10 rows · Aug 31, 2021 · Physics 1. This class combines physics, scientific inquiry, and algebra. AP Physics 1 is ...
Dec 18, 2021 · United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material.
But to objectively rank the most challenging AP classes, we considered AP exam pass rates. Based on pass rates, here are the seven most challenging AP courses (from lowest pass rate to highest): AP Physics 1 (41.9%) AP Human Geography (48.9%) AP United States Government and Politics (49.3%)
28 rows · Apr 13, 2022 · Physics C – E&M (Electricity & Magnetism): rated the most difficult of all AP classes (7.9 / ...
AP Exam | Number of Students that Took the Exam | Percentage of Students that Scored a 5 |
---|---|---|
English Language | 573,171 | 9.9% |
U.S. History | 496,573 | 11.8% |
English Literature | 380,136 | 6.2% |
U.S. Government | 314,825 | 12.9% |
Rank | Number Tests Taken | Subject |
---|---|---|
4 | 223,444 | Calculus AB |
3 | 325,108 | English Literature and Composition |
2 | 366,641 | U.S. History |
1 | 390,754 | English Language and Composition |
In May 2020, 61.4% of students taking AP Calculus AB passed, while 81.6% of students passed AP Calculus BC. Although these scores might not seem to...
In May 2020, only 8.8% of students who took the AP Physics 1 exam earned a perfect score of 5. It should also be noted that only 6.4%, 7.2%, and 8....
The College Board scores AP tests on a scale of 1-5. Earning a 4 on an AP exam denotes “very well qualified” and will most likely earn you college...
While a 3 on an AP exam is a passing grade and denotes that a student is “qualified” in the subject, some colleges only award credit for a 4 or 5....
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.
Calculus AB is another hardest AP class of 3 hours and 15 minutes. The exam consists of 45 MCQs and 6 free-response questions. The exam will check your ability to understand calculus concepts. It will test correct notation use, solve problems by determining procedures and formulas.
As its name says, Art History is the study of the art of various cultures. You will study the history of art back from the prehistoric era to the present times. You need to develop skills by developing theories by seeing art connections. And this will be possible through observation, research, reading, and discussion.
The class itself could be incredibly difficult (lots of assignments, reading, and hard tests)—and you should be prepared for that. However, the class could also be easy (not very many assignments, easy tests), meaning you will have to put in a lot of work on your own to be ready for the AP test.
AP Calculus AB is also challenging, but covers less material and moves more slowly. AP Calculus BC often covers everything taught in Calculus AB in just the first semester of school —revealing one reason why it's so hard: intense pacing. You move fast in Calculus BC, which means you need to be prepared to keep up.
While AP English Language is also challenging, Literature requires reading texts that are generally more difficult. Compare, say, AP English Literature staple Crime and Punishment to a non-fiction article about the criminal justice system you might read in AP English Language. Crime and Punishment is much more difficult!
Physics C is especially tough because not only are you learning physics material, which can be hard, you also need to know calculus alongside it. While AP Physics 1 and 2 are algebra-based, both Physics C courses (Electricity & Magnetism and Mechanics) are calculus-based, meaning students need to know calculus well enough to apply it in physics. Some consider it "two classes in one" due to the necessary calculus knowledge.
While AP Physics 1 and 2 are algebra-based, both Physics C courses (Electricity & Magnetism and Mechanics) are calculus-based, meaning students need to know calculus well enough to apply it in physics. Some consider it "two classes in one" due to the necessary calculus knowledge.
To get info about an AP class, first talk to your guidance counselor. Ask for the class's syllabus, the class's passing rate on the AP exam for the last few years, and what other students tend to say about the class. This will give you an idea of how well-taught a class is. Your guidance counselor can also recommend good prerequisite classes and teachers.
For a US history class, you would need to know the dates of the civil war, the exact year of the Emancipation Proclamation, and the dates and content of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. You would also be expected to know about the major leaders and law-makers involved. The more detail you can remember, the better!
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.
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.
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 covers the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have shaped the US from c. 1491 to the present day, such as the events which led to the American Revolution, and the rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States. You’ll analyze a variety of sources and evidence, and write essays expressing historical arguments.
Sometimes AP classes that have higher pass rates can be the more difficult ones . This is because, quite often, the subjects that have a reputation for being more challenging tend to attract the most well-prepared and motivated students who are more likely to pass the test.
You may be wondering whether AP classes are worth it. While they are known to be tough, record numbers of students these days are taking them. If you’re sitting on the fence about taking one, here are some potential benefits to help change your mind: 1 They’re a good preparation for transition to college courses as they’re fast-paced, cover substantial content, and require independent work. 2 They may put you at the top of the pile in college admissions as they show you’re ready for the academic rigor of college-level work. 3 When calculating your GPA, many high schools give extra weight to AP grades. 4 As there are many AP classes to choose from, they give you a chance to study what you love. 5 A good AP score could allow you to earn college credits, saving you some money on college tuition (some students have gone into their first year of college/university with a full year of course work already under their belt).
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.
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.
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. You’ll learn to connect psychological concepts and theories to real-life situations, understand and interpret data, and analyze research studies. The course covers a range of topics including clinical, developmental and social psychology. You’ll be assigned lots of projects, quizzes, tests, and notes, but most students find it not to be very difficult and the workload generally manageable.
Units include political patterns and processes, cultural patterns and processes, and population and migration patterns and processes.
Advanced Placement (AP) is a program designed by the College Board to offer college-level courses and exams to high school students. These courses can help you prepare for college and earn college credit, and they boost the competitiveness of your applications. If your school calculates weighted Grade Point Averages, ...
The AP Human Geography exam is 2 hours and 15 minutes long. Students have one hour to complete the multiple-choice section and 75 minutes for the free response section. Some questions are vocabulary-based, while others require students to apply models or concepts to a provided scenario.
Need help with advising while taking the hardest AP classes? Enroll in our college application boot camp to get the counseling you need. Advanced Placement (AP) is a program designed by the College Board to offer college-level courses and exams to high school students.
The AP Physics 1 exam is 3 hours long and is evenly divided into two sections: multiple choice and free response. According to the College Board, students are assessed on the ability to: Provide explanations of physical phenomena, grounded in physics principles and theories. Solve mathematical problems.
What to expect: You’ll need to understand and use geographic terminology, interpret graphs and maps, and read college-level texts. The course also involves substantial writing, including summaries, analyses, evaluations, interpretations, short answers, and multi-paragraph essays.
AP United States Government and Politics covers subjects including the constitutional underpinnings of the United States government, the nation’s political beliefs and behaviors, political parties, interest groups, mass media, public policy, and civil rights and civil liberties.
AP Chemistry investigates topics such as intermolecular forces and bonding, atomic structure, chemical reactions, kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium. Students must use the principles of scientific inquiry to conduct a wide variety of laboratory experiments.
The hardest AP classes to self-study: are Chemistry, and Physics C – Electricity and Magnetism . These are also rated among the hardest and most time-consuming AP exams, so taking these on as self-study is not to be taken lightly – good luck! Whatever you’re studying, wishing you every success in your AP exams!
The easiest AP classes to self-study are: Computer Science Principles, Psychology and Environmental Science. These are also rated as the easiest and least time-consuming AP classes overall, so you should be OK.
Some reviewers found Physics was relatively less time-consuming than other courses . From my experience, harder physics courses such as the AP exams tend to split classes into two halves: those that “get it” relatively quickly, and those that have to persevere and sweat a bit to figure out what’s going on.
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.
As mentioned above, there is no definitive list of which APs are easiest as each student has varying interests, capabilities, and learning styles. Traditionally, courses like Psychology, Computer Science Principles, and Human Geography have been reported as easier to self-study for and complete requirements at home.
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.
AP availability can vary from one school to the next, so many students turn to online options for access to a wider range of AP courses.
Ideally, AP classes offer you the chance to save yourself some time (and money) by getting out of required courses.
These are the 10 most difficult exams to earn a 5 on, according to the percentage of students who actually earned a 5 on their exam:
Some majors and career paths require different prerequisites and skill sets.
In a perfect (academic) world, students start taking AP classes as a sophomore, or even earlier. The earlier you start taking AP classes, the more you are able to spread out the more difficult ones.
With enough hard work, you can perform well no matter what the academic subject is.
Are you a junior who really needs to nail their SAT and/or ACT exams? Are you a senior who’s already figured out their college and scholarship options, or do you still need to put more effort into that? Are you spending time at an internship, or working a job?