The Easiest AP Classes and Exams - Curvebreakers (2024)

College Board’s AP classes have several tremendous benefits for college applications and higher-level education. Whether you’re looking for a way to boost your resume, gain college credit, or challenge yourself in high school, AP courses are the place to look. Most students fall under the first two categories, and all AP courses are the same amount of credit, so finding the easiest ones would make the most sense. It can be hard to measure how easy a class is since it can vary with a student’s interests and needs for college. Here, we simplify this process by listing out the easiest APs voted on by a pool of students.

Determining the Difficulty of AP Classes and Tests

There are two key aspects to consider when estimating the difficulty of an AP subject. First is the year-long course, taught similarly to a university-level lecture course. Second is the end-of-year final exam that scores each AP student’s knowledge of the topic on a scale from 1 to 5. In addition to weighing both factors, you must consider what suits you the best. For example, a good test-taker should prioritize the class difficulty, while a diligent learner could manage a challenging course but struggle on a more difficult exam.

Consider the subject area of the exam as well. For example, you should avoid taking environmental science if similar courses were challenging to you in the past. It may be worth considering an AP in history if you excel in that subject, even if other students generally view it as the more difficult option.

Five Easiest AP Classes

Based on student polls, the five AP courses that are considered the easiest are:

  1. Computer Science Principles
  2. Psychology
  3. Human Geography
  4. Environmental Science
  5. U.S. Government and Politics

You may be wondering: what makes these classes easy? Many students thought that the workload was not as bad as anticipated. Also, even though these courses may seem niche, most high school students will be well off taking these even without a deep interest in the subject. These classes are most comparable to a typical or advanced high school class, so it should be relatively easy to succeed in the course if you pay attention in class and complete all of your assignments.

Five Easiest AP Exams

Based on the same polls, these five AP exams are the easiest:

  1. Calculus BC
  • 50% of all test-takers for this exam earned a 5, which is the highest of any AP test. The odds are favorable for most students to get a high score.
  • 80% of test-takers scored at least a 3, which many schools count as college credit for Math courses (or a 4, which the majority scored).

Preparing for AP Calculus BC?Check out our Study Guide!

2. Physics C

  • Although slightly less than Calculus BC, 30% of test-takers get a 5 on this exam, so a staggering one in three people will score the highest mark.
  • Similarly to Calculus BC, 80% of test-takers scored at least a 3 for this exam, which can be very useful for STEM or science majors.

3. Computer Science A

  • Although the course is challenging for many, 65% of people pass with an exam score of 3, 4, or 5.
  • This course and exam can be beneficial to beginning a career in Computer Science or learning more about how technology is changing the world.

4. Comparative Government and Politics

  • 20% of students earn a 5 on this exam and 60% pass with a score of 3 or higher. Test-takers still have good odds with this exam.
  • The test is reportedly less intensive than the above subjects, which tend to be STEM-based and more rigorous in terms of the wording of questions.

5. Calculus AB

  • It is more likely that you earn a passing score by taking the higher level Calculus BC course, but the passing rate for Calculus AB is still roughly 60%.
  • 25% of test-takers earn a 5, and the exam overlaps significantly with the BC exam, so this is great as a practice test for the “easier to pass” BC test.

Preparing for AP Calculus AB?Check out our Study Guide!

Which APs Should You Consider?

Overall, the College Board has designed AP tests and courses to be more challenging than their traditional or advanced counterparts. However, knowing the most favorable AP exams and classes can help you with your college applications and college credit. It is better to work harder now to have fewer required college credits (and less debt and stress) to worry about in the future. Make your decision cautiously and think back to the above information for a broad view of the subjects that will be sure to set you up for success.

Nick The Tutor and his team at Curvebreakers have a growing library of AP Study Guides.

The Easiest AP Classes and Exams - Curvebreakers (3)
The Easiest AP Classes and Exams - Curvebreakers (2024)

FAQs

What AP classes have the lowest pass rate? ›

At many high schools, AP Physics is notorious for its difficulty level. In addition, it has the lowest overall pass rate of any AP exam.

What is the highest failed AP test? ›

According to the College Board's data, the AP exam with the highest fail rate in recent years is the AP Physics 1 exam, with around 60% of test-takers scoring below a 3 which is generally considered the minimum passing score.

Does a 1 on an AP exam look bad? ›

Key Takeaway: AP students who earn a score of 1 or 2, or average a score of 1 or 2 across their AP Exams in high school, have better college outcomes than academically similar college students who did not take an AP course and exam.

Is taking 7 AP classes enough? ›

6–7 AP classes is plenty. Many people get admitted to UC with fewer than that. Instead of adding another AP course, look to make sure you have extracurriculars showing leadership and at least a couple teachers who know you well who can write you strong recommendations.

What is the most useful AP class? ›

There are 4 AP classes that give high school students the skills necessary to succeed in academia. These are the AP Research, AP Seminar, AP Statistics, and AP English Literature and Composition. Students with English as a second language should consider AP English Language and Composition instead.

Is a 60 passing in AP? ›

Yes, a 60 is considered a passing grade in AP classes.

Is 4 AP classes too little? ›

In general, college counselors recommend taking 5-8 AP courses. That said, there are lots of factors to consider when enrolling in AP classes, beyond the ones previously mentioned. The other biggest factor to consider is which AP classes your high school currently offers.

Is 1 a passing AP score? ›

But what is a passing AP score? The College Board considers a score of 3 or higher a passing grade. That said, some colleges require a 4 or 5 to award credit. Whether a 3 is a good AP score depends on the colleges you're applying to.

Is it OK if I fail my AP exam? ›

If you fail an AP exam, you will not receive college credit for that course. The good news is that a failed exam does not affect your GPA.

Has anyone ever gotten a 0 on the AP exam? ›

A 0 score is theoretically possible but would likely result from a violation of the College Board's exam policies, such as cheating or filling out the answer sheet incorrectly. Simply leaving an exam blank or providing incorrect answers would usually result in a score of 1, not 0.

Does failing an AP exam hurt you? ›

The most substantial consequence to failing an AP exam is that you will not receive college credit for the course. However, many colleges do not even offer credit for AP courses. So, you may not be missing out on an opportunity at all. Either way, you shouldn't look at this as a scary consequence.

Should I retake an AP exam if I got a 2? ›

If you got a 2 on your AP® English Language exam, it is definitely worth trying to retake it. Make it worth the added time and expense by taking these steps to improve your score. Track your scores on the multiple choice section. As you prepare, carefully note your score on the multiple choice section.

Is a 3 in Apush bad? ›

The College Board denotes a 3 as 'qualified, 4 as 'well qualified,' and a 5 as 'extremely well qualified.

Which AP class is the hardest? ›

Calculus AB

This college-level calculus course is considered the hardest AP class by many students. You'll study differential equations, integral calculus, and mathematical theorems in AP Calculus AB.

Is a 50 passing in an AP class? ›

A 50% is considered a 3 or passing. This is when your AP credit is considered in colleges for being qualified, well qualified or extremely well qualified. Also, most exams have multiple parts to them.

What is the easiest and hardest AP class? ›

AP Physics C, AP Chemistry and AP Calculus BC are the three hardest,. AP Human Geography is typically the easiest. Everything else typically falls somewhere in between. That, of course, depends on the school and the teacher.

Is a 3 passing for AP? ›

But what is a passing AP score? The College Board considers a score of 3 or higher a passing grade. That said, some colleges require a 4 or 5 to award credit. Whether a 3 is a good AP score depends on the colleges you're applying to.

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