AP classes are an excellent head start for college. We ranked the hardest AP classes using our own system and all available data.
We scoured the internet for all publicly available data from students who previously took an AP exam. We then analyzed the data and assigned our own “hardness” score to each course.
Summary: We compiled a list of the hardest AP exams using our own ranking system.
List of the Hardest AP Classes
| AP Class | % Scoring 3+ | % Scoring 5 | TG “Hardness” Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics 1 | 43.30% | 7.90% | 0.67 |
| US History | 48.20% | 10.80% | 0.63 |
| Government & Politics – US | 48.60% | 12.00% | 0.62 |
| Environmental Science | 53.80% | 8.90% | 0.60 |
| Economics – Macro | 51.80% | 16.40% | 0.59 |
| Chemistry | 54.00% | 12.50% | 0.58 |
| Human Geography | 53.20% | 14.90% | 0.58 |
| English Language | 55.70% | 10.40% | 0.58 |
| Japanese Language | 53.50% | 15.60% | 0.58 |
| German Language | 57.50% | 8.00% | 0.57 |
| Latin | 57.00% | 11.20% | 0.57 |
| Calculus AB | 55.70% | 20.40% | 0.55 |
| European History | 58.90% | 13.50% | 0.55 |
| Psychology | 58.30% | 17.00% | 0.54 |
| Economics – Micro | 59.00% | 17.70% | 0.53 |
| Statistics | 60.50% | 14.80% | 0.53 |
| Art History | 61.50% | 14.10% | 0.53 |
| World History | 62.10% | 13.20% | 0.53 |
| Computer Science Principles | 63.50% | 11.40% | 0.52 |
| Music Theory | 61.90% | 18.70% | 0.51 |
| Italian Language | 65.80% | 11.10% | 0.51 |
| Chinese Language | 64.80% | 16.10% | 0.50 |
| French Language | 68.50% | 8.30% | 0.50 |
| Biology | 67.90% | 15.00% | 0.48 |
| Art and Design: 3-D | 73.60% | 6.40% | 0.47 |
| Physics 2 | 69.70% | 16.30% | 0.46 |
| Government & Politics – Comparative | 70.50% | 15.90% | 0.46 |
| Computer Science A | 67.50% | 27.30% | 0.45 |
| Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism | 69.40% | 31.50% | 0.42 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 73.40% | 26.40% | 0.41 |
| English Literature | 77.90% | 16.90% | 0.40 |
| Art and Design: 2-D | 86.60% | 10.80% | 0.36 |
| Spanish Language | 81.70% | 23.60% | 0.36 |
| Art and Design: Drawing | 88.30% | 14.60% | 0.34 |
| Calculus BC | 76.90% | 41.20% | 0.34 |
All data used was collected from the Official CollegeBoard site.
What Makes Each of These AP Classes So Hard?
All AP exams are different in that there is no standardized AP exam. AP exams not only cover different topics, they are also in different formats.
AP exams have sections. One AP exam could have 2 sections and the next could have 3 sections.
The most important thing you can know is the format of your AP exam and below we will outline the 10 hardest AP exams. To take a practice exam, visit our AP exam home.
1. AP Physics 1
This course covers your understanding of using algebra to solve problems in the area of mechanics, energy, waves, and simple circuits.
Fast Facts About AP Physics 1 Exam:
- Section 1: Multiple Choice
- 50 Questions
- 90 Minutes
- 50% of Score
- Section 2: Free Response
- 5 Questions
- 90 Minutes
- 50% of Score
2. AP US History
This course covers US history from 1491 until the present day. It covers anything from cultural developments to economic developments with a heavy focus on historical texts and essays.
Fast Facts About AP US History Exam:
- Section 1A: Multiple Choice
- 55 Questions
- 55 Minutes
- 40% of Score
- Section 1B: Short Answer
- 3 Questions
- 40 Minutes
- 20% of Score
- Section 2: Free Response
- 2 Questions
- 100 Minutes
- 40% of Score
3. AP Government & Politics – US
This exam covers the key concepts of the United States Political system with a focus on reading and analyzing important US documents like the US Constitution. It also covers the constant changing of our laws and regulations which tends to make this exam difficult.
Fast Facts About AP Government & Politics – US Exam:
- Section 1: Multiple Choice
- 55 Questions
- 80 Minutes
- 50% of Score
- Section 2: Free Response
- 4 Questions
- 100 Minutes
- 50% of Score
4. AP Environmental Science
This course covers how the Earth’s environment is changing in both natural ways and human-made ways. It also has a focus on designing research studies to help combat environmental issues.
Fast Facts About AP Environmental Science Exam:
- Section 1: Multiple Choice
- 80 Questions
- 90 Minutes
- 60% of Score
- Section 2: Free Response
- 3 Questions
- 70 Minutes
- 40% of Score
5. AP Economics – Macro
This course covers the principles of economics as a whole and not just individualistic. It covers the whole entire economic system instead of just one part of it. This course also has a heavy focus on graphs, charts, and data.
Fast Facts About AP Macro Exam:
- Section 1: Multiple Choice
- 60 Questions
- 70 Minutes
- 66% of Score
- Section 2: Free Response
- 3 Questions
- 60 Minutes
- 33% of Score
6. AP Chemistry
This course covers the fundamental concepts of chemistry in the areas of states of matter, intermolecular forces, and reactions. This course is heavily focused on doing labs and the process of doing labs such as writing a pre lab and a lab report.
Fast Facts About AP Chemistry Exam:
- Section 1: Multiple Choice
- 60 Questions
- 90 Minutes
- 50% of Score
- Section 2: Free Response
- 7 Questions
- 105 Minutes
- 50% of Score
7. AP Human Geography
This course covers how humans over time have used and changed the Earth by their migrations. It has a heavy focus on the ideas of human population across time and how they have used the Earth.
Fast Facts About AP Human Geography Exam:
- Section 1: Multiple Choice
- 60 Questions
- 60 Minutes
- 50% of Score
- Section 2: Free Response
- 3 Questions
- 75 Minutes
- 50% of Score
8. AP English Language
This course covers your understanding of literary devices used in writing. It has a heavy focus on analyzing texts and forming a written argument based on the text. What’s special about this course is that for the second portion of the exam there is not necessarily a correct answer.
The second portion is your interpretation of the text and how you form your argument for an audience.
Fast Facts About AP English Language Exam:
- Section 1: Multiple Choice
- 45 Questions
- 60 Minutes
- 45% of Score
- Section 2: Free Response
- 3 Questions
- 135 Minutes
- 55% of Score
9. AP Japanese Language
This course teaches you the Japanese language and about Japanese culture. Not only will you learn colloquial Japanese, but you will also interact with Japanese newspapers, movies, and literature.
Fast Facts About AP Japanese Language Exam:
- Section 1A: Multiple Choice Listening
- 30-35 Questions
- 20 Minutes
- 25% of Score
- Section 1B: Multiple Choice Reading
- 35-40 Questions
- 60 Minutes
- 25% of Score
- Section 2A: Free Response Written
- 2 Tasks, 7 Questions
30 Minutes - 25% of Score
- 2 Tasks, 7 Questions
- Section 2B: Free Response Spoken
- 2 Tasks, 5 Questions
- 11 Minutes
- 25% of Score
10. AP German Language
Just like the AP Japanese Language exam, this exam teaches you the German language and German culture. It teaches you colloquial German and you will also interact with German newspapers, movies, and literature.
Fast Facts About AP German Language Exam:
- Section 1A: Multiple Choice
- 30 Questions
- 40 Minutes
- 23% of Score
- Section 1B: Multiple Choice with Audio
- 35 Questions
- 55 Minutes
- 27% of Score
- Section 2A: Free Response Written
- 2 Questions
- 70 Minutes
- 25% of Score
- Section 2B: Free Response Spoken
- 2 Questions
- 18 Minutes
- 25% of Score
Strategies for Doing Well in Your AP Classes
An AP class can be scary, but with lots of preparation and participation you can attack any AP exam. Here are some good tips when taking an AP course.
- Recognize You Are Taking a College Level Class: It’s okay to feel you are overwhelmed by a class but it is super integral to recognize you are a high school student taking a college level class.
- Don’t Take the Class Too Seriously: At the end of the day you are taking this class most likely because you demonstrate an interest in the subject. Treat the class like an opportunity to learn something you care about.
- Slow and Steady Wins the Race: Gradually go about doing your coursework. Cramming does you no good. Spend 30 minutes to an hour a day on your coursework and it will stick with you.
- Use Any and Every Resource Available: If your teacher provides you with a resource then use it. The resource was given to the class for a specific reason so use it.
- Do Not Stress the Final AP Exam: At the end of the day actively engaging in the subject matter will take you a long way. Do not spend tons of hours cramming in material the weekend before your exam. Instead, understand how the exam is composed.
Choosing AP Courses Wisely
When looking at AP courses there are some tips you can look at to determine if it is a good fit for you: Here are some tips:
- Understand your Interests: Do not take an AP course in something you are not interested in. If you are not interested in the content you will not want to do the coursework.
- Look Ahead: Look at AP courses that can give you college credit for a class you would have to take in college. Doing this will give you a headstart in college.
- Consult Students who have Taken the Class Before: Ask around. See what your friends thought about the AP course and if it is worth it to take the class.
- Do Research on the Teacher: Understand what kind of teacher teaches the course so you can see if their teaching style aligns with how you learn.
How We Ranked the Hardest AP Courses
We have compiled a way to rank the hardest AP tests. To do so we looked at the percent of students who passed the exam (got a score of 3+) and then we looked at the percentage of students who obtained a perfect score (got a score of 5).
We then assigned a weighting to each of those criteria (score of 3+ and score of 5). After multiplying each criteria by the assigned weight, we arrived at a “TG Easiness Score.” We then took that number and subtracted it from 1.00 to arrive at our “TG Hardness Score.”
Hardest AP Exam Exams FAQs
How can I determine if I am ready for a challenging AP course?
A good step to determine if you are ready for a challenging AP course is to look at your grades in similar subject matter.
For example if you want to take the AP Physics 1 exam, a good step is to look at your grades in other sciences.
How much additional workload should I expect in an AP course compared to a normal course?
An AP course is a college level class so you should expect a fair amount of additional work.
All of the content is college level so it will be different from your expected highschool workload.
Can I take multiple AP courses?
Yes, you can take multiple AP courses. It is important to note that taking multiple AP courses could be a heavy workload so proceed with taking multiple courses with caution.
If an AP course is too hard, can I drop it?
Yes. You can drop an AP class at any time.
What score do I need to pass the AP course?
You need a score of 3 to pass an AP course. However, most colleges require a score of 4 or even 5 to obtain college credit for the class.
