If you’re one of the many high school students who’s not sure which advanced placement (AP) classes to take, we hope our list of the 6 easiest AP classes to take will give you some direction. Let’s analyze past test results to help you narrow down your decision.
The College Board, creators of the SAT, developed the AP program to offer college-level courses and credit to high school students in the United States and Canada. Taking an AP class and exam — in theory — prepares students for college life. AP students usually earn college credit, letting them skip prerequisites or first-year classes and saving tuition money. AP courses stand out on transcripts when students apply to college and help guide students toward fields they enjoy or excel at.
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But that doesn’t mean an AP class has to be grueling. The introductory college courses that AP courses recreate are often not grueling either. Choosing one of the 6 easiest AP classes to take will give students a preview of another time-honored college tradition: finding an easy class to round out your schedule.
The data we provide come from the AP score distribution presented by the College Board for 2011–2014. We used two criteria: average AP exam score and the percentage of students who passed. These data will give you an idea how difficult these courses are and how prepared students are when they sit for the exam.
AP scores range from 1 to 5, where 5 is highest. A score of 3 or higher is considered passing. (Colleges and universities choose which scores to accept for credit, so check with specific schools when the time comes.) We ranked each course separately by average score and by passing rate, then we averaged those rankings together to make one final list.
These 6 easiest AP classes to take, based on the result of AP exams, range from easier subjects to very specific interests. Don’t be afraid to use your own momentum to your advantage if you excel in subjects like physics or East Asian languages. Maybe you’ll use the study time you’ve saved to learn the 7 easiest Avenged Sevenfold songs to play on guitar. We hear they may be shopping for a drummer . . . Is AP Music Theory on our list? Check out for yourself!
6. AP Studio Art: 2-D Design
Average score: 3.2825, #9 overall
Average passing rate: 76.175%, #4 overall
In this course, students submit a portfolio of artwork in lieu of a traditional AP exam. That said, the College Board has strict criteria and rules that students need to follow, and portfolios are reviewed by a panel of art educators.
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5. AP Spanish Language
Average score: 3.4125, #6 overall
Average passing rate: 73.35%, #6 overall
Spanish is more relevant than ever as a job skill, and AP Spanish rewards students who’ve already spent quality time in high-school Spanish and are ready to take it to the next level. Language classes also have a clear sequence that makes it easier to move directly into second-year college Spanish.
4. AP Physics C: Mechanics
Average score: 3.495, #5 overall
Average passing rate: 75.425%, #5 overall
Don’t be misled — “mechanics” here is more like mechanical engineering than auto mechanics. This course’s high average score and passing rate may reflect student interest more than ease! But the students who commit to the course end up doing well.
3. AP Japanese Language
Average score: 3.5975, #3 overall
Average passing rates: 76.4%, #3 overall
East Asian languages gain more traction each year in American schools. For students who study Japanese, this course is a great way to skip the first year of college Japanese — and to be thoughtful participants in Japanese culture if they choose to study abroad.
2. AP Calculus BC
Average score: 3.795, #2 overall
Average passing: 80.9%, #2 overall
Calculus BC is the second level of AP exam in calculus, mapping more closely to second-year college calculus. Many fewer students make it to the BC exam, and those who do are very prepared to do well on the AP exam.
1. AP Chinese Language (Mandarin)
Average score: 4.47, #1 overall
Average passing rate: 95%, #1 overall
It’s hard to believe that one of the world’s most difficult languages to learn translates to the highest passing rate of any AP exam. But students lucky enough to take Mandarin Chinese language classes in high school have a huge advantage over later language learners. Believe it or not, AP Chinese language tops this list of easiest AP classes to take!
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