoring well on any AP exam adds to your academic profile!

Why are AP exams so difficult?

It’s difficult to say which AP courses and exams are the most difficult because each student has their own strengths and weaknesses. One thing to keep in mind is the flexibility of the course and the materials needed to excel in each one. Traditionally, courses like English Literature, Physics 1, and Chemistry are quite difficult to self-study for or complete at home because of the need for conversation and 1:1 instruction — like the lab element necessary to really understand the material in the science courses.

Is it easy to study for a 5?

While there are no guarantees that a course or exam will be easy or difficult for you, the ability to self-study and the percentage of 5’s earned can serve as good indicators of the courses’ rigor.

What is the hard part of AP?

Coming up with numerous different and original ideas can be the hard part of this AP course, and students are expected to keep up with their work and put in time outside the classroom – these are high requirements in a limited time frame.

What is the highest AP score?

As you may know, 5 is the highest possible AP score. The 5-rate score indicates the percentage of students who passed the exam with a score of 5. In theory, this means that the exams with the lowest 5 rate scores should be the hardest.

How long is the macroeconomics exam?

The exam is 2 hours and 10 minutes long and broken down into 2 sections. There are 60 multiple-choice questions and 3 free-response questions – 1 long question and 2 short questions.

What are the principles of computer science?

Computer Science Principles: The Foundational Concepts of Computer Science. 2. Psychology. Thought of as one of the easiest AP classes, as well as one of the most popular, AP Psychology will teach you about the theories, ideas and methods of the scientific study of behavior and mental processes.

What is AP Environmental Science?

This popular interdisciplinary class explores ecological processes, our relationship with the world, and how to resolve or prevent natural and human-made environmental problems. Units include atmospheric pollution, global change and energy resources and consumption. The course also consists of lab investigations and field work.

Why do students underestimate the AP psychology test?

Many students underestimate the test and don’t prepare adequately because AP Psychology classes have a reputation for being easier than other AP classes.

Is AP Environmental Science challenging?

This can work the other way too. Sometimes a course that has a lower pass rate may not actually be as challenging as the data suggests. Take AP Environmental Science, for example, which has a reputation for being on the easier end of the AP spectrum. Due to its reputation, this course is one of the more popular classes and so it attracts a large number of students who may simply be taking it as an easy class. This then increases the proportion of students who may be under-prepared for or under-estimate the test.

What Factors Determine National Passing Rates?

Clearly, some AP exams have significantly higher pass rates than others. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that one test is much more difficult than another. It’s worth noting that national pass rates often reveal more about the students who take the exams than the exams themselves. For example, the fact that Chinese Language has a high pass rate doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s an easy class. The pass rate is likely high because the students who take this exam tend to be well prepared, or are native speakers. Similarly, an exam like Environmental Science might have a lower rate because the class itself is considered easier than other APs. As a result, students may be less-prepared to take the exam. It’s important to consider all of these factors when deciding what AP classes are right for you and your future.

What is the AP exam score?

The College Board grades AP exams on a scale of one to five , with one representing the lowest possible score and five representing the highest. In general, a score of three is considered to be passing. However, students should note that many colleges require a score of four or five to receive credit.

Why is the pass rate so high?

The pass rate is likely high because the students who take this exam tend to be well prepared, or are native speakers. Similarly, an exam like Environmental Science might have a lower rate because the class itself is considered easier than other APs. As a result, students may be less-prepared to take the exam.

How does AP class impact college chances?

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.

What to consider when choosing AP classes?

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.

What is an AP class?

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.

Where does April Maguire live?

Over the years, she has worked as a writer, editor, tutor, and content manager. Currently, she operates a freelance writing business and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their three rowdy cats.

How many AP Physics exams are there?

AP Physics is a double whammy, with loads of math and science concepts to learn. The exams (there are four !) themselves are known for being particularly difficult, even for those who do well in a structured course.

How long is the AP Human Geography test?

The test is on the shorter side, clocking in at only two hours and 15 minutes, with 60 multiple choice questions and three free-response questions.

What is AP Chemistry?

The AP Chemistry class is known for having a heavy workload, and it's another course for which the guidance of a good teacher is very important. In addition to there being a lot of content to learn, you will also need to understand tons of concepts and problem-solving methods in order to do well on the test.

What is the most important part of college application?

One of the single most important parts of your college application is what classes you choose to take in high school (in conjunction with how well you do in those classes). Our team of PrepScholar admissions experts have compiled their knowledge into this single guide to planning out your high school course schedule. We'll advise you on how to balance your schedule between regular and honors/AP/IB courses, how to choose your extracurriculars, and what classes you can't afford not to take.

Can you self study for AP Calculus?

A number of other exams may also be good choices depending on your situation and background knowledge. Nevertheless, you should not try to self-study for AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, or any of the AP Physics exams.

Is self study a universal slam dunk?

Some exams aren't quite universal self-study slam dunks, but if you have a proclivity for a certain subject, a particular interest, or some prior knowledge, they can be good choices for you. This is particularly true if, for whatever reason, the thought of self-studying for Psych, Environmental Science, Human Geography, or Government and Politics is tedious and repugnant to you.

Do you learn AP history in honors?

US History: You'll learn a lot of the AP test material in an honors AP US History class—you just need to push yourself to learn some of the extra information and do dedicated AP test prep. This is what I did, and I got a 5 on APUSH without a crazy amount of outside studying.