Easiest and Hardest AP Courses Based on Student Feedback
To better strategize your AP course selection, here is a ranking of 28 major AP subjects based on difficulty, as reported by over 2,900 students on Reddit’s r/APStudents community.
Top 10 Easiest AP Courses
- Computer Science Principles – 2.8
- Very easy, 12% scored a 5.
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- Psychology – 3.5
- Very easy, 17% scored a 5.
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- Chinese – 3.9
- Extremely high pass rate.
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- Computer Science A – 4.2
- Easy, 27% scored a 5.
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- Human Geography – 4.3
- Easy, 16% scored a 5.
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- Environmental Science – 4.3
- Fairly easy but lower 5% rate (8%).
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- Comparative Government & Politics – 4.4
- Easy, 16% scored a 5.
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- U.S. Government & Politics – 4.4
- Easy but low pass rate, 13% scored a 5.
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- Microeconomics – 4.5
- Easy, 18% scored a 5.
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- Macroeconomics – 4.6
- Easy, 16% scored a 5.
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Top 10 Hardest AP Courses
- Physics C – Electricity & Magnetism – 8.1
- Extremely difficult but high scoring rate, 31% scored a 5.
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- Physics C – Mechanics – 7.4
- Very difficult, 23% scored a 5.
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- English Literature – 7.4
- Very challenging but with improved pass rates (77% in 2023).
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- Chemistry – 7.4
- Very hard and time-consuming, 15% scored a 5.
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- Physics 1 – 7.2
- Very difficult, only 8% scored a 5.
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- Physics 2 – 6.6
- Quite hard, 15% scored a 5.
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- European History – 6.5
- Challenging and time-consuming, 13% scored a 5.
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- Biology – 6.4
- Difficult, 14% scored a 5.
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- Music Theory – 6.3
- Challenging but quick to learn, 20% scored a 5.
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- World History – 6.0
- Time-intensive, 15% scored a 5.
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How to Choose the Right AP Courses
If Seeking Simplicity:
- Computer Science Principles: Lowest difficulty rating, moderate pass rates, and minimal time commitment.
- Psychology: Low difficulty and time commitment, though slightly below-average pass rates.
- Human Geography: Moderate difficulty with lower-than-average pass rates.
If Seeking a Challenge:
- Physics C – Electricity & Magnetism: The hardest AP course with a significant pass rate for dedicated students.
- Physics C – Mechanics: High difficulty but rewarding pass rates.
- English Literature: Challenging but steady pass rate improvement over recent years.
- Chemistry: Difficult, especially for self-studiers, but increasingly favorable pass rates.
Choosing AP courses should align with your academic strengths, university aspirations, and time availability. Balancing course difficulty with achievable outcomes is key to maximizing your college applications.
