I'm currently planning my course schedule for next year and I'm thinking about taking a few AP classes. I've heard some tests have higher fail rates than others, so I was wondering which AP test has the highest fail rate? Just trying to avoid the toughest ones haha!
3 months ago
It's smart to consider the difficulty of AP tests when planning your course schedule! 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.
However, I'd like to emphasize that you shouldn't solely rely on pass/fail rates when selecting AP courses. It's important to choose classes based on your interests, strengths, and future goals. For example, if you're passionate about physics and considering a STEM major in college, taking AP Physics 1 might still be a good choice despite its high fail rate, as the course will allow you to gain valuable knowledge and skills in the subject.
Additionally, the difficulty of an AP course varies depending on the resources and support available at your school like experienced teachers or study groups with peers. So, it's essential to talk to students who have taken the AP classes you're considering at your school to evaluate the difficulty and understand the expectations better.
Good luck with your course selection!
3 months ago
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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 AP test has the highest passing rate? ›
Pass Rates by AP Test
| Test | Students Who Earn a 3 or Higher* |
|---|
| Calculus BC | 78.5% |
| Chemistry | 75.1% |
| Chinese | 88.4% |
| Computer Science A | 68% |
34 more rowsCalculus 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. The exam consists of 45 MCQs and six free-response questions.
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.
Which AP is easiest? ›
Easiest AP exams by pass rate
| AP Subject | Pass Rate (Exam Score of 3+) | Median Score |
|---|
| 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 |
34 more rowsJan 13, 2023
What are the least popular AP exams?
- AP Italian (2,102 test-takers)
- AP Japanese (2,204 test-takers)
- AP German (4,315 test-takers)
- AP 3-D Art and Design (4,573 test-takers)
- AP Latin (4,889 test-takers)
Usually, a 70 to 75 percent out of 100 translates to a 5. However, there are some exams that are exceptions to this rule of thumb. The AP Grades that are reported to students, high schools, colleges, and universities in July are on AP's five-point scale: 5: Extremely well qualified.
Is a 60% passing AP test? ›
Yes, a 60 is considered a passing grade in AP classes. In AP, the average passing rate is 60-70%.
Has anyone ever gotten a 5 on the AP exam? ›
As you can see, while at least 5% of test takers scored a 5 on each AP exam, the perfect scores are teeny, teeny, teeny percentages. The only exams with a percentage of perfect scorers higher than 1% were AP Research and Studio Art Drawing.
What are the top 5 hardest aps? ›
Okay, Seriously, Which AP Classes Are the Hardest? United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests.
AP Physics 1
Physics 1 has the lowest pass rate of any AP exam (43.3%) along with one of the lowest percentages of students scoring a 5 (just 7.9%). Physics 1 is an algebra-based physics class that explores topics such as Newtonian mechanics, simple circuits, and mechanical waves.
What is the longest AP exam? ›
Hey there! It's important to be prepared for the length of AP exams, as they can be quite demanding. Generally, most AP exams are approximately 3 hours long. There isn't one specific AP test that stands out as being significantly longer than the others.
Do colleges care if you failed an AP exam? ›
Colleges will not look at your score
You will not be required to send your AP score to your colleges unless you want to earn college credit. In that case, you can wait to pay for an official score report to be sent after you've decided where you are enrolling and after you have completed any senior year AP courses.
Will bad AP scores hurt me? ›
On the whole, a bad AP probably won't hurt you in and of itself, but it can be related to other concerns. A bad AP score is often correlated with a poor grade in the corresponding course, which can hurt your GPA.
Does a 3 on an AP exam look bad? ›
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.
What AP exam has the lowest pass rate? ›
AP Physics 1
Physics 1 has the lowest pass rate of any AP exam (43.3%) along with one of the lowest percentages of students scoring a 5 (just 7.9%). Physics 1 is an algebra-based physics class that explores topics such as Newtonian mechanics, simple circuits, and mechanical waves.
Is a 3 on an AP exam bad? ›
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 a 2 on an AP exam a fail? ›
AP® Score of 2
If you were to get a 2, then the College Board has determined that you are “possibly qualified” to pass a college level class of the same subject level. This score is usually not accepted by colleges unless there are extenuating circ*mstances.
Is a 2 on an AP exam bad? ›
One website notes: "This score is usually not accepted by colleges unless there are extenuating circ*mstances. A 2 means that you may have studied hard and prepared; however, something may have gone amiss while taking your exam. Perhaps you did not truly understand the material or did not utilize it properly."
