What Are the Best Hardest AP Classes in High School 2024?

So, here’s a better question: “How do I choose or avoid (depending on my goals) the AP classes that will be the most difficult for me?” And although we can’t give you the answer (only you can do that!), we can help point you in the right direction by sharing information on:

The 2022 AP exam pass rates
Student reviews of the hardest AP classes and exams
What to consider when evaluating the difficulty of an AP class
Answers to common questions about how to choose the best AP classes for you

And those are exactly the topics we’ll cover in this blog post. So, let’s jump right in!

Hardest AP Exams by Pass Rate

Heads up: AP exam pass rates aren’t a conclusive way to determine the difficulty of an AP class. But exam scores can give you an idea of which AP classes might have challenging material to master. So, we’ll start there.

According to data from the College Board (the organization behind AP curriculums and exams), the following exams had below a 60% pass rate (meaning below a score of 3):

AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry
AP Economics—Macro
AP Economics—Micro
AP English Language
AP Environmental Science
AP European History
AP Government & Politics United States
AP Human Geography
AP Latin
AP Physics 1
AP Psychology
AP United States History

Is an exam pass rate a direct reflection of the difficulty of an AP class? Not necessarily. If you take a look at our post on the easiest AP classes, you’ll see students frequently say that AP Environmental Science is ‘easy’ despite the exam pass rate for this class being one of the lowest.

What causes this discrepancy? We’ll answer that question in a minute.

But first, we’ll indulge your curiosity for data. Here’s a full list of all the 2022 AP exam pass rate percentages and median scores.

Student Score Distributions for May 2022 AP Exams

AP Subject	Pass Rate (Exam Score of 3+)	Median Score
AP Art & Design: Drawing	88.3%	3.54
AP Art & Design: 2-D	86.6%	3.43
AP Art & Design: 3-D	73.6%	3.12
AP Art History	61.5%	2.99
AP Biology	67.9%	3.11
AP Calculus AB	55.7%	2.91
AP Calculus BC	76.9%	3.68
AP Chemistry	54%	2.73
AP Chinese Language	86.9%	3.97
AP Computer Science A	67.5%	3.2
AP Computer Science Principles	63.5%	2.91
AP Economics – Macro	51.8%	2.71
AP Economics – Micro	59%	2.93
AP English Language	55.7%	2.83
AP English Literature	77.9%	3.31
AP Environmental Science	53.8%	2.79
AP European History	58.9%	2.95
AP French Language	71.6%	3.16
AP German Language	65.5%	3.13
AP Government & Politics Comparative	70.5%	3.14
AP Government & Politics United States	48.6%	2.58
AP Human Geography	53.2%	2.7
AP Italian Language	70.5%	3.26
AP Japanese Language	75.5%	3.65
AP Latin	57%	2.77
AP Music Theory	61.9%	3.03
AP Physics 1	43.3%	2.47
AP Physics 2	69.7%	3.14
AP Physics C E&M	69.4%	3.44
AP Physics C Mechanics	73.4%	3.41
AP Psychology	58.3%	2.71
AP Research	82.7%	3.3
AP Seminar	82.6%	3.19
AP Spanish Language	81.7%	3.54
AP Spanish Literature	64.2%	2.91
AP Statistics	60.5%	2.89
AP United States History	48.2%	2.57
AP World History	62.1%	2.96

Hardest AP Exams by Student Reviews

Since exam pass rates are just one (incomplete) factor to consider, your next move might be to read online student reviews to get unfiltered feedback before picking your AP class list.

Is this your best option? No, probably not. But it can help. For example, we looked at r/APStudents on Reddit and found that students generally considered the following AP classes to be among the hardest:

AP Biology
AP Calculus BC
AP Chemistry
AP English Literature
AP Latin
AP Physics 1
AP Physics C E&M
AP Physics C Mechanics
AP US History

Notice there is some overlap between this list and the one based on exam pass rates. But do you know why the lists are not exactly the same? Because, again, the “hardest AP class” is subjective.

The answer will always depend on things like the student’s teacher, interest in the subject, and background knowledge before taking the course. Look at these example reviews from Reddit, and you’ll see what we mean:

How to Determine Which AP Classes Will Be “Hard” for You

What may be challenging for one person may be easy for another. However, some key considerations include the following:

How Much You Already Know About the Subject

Whether it’s AP Art History or AP Statistics, if you’ve never studied the material before, it’s likely to be a challenge. This doesn’t mean you can’t excel in the class—it simply means that you will have to put in extra time and effort. But if you have prior exposure to the material, you already have an advantage.

For example, few students will mention AP Japanese Language as one of the hardest AP classes. And you might even think the class is easy since the exam pass rate is 75.5%. But if you have never studied Japanese, you’ll probably find it at least a tad more challenging than, say, AP English Literature.

It’s also important to note that the exam pass rates and student reviews for AP language classes can be misleading. Why? Some students are native speakers of these languages. Similarly, some students have exposure to the language outside the classroom. That’s why, if you remove those students from the data, the exam pass rate for AP Japanese Language drops from 75.5% to 53.5%. A similar drop occurs for nearly all the other AP language exams.

How Interested You Are in the Subject

If you find a class boring, it’s going to be much more challenging to stick with it and learn the material well than if you are genuinely interested in the subject. On the other hand, a tough yet interesting course could become the easiest AP class for you to give your best effort.

For example, if you’re interested in the physical sciences, a class like AP Chemistry could be one of your favorite classes—even if your classmates think the course is brutal. Similarly, you might find a class like AP Government & Politics Comparative difficult because the material bores you to tears—even if your classmates think the course is easy.

How Well Your Teacher Covers the AP Curriculum

A good teacher will have a deep understanding of the content and curriculum of the course and also effectively convey the material in a way that is engaging and understandable. This can significantly affect how well you understand the material and perform on the exam.

The opposite is also true. A bad teacher can make even the “easiest” AP class feel frustrating and overwhelming, especially if they lack effective teaching strategies to help you grasp and retain complex concepts.

How Many AP Classes Should I Take?

There is no definite answer for how many AP classes you should take. The decision should come down to your individual goals, strengths, and interests. (Side note: some schools are even dropping AP classes entirely, and others have restrictions on whether or how many AP classes students can take.) Still, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind.

Before deciding on any course load, you should ensure you fully understand the requirements and expectations of each AP class you’re considering. Will you have the time and energy to commit fully to multiple AP classes? If not, starting with one or two AP classes or exploring ways to improve your time management skills is best.

You’ll also want to consider the competitiveness of the colleges you’re applying to. AP classes can help demonstrate to admissions officers that you can handle a challenging college course load.

For some students, one or two AP classes may be sufficient to demonstrate their academic abilities and readiness for college-level coursework. However, other students may find they thrive with a rigorous class schedule and would benefit from taking more AP classes.

Which AP Classes Should I Take?

Ultimately, it’s important to be thoughtful and strategic when choosing AP classes. You should consider your interests and strengths, not just the potential benefits for your college applications.

For example, if you’re interested in art, you might consider taking AP Art History or one of the AP Art & Design classes. Similarly, if you excel in math and science, you may benefit from taking AP Physics 1 or AP Calculus BC—even if students generally consider these classes to be two of the hardest AP classes.

You should also consider which classes will support your intended major on college applications. For example, if you plan on applying as a pre-med student, consider taking AP Biology or AP Chemistry classes. College admissions will view your participation in these classes as an indication of your academic interests and aptitude, which can help set you apart from other applicants.

Can I Self-Study for AP Exams?

While it is possible to self-study for AP exams, this can be challenging. To successfully self-study for AP exams, you need to be highly motivated and disciplined to stay on track with the curriculum. You’ll also need to be able to juggle self-study with your other academic and extracurricular commitments.

How AP Grades and Test Scores Affect College Admissions

Many colleges pay special attention to the difficulty of your high school course load. For example, if you look at the MIT admissions requirements, you’ll see they regard the rigor of your high school coursework as “Very Important.” Why is course rigor so important? Because it shows admissions you’re willing and capable of managing a demanding college class schedule.

So, if you’re considering applying to schools with highly competitive admissions like MIT, you should take at least a few AP classes. Of course, you can also demonstrate academic rigor through other means, such as taking college-level classes online or at a local community college. Still, the benefit of AP classes is that their rigor is highly regarded and respected by admissions officers across college campuses.

On the other hand, if you’re thinking of applying to colleges with less competitive admissions, AP classes might not be as important. However, the other benefit of taking AP classes is that you may be able to receive college credit if you receive a passing grade on the AP exam. Policies for assigning credit for AP exam scores vary from college to college. But, if you attend a college that gives credit for passing AP exams, you’ll begin college with a head start toward graduation.

AP Classes Ranked by Difficulty

Ranking AP classes by difficulty is subjective and can vary based on individual experiences, interests, and teaching quality. However, exam pass rates and student reviews can provide some insights into which classes are generally considered more challenging. Here’s a breakdown of AP classes ranked by difficulty based on 2022 exam pass rates and student feedback:

Easiest AP Classes

AP Art & Design: Drawing
- Pass Rate: 88.3%
- Median Score: 3.54
- Why It’s Easy: This class is often considered easier because it focuses on creative skills rather than academic content.
AP Art & Design: 2-D
- Pass Rate: 86.6%
- Median Score: 3.43
- Why It’s Easy: Similar to the Drawing class, this course emphasizes artistic abilities and is less dependent on memorization or complex concepts.
AP Chinese Language
- Pass Rate: 86.9%
- Median Score: 3.97
- Why It’s Easy: Many students taking this class are native speakers or have prior exposure to the language, making it easier to excel.
AP Spanish Language
- Pass Rate: 81.7%
- Median Score: 3.54
- Why It’s Easy: Similar to AP Chinese, many students taking this class have prior knowledge of the language, which helps in achieving high scores.
AP Research
- Pass Rate: 82.7%
- Median Score: 3.3
- Why It’s Easy: This class focuses on research methodologies and writing skills, which many students find less challenging compared to content-heavy subjects.

Hardest AP Classes Reddit

Reddit is a popular platform where students share their experiences and opinions about AP classes. Based on discussions in subreddits like r/APStudents, the following classes are often cited as the hardest:

AP Biology
- Students often mention the vast amount of content and the complexity of biological concepts.
AP Calculus BC
- This class is known for its rigorous mathematical content and the difficulty of the exam.
AP Chemistry
- Students frequently highlight the challenging nature of chemical equations and the demanding lab component.
AP English Literature
- The in-depth analysis of literature and the writing requirements are often cited as difficult.
AP Latin
- The language and historical context can be challenging for students without prior exposure.
AP Physics 1
- The combination of conceptual understanding and mathematical problem-solving makes this class difficult.
AP Physics C E&M
- This class is known for its complex electrical and magnetic concepts, which many students find challenging.
AP Physics C Mechanics
- The advanced mechanical concepts and mathematical rigor make this class one of the hardest.
AP US History
- The extensive content and the need for detailed analysis make this class difficult for many students.

Hardest AP Exam to Get a 5

Getting a 5 on an AP exam is the highest score and indicates a deep understanding of the subject matter. Based on 2022 data, the following exams had the lowest percentage of students scoring a 5:

AP Physics 1
- Percentage of 5s: 6.8%
- Why It’s Hard: The combination of conceptual understanding and mathematical problem-solving makes it challenging to achieve a perfect score.
AP United States History
- Percentage of 5s: 9.3%
- Why It’s Hard: The extensive content and the need for detailed analysis make it difficult to score a 5.
AP Government & Politics United States
- Percentage of 5s: 10.4%
- Why It’s Hard: The complexity of political systems and the need for in-depth analysis make it challenging to achieve a perfect score.
AP Human Geography
- Percentage of 5s: 11.1%
- Why It’s Hard: The broad range of topics and the need for a deep understanding of geographical concepts make it difficult to score a 5.
AP Environmental Science
- Percentage of 5s: 11.8%
- Why It’s Hard: The vast amount of content and the need for a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues make it challenging to achieve a perfect score.

Is APUSH the Hardest AP Class?

AP United States History (APUSH) is often cited as one of the hardest AP classes due to the extensive content and the need for detailed analysis. However, whether it is the hardest class depends on individual factors such as interest in the subject, prior knowledge, and teaching quality.

Pass Rate: 48.2%
Median Score: 2.57
Why It’s Hard: The vast amount of historical content, the need for in-depth analysis, and the challenging nature of the exam make APUSH difficult for many students.

AP Physics Pass Rate

AP Physics is known for its challenging content and the need for a strong understanding of both conceptual and mathematical concepts. Here are the pass rates for different AP Physics exams in 2022:

AP Physics 1
- Pass Rate: 43.3%
- Median Score: 2.47
- Why It’s Hard: The combination of conceptual understanding and mathematical problem-solving makes this class challenging.
AP Physics 2
- Pass Rate: 69.7%
- Median Score: 3.14
- Why It’s Easier: This class builds on the concepts introduced in AP Physics 1, making it easier for students who have already taken the first course.
AP Physics C E&M
- Pass Rate: 69.4%
- Median Score: 3.44
- Why It’s Hard: The complex electrical and magnetic concepts make this class challenging, but the pass rate is higher than AP Physics 1.
AP Physics C Mechanics
- Pass Rate: 73.4%
- Median Score: 3.41
- Why It’s Easier: The mechanical concepts are often considered easier than the electrical and magnetic concepts, resulting in a higher pass rate.

AP Chem Pass Rate

AP Chemistry is known for its challenging content, including complex chemical equations and a demanding lab component. The pass rate for AP Chemistry in 2022 was:

Pass Rate: 54%
Median Score: 2.73
Why It’s Hard: The complexity of chemical equations, the need for a strong understanding of chemical principles, and the demanding nature of the lab component make AP Chemistry challenging.

Conclusion:

Improving your understanding of the hardest AP classes is crucial for making informed decisions about your academic journey. By considering pass rates, student reviews, and personal factors like prior knowledge and interest, you can strategically choose AP classes that align with your goals and abilities. If you continue to struggle with your choices, consult your academic advisor or college counselor for personalized guidance.

What Are the Hardest AP Classes in High School?