What are the hardest AP classes? Keep reading to find out.
When it comes to high school, there's no shortage of challenging academic courses available. But for many ambitious students, Advanced Placement (AP) courses are the ultimate test of their academic abilities.
These university-level courses offered by the College Board provide a unique opportunity for students to demonstrate their excellence in a particular subject, stand out in the admissions process, and potentially earn college credit in the process.
However, not all AP courses are created equal. Some are notoriously difficult, with demanding coursework and rigorous exams that require a deep understanding of complex subject matter. In fact, some AP courses have earned reputations as the most challenging classes high school students can take.
Whether you're a seasoned AP student looking to test your limits, or a curious underclassman weighing your options, buckle up and get ready to dive into the most challenging AP courses out there!
A final score higher than 3 is considered a pass for AP courses in most circumstances. Below is a table that ranks all of the difficult AP classes with the lowest exam passing rates. Based on these rates alone, Physics 1 is the hardest AP class.
Various factors cause discrepancies between passing rates and difficulty in the easiest vs. hardest AP courses, such as the academic level of the test takers in general. As such, AP exam passing rates are considered an important metric in determining difficulty, but they are not the sole method of measurement.
When it comes to AP courses, some are undoubtedly more difficult than others. While some easier AP classes can help boost a student's GPA, the hardest AP classes require rigorous preparation, dedication, and commitment.
It's important to note that what makes an AP class challenging can vary depending on your individual strengths, weaknesses, and interests. However, certain courses are widely regarded as more difficult than most.
In this section, we’ll examine 10 of the most challenging AP courses, which require a significant investment of time and effort to pass.
To determine how difficult an AP subject is, think about two things: how challenging the AP exam is and how well the school teaches the class. Also, keep in mind that your score on the exam decides if you get college credit.
In AP Chemistry, students learn about the fundamental concepts of chemistry along with core concepts relating to atomic and molecular structure, matter properties and states, intermolecular forces, chemical reactions, and chemical calculations.
College Board lists high school chemistry and Algebra II as the recommended prerequisites for AP Chemistry, meaning it is highly recommended to complete both before you take this course.
AP Chemistry contains nine units covering the following topics:
Important skills required to do well in this course include the following:
The coursework is demanding, and the exam includes complex questions that necessitate an advanced understanding and application of chemistry-related concepts and knowledge. To do well, students need to invest significant time and possess a promising aptitude for chemistry.
In AP Macroeconomics, students learn about the fundamental principles of macroeconomics, such as supply and demand, inflation, monetary and fiscal policies, and the overall functioning of the economy. You’ll also learn how to analyze and apply these concepts to real-world economic situations.
Recommended prerequisites include any high school courses that cover microeconomics or economics in general. AP Macroeconomics contains the following units:
To succeed in this course, students must be able to analyze and explain economic concepts using graphs, charts, and data, as well as understand the outcomes of specific economic situations.
In AP US Government and Politics, you will study the foundations and principles of the US government, the institutions and functions of the US government, and the policies and issues that affect American society. The topics this course explores include:
To do well, you’ll need to be able to read, analyze, and discuss the US Constitution and other federal documents. The program requires a firm understanding of the government’s various entities and functions. In AP US Government and Politics, students will learn how to do the following:
It’s safe to say that this course has one of the most demanding requirements among all the AP courses on our list.
AP Human Geography teaches you how to learn and analyze how humans have understood, used, and changed the surface of Earth.
AP Human Geography contains seven units:
To do well in this course, you’ll need to learn how to think and solve problems in the same way geographers do. You must demonstrate aptitude in examining phenomena and patterns of human population, migration, land use, and other activities.
You’ll also learn how to use geographical analysis tools, interpret maps and data, and understand the interactions between humans and their physical and cultural environments. These skills are considered difficult by many students.
Currently, there are four AP Physics courses available, and all of them are considered among the most difficult AP courses. However, AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism is especially notorious for being challenging. Many students have expressed their frustration and dislike for this course.
This AP course covers concepts such as electrostatics, magnetic fields, and electromagnetism across the following units:
Despite having a low number of units, this AP class covers elusive topics that require a strong understanding of both physics and calculus, making it a challenging course.
This course also requires you to develop skills such as:
This AP Physics course is challenging and covers advanced topics, making it difficult for many high school students due to its rigorous requirements.
In AP Environmental Science, you’ll study and investigate the interrelationships of the natural world while analyzing both natural and human-made environmental problems.
This class contains the following units:
This course requires the ability to explain environmental concepts and processes, analyze data, numbers, writings, and studies, as well as problem-solving and propose solutions for environment-related issues. You will also need to take part in laboratory investigations and fieldwork, which can further complicate things.
College Board recommends students complete two years of high school laboratory science (including life science and physical science), and at least one year of algebra prior to taking AP Environmental Science.
AP English Language is an introductory college-level course in English literary and argumentation analysis. You’ll learn about the elements and basic concepts of argument and composition and develop your English critical reading and writing skills.
AP English Language contains nine units that explore the following topics:
This course requires you to effectively read and analyze nonfiction works from various periods and write essays with different purposes, such as to explain an idea, argue a point, or persuade your reader. The text you’ll have to read takes a sizable jump in complexity and difficulty compared to the literature you read in high school.
The difficulty of this course comes from the heightened requirements on your reading and writing abilities. You must evaluate the information thoroughly, including its source, and use everything you know to craft a well-constructed argument from top to bottom.
AP US History studies all the cultural, economic, political, and social developments that have impacted and shaped the United States from c. 1491 to the modern day.
AP US History has a total of 9 units covering the following topics:
As you can see, this is a very content-heavy course that spans a wide range of topics and information. As such, many students consider it it hardest AP class and, at times, the most tedious. AP US History is considered equivalent to a two-semester US history college course.
AP US History requires you to effectively evaluate primary and secondary sources, analyze claims, evidence, and reasonings in writings related to history, and logically connect historical information and context. You must also be skilled in making a thesis or statement and finding evidence to effectively support it.
If you want to find out what your AP US History score will be, you can calculate it in advance. This prediction will help you focus your studying and show you which sections you might need to build up. You can also test your knowledge and sharpen your understanding of key historical events and concepts with our AP U.S. History quiz!
This is another AP Physics course where you will study fundamental concepts and principles of physics, but more generally. It is equivalent to a first-semester introductory college course in algebra-based physics.
AP Physics 1 spans seven units and covers the following topics:
The concepts in this AP course are less troublesome than AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, but are still quite challenging, even for an AP course. Much like other AP Physics courses, AP Physics 1 doesn’t just test your aptitude in physics but also in advanced mathematics, in this case, algebra.
We’ll end off this top 10 list with another AP course in physics. They’ve earned their rightful place, after all. AP Physics 2 also concerns fundamental concepts and principles in physics, but compared to AP Physics 1, these concepts are less introductory and less well-known.
AP Physics 2 covers seven units and includes the following topics:
AP Physics 2 is considered equivalent to a second-semester introductory college course in algebra-based physics. Like AP Physics 1, it requires the understanding and application of physics and algebra.
It can be hard to decide between AP classes -- there are so many different factors to consider! For some help, you can give our quiz down below a try. It will ask you some in-depth questions to help you determine which AP classes you should take.
Keep reading to learn how to pass AP classes.
If you're aiming to ace AP classes, consistency, active participation, resourcefulness, time management, critical thinking, and self-care are key. The IB program offers a similar challenge with a global perspective. Whether AP or IB, these strategies can help you excel.
Do you still have questions about the most challenging Advanced Placement classes? Hopefully, our FAQs will clear some troubles!
What can be considered the hardest AP class varies greatly from person to person. A course that can be considered difficult for one student can be considered easy for another.
At the end of the day, to determine whether a course is hard, you need to look into the content and see if they’re within or beyond your abilities and knowledge.
Physics 1 has the lowest passing grade, with 56.7% of test takers failing to get a 3 or higher. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean it's the hardest course, as passing isn’t solely determined by difficulty.
The best AP classes one can take also varies depending on the specific student. Generally, it is optimal to take an AP course that matches the subject and content of the university program you’re applying for. The closer the match, the better. You also need to make sure your schedule can handle the AP course.
For example, let’s say you’re applying for electronic engineering, and you’re in a comfortable position to get admitted. In that case, taking AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism can be a great choice.
If you’re feeling discouraged by anything you’ve read, or if you’re sad that your favorite course is often considered the hardest AP class, don’t be! As mentioned before, just because these courses are considered difficult by many doesn’t mean you are doomed to struggle! Give it your best foot forward, and you’ll have the best chances you can get!
Once again, AP courses are more advanced and challenging than your average high school curricula, but they also offer a hefty reward, especially for university admissions, so all your blood, sweat, and tears will be worth it in the end.
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