Several factors can influence which AP classes are the easiest and most difficult. These considerations include a student’s academic strengths and weaknesses, as well as the volume and nature of the course material.
Remember that determining easy or hard AP classes is a subjective process. Students perform well in classes where they perform best and are passionate about the subject matter. With that being said let’s know about the easiest AP classes!
Need help with AP exam preparation? find top online AP tutors to help you ace the AP exam
List of the easiest AP classes
*Based on the pass rate of the respective AP exams
| AP exam | Exam pass rate (3+) | % of students who scored 5 |
|---|---|---|
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | 49.30% | 19.60% |
| AP Japanese Language and Culture | 48.50% | 9.80% |
| AP Calculus BC | 41.20% | 15.60% |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 31.50% | 23.60% |
| AP Computer Science A | 27.30% | 20.40% |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | 26.40% | 25.70% |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | 23.60% | 28.50% |
| AP Italian Language and Culture | 22.60% | 20.60% |
| AP Calculus AB | 20.40% | 16.10% |
| AP German Language and Culture | 20.00% | 19.10% |
| AP Music Theory | 18.70% | 17.70% |
| AP Microeconomics | 17.70% | 22.50% |
| AP Psychology | 17.00% | 22.20% |
| AP English Literature and Composition | 16.90% | 27.30% |
| AP Macroeconomics | 16.40% | 20.00% |
| AP Physics 2 | 16.30% | 18.10% |
| AP Comparative Government and Politics | 15.90% | 24.30% |
| AP Biology | 15.00% | 23.10% |
| AP Human Geography | 14.90% | 18.70% |
| AP Statistics | 14.80% | 22.20% |
| AP Drawing | 14.60% | 38.10% |
| AP Art History | 14.10% | 21.00% |
| AP European History | 13.50% | 21.00% |
| AP World History | 13.20% | 21.90% |
| AP French Language and Culture | 13.10% | 23.70% |
| AP Research | 12.60% | 25.80% |
| AP Chemistry | 12.50% | 17.00% |
| AP United States Government and Politics | 12.00% | 10.90% |
| AP Seminar | 11.60% | 19.20% |
| AP Computer Science Principles | 11.40% | 21.00% |
| AP Latin | 11.20% | 16.10% |
| AP United States History | 10.80% | 15.60% |
| AP 2-D Art and Design | 10.80% | 35.50% |
| AP English Language and Composition | 10.40% | 21.10% |
| AP Environmental Science | 8.90% | 27.40% |
| AP Spanish Literature and Culture | 8.10% | 22.80% |
| AP Physics 1 | 7.90% | 17.00% |
| AP 3-D Art and Design | 6.40% | 28.60% |
Source: College Board
While many factors influence which AP classes are the easiest, this assessment is highly subjective. To help identify easy AP classes, we used statistics such as pass rates and 5 score rates.
Although these figures are affected by variables directly related to the AP courses and exams, such as the capacity and depth of course material, they are also influenced by factors such as the teacher’s quality and the classic student’s prior experience with that subject. AP exams should be difficult in order to assess college-level skills adequately. As a result, a simple AP class does not always imply a simple AP exam.
Exams that rely heavily on memorization may be easier for some students, while exams that require students to justify their reasoning through essay writing may be easier for others. Individual teachers may also use different teaching or scoring methods in the classroom.
A high pass rate generally indicates a higher likelihood of a favorable outcome for students considering that AP class. However, the pass rate is only one of many variables to consider.
Also, if we go by the popular opinions of students who have taken AP classes and attended AP exams, their thoughts, and opinions on the easiest AP classes will differ from the statistical data.
Easiest AP classes (in student’s opinion)
We have taken the passing rate into consideration and drawn out a chart of the easiest AP classes based on the percentage of students who have secured the exam in the respective AP classes. But this list is very subjective and is also influenced by many factors.
For example, if you refer to the above table you can see that AP Physics C Mechanics has a passing rate of 76.10% which goes on to say that students perform fairly well in the Physics C Mechanics AP exam but if we go by the opinions of students who have appeared the Physics C Mechanics exam, it is considered one of the hardest subjects to pass. So, the passing rate of a subject can not fully determine its easiness.
But if we read about students’ views and opinions through popular surveys or YouTube videos, we can get a somewhat better idea of which are the easiest AP classes. So, we have gone through some popular channels like Reddit’s r/APStudents, Mahad Khan’s YouTube channel mahadthementor, and many more and compiled a list of the easiest AP classes based on opinions and experiences of students who took the AP classes and exams.
| AP course | Level of easiness |
|---|---|
| AP Computer Science Principles | Very easy |
| AP Psychology | Very easy |
| AP Chinese Language | Very easy |
| AP Seminar | Very easy |
| AP Human Geography | Quite easy |
| AP Comparative Government | Quite easy |
| AP Computer Science A | Quite easy |
| AP Environmental Science | Quite easy |
| AP Microeconomics | Quite easy |
| AP Statistics | Quite easy |
| AP Research | Quite easy |
| AP Macroeconomics | Quite easy |
| AP World History | Quite easy |
| AP Spanish Language | Moderately difficult |
| AP Art History | Moderately difficult |
Conclusion
The College Board has designed AP tests and courses to be more difficult than their traditional or advanced counterparts. Knowing the best AP exams and classes, on the other hand, can assist you with college applications and college credit.
It is preferable to work harder now to have fewer required college credits (and thus less debt and stress) to worry about later. Make your decision with caution and recall the preceding information for a broad overview of the subject areas that will undoubtedly set you up for success.
Need help with AP exam preparation? find top online AP tutors to help you ace the AP exam
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the clearest and simple AP Physics course?
While classifying easy AP classes is a subjective process, students can assess the potential difficulty by looking at the pass rate. More than 84% of students passed the Physics C: Mechanics exam in May 2020, according to the table above. Based on this result, a large number of test-takers may consider this course to be simple.
Can I take an AP exam without enrolling in classes?
Yes. Students can access test guides and sample tests that outline the topics covered in the exam. It is not necessary to attend the class in order to take or pass the test. Self-study, on the other hand, is not always easy and necessitates additional rigor, time, and dedication.
What are the easiest AP classes to self-study?
Students frequently self-study for AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science, and AP Human Geography classes. These subjects’ exams are generally brief and require little to no previous understanding of the subject. Students who can learn the vocabulary and memorize the material will benefit from this.
Which of the AP exams has the lowest pass rate?
All AP exams have a minimum passing rate of 50%. Physics 1 (failed by 48.4% of all students), Environmental Science (failed by 46.6% of all students), and Chemistry (failed by 43.9% of all students) are the most commonly failed AP exams.
