What Are the Hardest AP Classes & Exams?

Picking the right college is important for a number of reasons. Not only will you spend plenty of time there over the next several years, but your choice will also impact the type of education you receive and the quality of jobs you're offered after graduation. 

Taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes in high school is one way to make your application stand out in addition to other important prerequisites, such as your GPA, your ACT score, and your extracurricular experience. In this article, we'll help you better understand what impact AP classes can have on your college preparations. We'll also walk through some of the hardest (and easiest) AP courses you can take. 

Understanding AP courses and their role in college admissions

Three out of four undergraduate students will begin their college experience with credit from AP classes that they took while in high school. Taking these college-level classes shows that you're serious about your studies and willing to be challenged in the classroom. The average AP test includes multiple-choice questions in addition to short answer or essay questions, giving you a chance to show your analysis and critical-thinking skills. 

You'll have an opportunity to receive college credit depending on what AP scores you earn, and many students find that success in AP courses boosts their overall confidence and skills in a way that better prepares them for future academic work. 

10 hardest AP classes and exams

The purpose of the College Board's AP classes and exams is to challenge students at a greater level than what's typical in high school courses. However, this doesn't mean that some AP coursework isn't more difficult for high school students than others. 

Let's take a look at the 10 of the hardest AP exams according to recent AP statistics. 

1. AP Physics 1

In AP Physics 1, students learn about the foundational principles of physics. This course involves hands-on laboratory research and covers topics including mechanical waves, simple circuits, and Newtonian mechanics. 

More than 144,000 AP students took the AP Physics 1 exam in May 2022. Among this group, only 43.3% passed, meaning that AP physics has one of the lowest pass rates among any AP courses. Nearly 30% of students (42,850) scored a 1, which is the lowest score you can earn. Another 27% (39,141) received a 2. 

Part of the reason the course is so challenging is that it requires students to apply high-level science concepts while answering algebra-based questions. On the exam, students are required to answer five free-response questions, each of which counts for 10% of their overall exam score. However, if you can survive Physics 1 and decide you want to take Physics 2, the average passing rate increases to 69.7%.

2. AP U.S. History

With a passing rate of 48% and a mean score of 2.57, AP U.S. History is clearly challenging for many students. Although more than 450,000 students took the course in May 2022, only 10.8% (around 49,000 students) achieved a perfect score of 5. 

U.S. History is challenging in part because of the depth of understanding required: In the course, you'll learn about United States history dating to 1491. Some questions may require students to understand how the U.S. government differs from other political systems in the world. 

When you take the exam, you'll apply your knowledge of American history by answering short-answer and free-response questions in addition to the multiple choice section. 

3. AP Macroeconomics

Students in AP Macroeconomics study key economic principles by analyzing and explaining various graphs, charts, and data. On the test, you'll have to answer 60 multiple-choice and three free-response questions. You'll only have two hours and ten minutes to finish the test, but you can use a four-function calculator on both sections. This is a separate course from AP Microeconomics, which is another option students have.

Last year, 134,413 students took the Macroeconomics test. Around 70,000 students (51.8%) received a passing grade, with just under 22,000 earning a 5. Another 20,000 students received a 2, and over 44,000 walked away with a 1. 

4. AP Human Geography

AP Human Geography covers the methods people have used throughout the course of time to understand and impact the surface of the Earth. If you take the course, you'll learn about how geographers analyze human population and migration.

The mean score among the 221,815 students who took the AP Human Geography test in May 2022 was 2.7. Around 53% of students who tested received a passing score, with around 33,000 earning the highest possible score. Among the students who didn't pass, more than 70,000 received a 1.

5. AP Chemistry

Around 125,000 students took the AP Chemistry exam in May 2022. A little more than half of this group (54%) passed the exam, with over 15,000 students earning a 5. 

On the other hand, 28,000 students finished with a 1, and 29,000 received a 2. The advanced chemical processes, the need for extensive memorization, and the seven free-response exam questions make the class especially difficult.

6. AP Calculus AB

Just under 150,000 of the 268,352 students (55.7%) who took the AP Calculus AB course passed the exam in May 2022. Around 55,000 students scored a 5, and another 43,000 earned a 4. On the other hand, 58,000 of the students who didn't pass the test received a 1. 

The test is a tough one because it requires students to understand advanced math concepts and determine which formulas to apply when solving a variety of problems. A calculator is allowed for some (but not all) portions of the exam. Once you finish AP Calculus AB, you might be interested in taking AP Calculus BC.

7. AP English Language

More than 520,000 students took the AP English test in May 2022. Around 56% of students passed the test, with nearly 54,000 earning the highest possible score of 5. 

More than 155,000 students just missed the mark with a final grade of 2, and another 75,000 received a 1 on their AP test. The course and exam both require students to develop their argument and composition capabilities while bringing in critical reading and writing skills.

8. AP European History

Only 80,000 students took the AP Euro test in May 2022. Nearly 59% passed, and the mean score among all test-takers was 2.95. Around 10,800 students earned a 5, and another 17,000 scored a 4. Less than 10,000 students received a 1, but almost 24,000 finished with a 2. 

When you realize that the test requires students to remember facts and concepts dating back to the 15th century and answer three short-answer and two free response questions, it's easy to understand why the test is challenging for many students.

9. AP Environmental Science

In AP Environmental Science, students spend the school year learning about the unique relationship between humans and the natural world. Through in-class lectures, fieldwork, and lab experience, students learn about how various environmental issues arise. The class finishes off with an AP test that includes 80 multiple-choice questions and three free-response questions. 

A little over half (53.8%) of all test-takers pass the test, with less than 9% earning a 5. In addition, more than 46,000 students earn a 2, and over 36,000 finish with a 1. 

10. AP Psychology

AP Psychology digs into studies and research relating to the functions of the human brain. Students learn how to analyze data from psychological studies and connect theories to real-life issues and situations. The AP Psych exam lasts two hours and includes 100 multiple-choice questions and two free-response questions. 

In May 2022, more than 292,000 students took the AP Psychology test. Around 170,000 passed the exam, resulting in an overall passing rate of 58.3%. However, another 83,451 students finished with a 1, while over 38,000 students received a 2.

Easiest AP classes and exams

Thinking about the hardest AP classes and exams can feel like a bit of a gut punch. However, not all classes are especially challenging. Here are a few courses and exams that are traditionally easier: 

• AP English Literature and Composition (77.9% pass rate)
• AP Biology (67.9% pass rate)
• AP World History (62.1% pass rate)
• AP Comparative Government and Politics (70.5% pass rate) 
• AP Computer Science Principles (67.5% pass rate)
• AP Music Theory (61.9% pass rate)
• AP Spanish Language and Culture (81.7% pass rate)
• AP Art History (61.5% pass rate)
• AP Japanese Language and Culture (75.5% pass rate)
• AP Italian Language and Culture (70.5% pass rate)
• AP Chinese Language and Culture (86.9% pass rate)
• AP French Language and Culture (71.6% pass rate)
• AP Spanish Literature and Culture (64.2% pass rate)

Make an informed college choice with College Rover

Choosing the right AP courses based on your future college and career plans can help you stand out as you submit college applications and increase your chances of getting accepted into your dream school. Don't be afraid to seek advice from school counselors, teachers, and peers as you wade through all your options.
 

College Rover is another great resource to consult as you think about your future college plans. Our vast online database makes it easy to save your preferred schools to your account so you can compare them side by side. 

Even if you just look at one school at a time, you'll find a wealth of information that can help you make a more well-informed decision. Give it a try today!