Table of contents
What is the easiest AP class, and how can it help you earn college credit
We understand. You’re looking to pad up your school credentials and prepare early for your college applications. Well, taking AP classes is certainly one way to do that. However, you must know it’s not going to be easy—even with taking the easiest AP classes.
Scoring high in your AP classes and AP exams is a big help in making you stand out during your college application. This can also help you earn college credit, which, knowing how expensive college can be, is a huge weight off your shoulders.
It’s not going to be easy and the subject of what’s the easiest APs to take depends on several factors. Well, we will talk about all these things here, and we will help you make an informed decision on which AP classes you are likely to get an A+ and score of 5.
What is an AP class?
An AP class is part of the Advanced Placement or AP program that the College Board runs, the same institution operating SAT. This program provides various AP classes on a wide array of subjects conducted at high schools all over the United States.
AP classes provide a unique opportunity for high schoolers to study college-level coursework, which can benefit them in a lot of ways. Completing an AP class means being able to sit for an AP exam of the same subjects, scoring from 1 to 5. Scoring above 3 on these exams means you might earn a college credit, depending on the school.
It’s why these classes are called AP—you can get an advanced placement to college when you take them. These are more demanding than regular classes in high school, but they’re also far better at boosting your GPA plus it shows how dedicated you are in your academics.
The value of taking an AP class
The value of AP classes isn’t just in the exam results. No matter what your score is on the test, you are for sure will benefit from completing these courses and exams. According to research, students who take them are more likely to attend college and graduate, even if they only score 1 or 2.
AP classes let you explore advanced topics or college-level courses while still in high school. We mentioned before how these classes might earn you college credits, ultimately saving you time and money. More than that, they help you build important skills that can benefit you well into the future.
What are the easiest and hardest AP classes?
There are a variety of factors that contribute to which are the easiest and hardest AP classes. Some of these factors include your academic strengths and weaknesses, the course content, and the teacher. On the other hand, you can say an AP class is easy or not based on certain categories.
Easiest AP classes
When looking for the easiest APs, you have some factors to look at. For instance, you might consider the exam pass rates. The classes with higher percentages of students passing with a higher score of 3 or above may be considered “easy.”
According to the student score distributions of the AP exams in May 2024, data obtained from the College Board, here are the easiest AP classes in high school:
- AP African American Studies
- AP Drawing – Art & Design
- AP 2-D Art and Design
- AP 3-D Art and Design
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Chemistry
- AP Chinese Language
- AP English Literature & Composition
- AP European History
- AP French Language
- AP Government & Politics – U.S.
- AP Italian Language
- AP Japanese Language
- AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
- AP Physics C – Electricity & Magnetism
- AP Physics C – Mechanics
- AP Precalculus
- AP Research
- AP Seminar
- AP Spanish Language
- AP United States History
These AP classes have a passing rate of at least 70%, which is a score of 3 or higher. Are these the easiest AP classes to pass? Based on these values, the answer is yes. However, numbers can only tell you so much.
The fact is that many of the students who passed these classes already have prior knowledge of the coursework. For instance, the AP Chinese Language has a high median score and pass rate due to the students already fluent.
In this case, it’s a good idea to supplement the data with reviews from actual students. Unfortunately, there are no databases or surveys that can tell you this. Instead, we have looked at forums online, particularly Reddit.
We checked the subreddit r/APStudents, and here are the easiest AP classes based on what we found:
- AP Psychology
- AP Government & Politics
- AP Music Theory
- AP Statistics
- AP Language
- AP Human Geography
- AP Environmental Science
When you compare this to the data available, you might get some conflicting results. This is because students' reviews are subjective and, therefore, should not be taken at face value. Know that someone saying AP Chemistry is easy will have someone saying it isn’t.
Hardest AP classes
Now we’ve talked about the easiest AP classes; what about the hardest ones? It’d be great to know about these classes, too, just to have some perspective on what classes you might have a hard time getting an A+ or a score of 5.
Well, in terms of mean score and passing rate listed in the College Board’s 2024 data, the hardest AP classes are:
- AP English Language & Composition
- AP Environmental Science
- AP Human Geography
- AP Latin
- AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
These classes have a pass rate of 56.6 % and a mean score below 3. Curiously, a couple of the classes deemed difficult were dubbed the easiest by students on Reddit a few years ago. This further states that the subject of the hardest and easiest AP classes in high school is subjective.
What other factors make an AP class the easiest?
We used statistics to tell you which are the easiest AP classes, but the truth is they are not enough to tell you anything conclusive. As mentioned, this is highly subjective and influenced by several other factors such as the depth and volume of the course material.
An AP class’s difficulty also depends on the quality of the teacher and whether the students typically already have previous knowledge of the subject. Moreover, some people may say the AP class is easy but with a difficult AP exam, the opinion of the students and the results aren’t a match.
A high passing rate is a good indicator that the AP class is easy, but it’s not everything. It’s only one of the many things to consider when deciding on which AP class to take.
How to choose the right AP classes to take
You now know what are considered the easiest AP classes, but to be sure they are great choices, here we have some advice on how to pick one:
Background knowledge, academic strengths, and interest
First and foremost, your previous experience and interest in the subject should be considered high in your search for the easiest APs. Many language classes have high passing rates and are therefore deemed easy, but this can be misleading.
Why? Because a lot of the students attending these classes are either native speakers or have been exposed to the language before. If you think about it that way, then you will likely pass an AP exam easily if you take a class you have background knowledge.
Moreover, a class is always easier if the subject is something you have always been actively interested in or aligned with your academic strengths. So of course, we advise that you choose an AP class that you are not completely clueless with and that you like.
The quality of the AP teachers
Another important factor to consider is the strength of the AP teacher. AP Chinese Language may have an 88.5% passing rate, which makes it look like an easy AP class to take. However, an unqualified or inexperienced teacher will surely make it more challenging to learn the content material for that class.
It’s also as we mentioned before—an easy AP class doesn’t necessarily mean an easy AP exam, and vice versa. A highly skilled, experienced teacher would make an AP class easier to digest and prepare you better for the AP exam.
Your learning style
You also want to consider your learning style. Do you do better with memorization? In that case, AP classes that rely heavily on that, like AP Chemistry, might be an easier class for you. On the other hand, AP Statistics would be perfect if you enjoy analytical thinking,
It also matters what test-taking style you prefer. This is because AP Physics and similar classes often use numbers and formulas, which is suitable if you like tests that involve them. But if you are great with writing and analysis, then you would probably enjoy and find the tests in AP English Language much easier.
As you can see, there are many things to consider in determining which AP class is the best choice for you. So take the time to research and talk to your teachers and counselors so you will enjoy the time you have in these classes while also making sure it will successfully help your college plans.
FAQ
The answer is no. It is most important that you choose an AP class that suits your interests and strengths. Even if they are challenging, it will be easier to learn a subject that you are passionate about. Interest means motivation, and that leads to better performance.
Yes. You can take an AP exam and simply self-study the lessons instead of taking an AP class. There are test guides and sample tests you can use to study for this. However, do keep in mind that self-study is extra challenging with you needing to exercise further time management and discipline.
It depends on your personal goals and your academic strengths. It’s not a great idea to take many AP classes if you cannot handle it academically and time-wise. Generally, it is considered a good balance to take 2 to 4 AP classes every year. But if you do well in academics and in AP exam scores or AP test scores, you can take more classes.
Here are some of the more diverse AP classes that can spark your curiosity even more:
- AP Calculus BC exam
- AP Comparative Government
- AP Computer Science Principles
- AP Language Classes
- AP Chemistry
Whether it’s the hard or the easy AP classes, the fact is it’s one of the best ways to challenge yourself and get ahead with your college plans. However, do remember that coursework isn’t the only thing you need to prepare for your college applications.
These also include extracurricular activities, excellent application essays, as well as recommendation letters. Our advice is to take as many AP classes as you can without compromising your grades and health. And if you need help with your AP classes or writing your college essay, WriterEssay is here to assist!
Recommended articles
Study tips & tricks
All
7 min
Study tips & tricks
All
7 min