If you're in high school, you've probably heard about AP classes. You might have even taken some already. But is all the hard work that goes into an AP class actually worth it? We think AP classes can be a great choice for students, as long as you're well prepared, get a lot out of the class, and align your schedule to work with your college goals. However, AP classes might not always be the best choice. Keep reading to learn when AP classes are a good idea and when they're wasting your time—as well as what steps you must take to build an optimal schedule. There are several compelling reasons to take AP classes in high school. We'll discuss the different ways taking AP classes can help you discover new interests and make you a competitive applicant for college. AP classes exist to expose high school students to college-level courses. Even though you're taking the class at your high school, AP classes tend to have harder, more detailed curriculums than your typical high school classes do. So if you're looking to take more difficult classes or want to impress college admissions offices with a rigorous schedule, AP classes can be a great way to up the rigor of your schedule. (As we've discussed in the past, AP classes are just one way to signal to colleges that you're taking the most challenging schedule available to you as a high school student.) AP classes are also useful for showing off a particular academic strength. For example, if you're strong in math, taking AP Calculus BC and getting a 5 on the test is a concrete way to demonstrate your skills to admissions committees. If you pass the AP test at the end of the school year (meaning you get a score of 3 or higher), you will be eligible to receive college credit for that test. This process can vary at different colleges. While some will grant you actual course credit, allowing you to graduate faster and therefore save time and money, others will use the AP credit to put you in harder classes as a freshman. Either way, AP credit can be very helpful! We recommend looking up the AP credit policies of schools you're interested in to get a better idea of how the AP classes you want to take could save you time and/or money in college. Maybe this isn't the most exciting reason, but taking AP classes can really improve your studying skills. Since AP classes culminate in a cumulative test at the end of the school year, you can't just go from unit to unit as you can in other high school classes. Rather, you need to ensure you're retaining information the whole year and have a foolproof study plan for the AP test! While any good AP teacher will include review sessions in their curriculum, since there is limited classroom time, students will inevitably have to do some studying on their own. Speaking from experience, I learned a lot of my time-management and study skills by taking AP classes in high school. Every year, I made my own study schedules in the spring to make sure I was prepared for each AP test. Making study schedules and sticking to them ultimately helped me develop more effective time-management skills, which were invaluable in college!
How AP Classes Can Be Worthwhile: 4 Benefits
#1: You Can Get a Challenging, Rigorous Academic Experience
#2: You Can Earn College Credit
#3: You Can Learn Time Management and Self-Study Skills
#4: You Can Explore New Interests
Although some AP classes build off a typical high school schedule (particularly the math, English, history, and science classes), many others are more specialized. Taking these AP classes can allow you to explore specific fields of study as a high school student.
Here are some examples of specialized AP classes:
- AP Micro and Macroeconomics
- Computer Science
- Psychology
- Art History
- Human Geography
- Statistics
While you can definitely take these courses in college, taking the AP version in high school gives you early exposure and can help you discover a unique academic interest.
A specialized AP class can also add a fun, interesting twist to your typical routine of math, English, science, and social studies.
How AP Classes Can Waste Your Time: 5 Scenarios
Taking AP classes can be helpful for a variety of reasons. But if you slack off, don't get much out of the material, or (worst of all) fail the exam, the AP program loses a lot of its benefits.
In this section, we give you some reasons why the AP program might not be the best choice, and offer tips for making the most of your schedule.
Scenario 1: You Fail the AP Test
While an AP class isn't a total waste if you fail the test—you still get the academic experience of a harder class, after all—it'll be much less beneficial. As we discussed, you need a passing score in order to get college credit for an AP class. Without a passing test score, your AP class will be a lot less useful.
What's more, colleges will look to see whether you passed the AP test. If you didn't pass, the AP class loses a lot of its admissions benefit. Even (or especially!) if you get an A in the class, that would just mean your class was too easy compared with those in the rest of the country.
In short, how good an AP class will be for you hinges on whether you pass the exam or not.
Scenario 2: AP Classes Ruin Your GPA
Even if you pass your AP tests, if AP classes dramatically drag down your GPA, they won't be worth taking.
Colleges want to see that you're taking the hardest classes available to you, but they also want to see that you're mostly succeeding and that you know your limits!
This doesn't mean that getting an A- in Calculus BC is a bad thing, though. (In fact, an A- in Calculus BC is more impressive than an A in regular Calculus.) What this does mean is that taking four AP classes and getting Cs in all of them will not look good.
As a general rule, don't worry about an AP class knocking your usual grades down one half step—that is, an A to an A-, or an A- to a B+. But if you see a full grade drop, even in one class (A to B, B to C, etc.) that's cause for concern. You should either make serious changes to your study schedule or, if you continue to struggle, consider dropping down to the regular course.
This is why not overloading and knowing your strengths is important when signing up for classes!
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Scenario 3: You Don't Get Much Out Of the Class
Even if you pass an AP class and the test, if you personally feel like you didn't learn much or if the class didn't improve your study skills, it might not have been worth it.
Even if you get college credit for a particular class, it won't be worth it if you decide to take the same version of that class in college. It's also not worth it if the class doesn't significantly improve your studying or academic skills. Since all AP classes have a pretty big cost in terms of time, if they're not serving to develop your academic interests or improve your skills, they're likely not worth taking.
This effect is more dramatic if you're overloading on AP classes: the fourth AP class you take in a year might not add as much to your skills as it's taking away from your time.
For example, if you're heading toward a humanities major in college (English, Economics, Political Science, etc.), trying to cram in AP Statistics and AP Calculus your senior year might not be helpful. You're not likely to do a lot of deep learning in either math class if you're also busy with college applications and other commitments. And if you don't do well in these math classes, you might have to retake one in college anyway.
Or, let's say you're a future computer science major going out of your way to fit in an AP Human Geography class, just so you can have another AP class. This, however, likely won't add much to your schedule, and if it's not a personal interest, you probably won't get much out of it.
To sum up, if you're taking an AP class just because it's AP, you should reconsider taking it.
You don't want to be this guy.
Scenario 4: AP Classes Become Your Main Extracurricular
While AP classes can be great—academically rigorous, cost effective, interesting—if they're taking away from the rest of your schedule, those benefits begin to shrink.
For example, if you neglect studying for the SAT/ACT because you're so busy with AP classes, this can really hurt your college admission chances. We strongly recommend taking adequate time to study for the SAT/ACT, since having a high score can greatly boost your college admission and scholarship chances.
Furthermore, if you stop getting involved in extracurriculars because you're too busy studying, that doesn't help your college applications, either. We're not saying you need to be a perfectly well-rounded student who's in 10 clubs. But we do think it's important to a have a few strongly developed interests—and overloading on AP classes can take away from that.
In short, AP classes should enhance your schedule and indicate your academic interests—they shouldn't be your chief extracurricular.
Scenario 5: You Burn Out in High School
Even if you do really well in all your AP classes, you need to have the big picture in mind. If you graduate senior year completely exhausted and struggle your freshman year of college, you're setting yourself up for a substandard college experience.
Remember that the goal of AP classes—and high school in general!—is to be prepared to do well in college. Taking one less AP class but staying more sane and balanced might actually help you more in college than overloading your schedule with APs.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by your AP schedule, don't feel bad about dropping an AP class. If dropping that class allows you to do better in your other classes and stick to your commitments, it will be better for you in the long run.
You don't want to be running on empty during your freshman year of college!
Next Steps: Should You Take AP Classes?
As you know, AP classes can give a huge boost to your college applications, but they can also hurt your college chances if you're not careful. So how do you make sure you're getting the most out of your AP classes? Follow the steps below to make sure your AP schedule is challenging but not overwhelming.
Step 1: Learn the Reputation of AP Classes at Your School
Learning the reputation of AP classes at your high school can help you decide if taking certain AP classes is worth your time. There is a huge amount of variation in how AP classes are taught at different high schools. You'll struggle if an AP class is poorly taught or overly difficult. On the flipside, a well-taught class might not only help you pass the AP test, but also help you discover a new academic interest.
Talk to your guidance counselor, older students, and other teachers at your school to get a sense of which AP classes have positive buzz—and which ones have a reputation of being overly hard or poorly taught.
Don't necessarily avoid a hard class, especially if it's in an area of interest for you. Also, don't sign up for multiple AP classes with especially tough reputations the same school year. But if an AP class has rave reviews at your school, strongly consider adding it to your schedule!
Step 2: Consider Your College Goals
Knowing your college goals can help you decide between AP classes or how many AP classes to take.
For example, if you're aiming for your local state school and want to complete as many general education requirements as possible during high school, you should focus on core subject AP classes, such as Calculus, Literature, Biology/Chemistry/Physics, and US History.
However, if you're trying to get into top colleges, you'll want to use AP classes to demonstrate your academic strengths. In this case, your AP classes might be more concentrated in either math/science or the social sciences/humanities, depending on your interests.
Check out our in-depth guide to learn more about choosing the right number of AP classes based on your college goals.
Step 3: Talk to Your Guidance Counselor
Your counselor will be able to help you come up with a challenging but manageable schedule. She'll also have a sense of your school's context, including how many AP classes students take on average, which teachers get the best AP test results, and how to build a challenging schedule that doesn't overload on AP.
Even if you don't have a close relationship with your counselor, it's her job to know about school context, and she has lots of important information. So don't be afraid to make an appointment and talk through your AP plans with your counselor!
Step 4: Remember the Big Picture
Your goal in high school is to learn as much as possible and be prepared for college. Taking one extra AP class is not going to dramatically affect your future, but cultivating a strong academic or extracurricular interest will.
Try to create a course load that is both challenging but reasonable, and definitely don't hesitate to drop something from your schedule—e.g., an AP class, a sport, volunteering—if you're feeling like you're reaching your breaking point!
What's Next?
Need more help picking AP classes? Learn about the hardest and easiest AP classes you can take.
AP classes are great, but they're not going to guarantee admission to college. Learn why a high SAT/ACT score is the best single way to improve your chance of admission to a competitive school.
Studying for the SAT or ACT? Check out our in-depth study guides to the SAT and ACT for expert tips and the best study materials available online!
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Halle Edwards
About the Author
Halle Edwards graduated from Stanford University with honors. In high school, she earned 99th percentile ACT scores as well as 99th percentile scores on SAT subject tests. She also took nine AP classes, earning a perfect score of 5 on seven AP tests. As a graduate of a large public high school who tackled the college admission process largely on her own, she is passionate about helping high school students from different backgrounds get the knowledge they need to be successful in the college admissions process.
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FAQs
Should I really take AP classes? ›
Students looking to earn admission to highly selective colleges should take multiple AP classes to bolster their applications and demonstrate they can handle challenging coursework. Some college admissions experts recommend taking as many as 7-12 AP courses before applying to the most elite universities.
Is it OK not to take AP classes? ›AP classes show colleges that you are challenging yourself, and can handle the academic rigor of a college-level course. Schools are aware of the amount of AP courses that are offered at your school and what level courses you take through your transcript. There isn't any harm if you don't take any AP classes.
Do colleges really look at AP classes? ›Most of the time, it is up to you whether a college will look at your AP exam scores during the admissions process. The vast majority of colleges do not require that you submit your scores at the time of application. If you scored a 4 or 5 on all of your AP exams then by all means self-report.
Does AP actually matter? ›High AP scores will definitely work in your favor, though they're far from the most important factor (test scores, transcripts, and your personal statement are all much more critical).
What are the cons of AP classes? ›- Coursework is time-consuming. When you enroll in an AP course, you should be aware that the work will take longer than that in regular-level classes. ...
- Exams are expensive. ...
- Many selective schools don't take AP credit.
- AP Physics 1. Despite a reputation as one of the most difficult AP classes, Physics 1 is also one of the most popular—144,526 students took it in 2022. ...
- AP U.S. History. AP U.S. History is one of the hardest AP classes in the humanities and in general. ...
- AP United States Government and Politics.
You may wonder whether colleges really care about AP classes. Worry not, because even though colleges do pay attention to AP exams, your scores, and the number of classes you've taken, they aren't the deciding factor on whether you get in.
Do colleges care if you don't take an AP exam? ›Perhaps the test was too expensive, or they couldn't make the exam date. It could also be because none of their potential colleges accept AP credits. Either way, colleges will not look down on you for abstaining from taking the exam.
Is it OK to take no AP classes in high school? ›You don't need to take an AP course in order to take the exam and potentially earn college credit with a score of 4 or higher. Companies like Kaplan, Princeton Review, Tutor.com, and Knovva Academy offer online test prep courses and tutoring for students to prepare for AP exams.
Do colleges prefer AP or honors? ›Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.
What is the most popular AP class? ›
- AP English Language and Composition.
- AP United States History.
- AP Psychology.
- AP Calculus AB.
- AP Spanish Language and Culture.
While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class. This boost can prove particularly useful if you want to challenge yourself with more difficult training without punishing your GPA.
Do colleges care about bad AP scores? ›If you opt to send it before taking the test, the college will receive it, but it likely will not be weighed in their decision. According to the College Board, over 75% of admissions officers surveyed said that a poor AP score would have no impact on an application.
Are AP classes worth it in high school? ›AP classes can boost your GPA and strengthen your college application. But the number of advanced courses you choose to take should depend on your academic interests and your schedule.
Why do schools push AP classes? ›They allow students to explore more advanced subjects, get a taste of college-level work and even amass college credits if they pass the AP exams. Success in AP courses, which are developed by the nonprofit College Board, can boost a student's transcript and save families thousands of dollars on college tuition.
Why do high schools push AP classes? ›Beyond the statistics, supporters of AP say the demands of the classes prepare students for the work they will do in college and give them an opportunity to study subjects, such as macroeconomics and psychology, that aren't included in the standard high school curriculum.
How many AP classes is too much? ›Aim for four to eight AP exams in your junior and senior years. For competitive Ivy League schools, admission officers also want to see AP courses for core subject areas and additional courses. If possible, aim to pass about seven to 12 AP exams if applying to these highly selective schools.
What is the easiest AP to pass? ›- Physics C: Mechanics. 84.3% 41.6%
- Calculus BC. 81.6% 44.6%
- Spanish Literature. 75.1% 17.6%
- Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. 74.4% 40.4%
- Physics 2. 73.3% 14.0%
- Computer Science Principles. 71.6% 10.9%
- Psychology. 71.3% 22.4%
- Computer Science A. 70.4% 25.6%
All AP exams have a passing rate of at least 50%. The most failed AP exams are 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).
What AP class has the highest passing rate? ›What GPA is an A in an AP class? ›
Many schools treat AP classes differently when calculating a student's grade point average (GPA). Rather than the traditional 4.0 scale, AP classes are weighted on a 5.0 scale — in an AP class, an A is equivalent to 5.0 instead of 4.0, and a B is equal to 4.0 instead of 3.0.
Can I get into Ivy League without AP? ›The Ivy leagues don't discriminate if your school doesn't offer you AP classes. However, if your school offers AP classes and you don't take the opportunity to take them all they will notice that and it's not a good thing. This really depends on how many your school offers.
How many AP classes should I take in junior year? ›Junior Year
Depending on what kind of school you want to go to, you should be taking between 3 and 5 AP® classes this year. You will need to manage your time well, however, as you also need to study for the SAT® or ACT® during this time.
What happens if you fail an AP exam? If you fail an AP exam, you will not receive college credit for that course. The good news is that a failed exam does not affect your GPA. In addition, you can retake the AP exam the next year.
Is it too late to take AP in senior year? ›No, it is not too late to start taking AP classes in your senior year. When you send your high school transcript, it will have the classes you are taking, and in some cases, schools will ask for your midterm grades. AP classes shows your ability to take college courses.
Are AP exams worth it senior year? ›Seniors By May of your senior year, you'll already know which college you're attending in the fall. Because the AP exams can play no role in the admissions process at the time you take them, you should only take the AP exams if you plan to attend a school that will accept AP scores for college credit.
Does dropping an AP class in high school look bad? ›As mentioned above, in most cases it's OK to drop a class, especially if you haven't dropped a class before. Colleges understand that sometimes circumstances change, and having one dropped class on your transcript won't hurt your college applications.
Should I take an AP class in 9th grade? ›Yes, as long as you are prepared to complete college-level work. Read more about prerequisites and other rules. AP Human Geography is a popular AP course for 9th grade, and AP Seminar, AP Computer Science Principles, AP European History, and AP World History are popular for 10th.
Are B's in AP classes good? ›If you take AP classes and get B's, don't worry too much. Colleges take the difficulty of your classes into consideration, and a lot of admissions officers are impressed by students who challenge themselves with the tougher courses.
Do colleges look at 10th grade? ›Colleges will look at your sophomore grades, whether it's to see if you maintained an acceptable GPA or improved from the year before. Getting a headstart with strong grades and challenging school work alongside extracurricular activities can make all the difference when you reach your senior year.
Is a B+ in an AP class good? ›
Colleges definitely prefer the B+ in an honors/AP class. Honestly, colleges don't give a crap about regular classes unless it is a mediocre or low quality college. Colleges will understand if you got a B+ in a harder class because it is harder and it is still almost an A.
Do AP classes matter senior year? ›While you don't have to take all of the AP classes your school offers, taking a few, especially during junior year or senior year, will definitely boost your college applications.
Is 17 AP classes too much? ›To be competitive at some of the most highly selective colleges in the country, 8-12 AP courses may be the sweet spot amount, assuming the student can handle that level of rigor. There are no colleges out there that require you to take 14, 17, or some other obscene number of Advanced Placement offerings.
Should I take 5 AP classes senior year? ›Take as many as you can handle without spreading yourself thin, and make sure you will have time to study for the ACT or SAT this year. An Ivy League hopeful might take 3 to 5 AP classes, while if you're aiming for less-selective schools, 2 to 4 would be enough.
What are the two hardest AP classes? ›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. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material.
Should I take an AP class in 10th grade? ›Students can take AP courses and exams as early as 9th grade, but this is rarely recommended. Certain AP subjects, such as European History and World History, are great choices for 10th graders, but most AP classes are best suited to high school juniors and seniors.
What are the least popular AP classes? ›- 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)
Honors English = B+ (3.8 x 1.0) = 3.8. Algebra II. = B+ (3.3 x 1.0) = 3.3. AP US History = B+ (4.3 x 1.0) = 4.3.
What is a C+ in an AP class? ›However, our son thinks taking AP bio in junior year makes more sense since AP biology tends to be relatively 'easier' than AP chemistry for most kids and his next year classes are rigorous.
What is a good AP score for Ivy League? ›
It is routine for Ivy League admissions officers to review applications from students who have scored 5s on multiple AP tests.
Should I send AP score of 3? ›You don't need to send or self-report anything lower than a 3. Those 3s probably won't hurt you, and your 4s and 5s could help you because some schools do use AP scores to help as they evaluate your application. AP scores can supplement and boost grades and your other test scores that might not be as strong.
Do AP students do better in college? ›While colleges definitely seek out students whose transcripts are peppered with plenty of Advanced Placement courses, the AP exam scores are unlikely to have a significant impact on your odds of admission.
How much harder is AP classes than normal classes? ›In general, there is a lot of material to cover in AP classes, so they tend to be more challenging than regular classes—especially courses like AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP Physics, US and World History, and English. These are all much harder than their regular or honors equivalents.
What percent of high schoolers take an AP? ›The Growth of AP Over the Last 10 Years
Amid disruptions caused by the pandemic, 1,178,256 U.S. public high school graduates in the class of 2021 (34.9%) took at least 1 AP Exam, up from 898,134 (28.6%) in the class of 2011.
While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class.
What are the cons of taking AP classes in high school? ›AP students must go above and beyond in their efforts to study and perform well. The material will be more demanding, there will be more reading, and the grading will be harder. As such, AP classes are on a different scale than that of general classes.
Do colleges care about AP classes senior year? ›Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.
Is it bad to not take AP classes sophomore year? ›Doesn't matter. Plenty of schools have no AP classes even open to sophomores or only have one or two. All those AP classes are absolutely meaningless unless your family is wealthy enough to send you to a top school.
What GPA is a B+ in an AP class? ›...
Here's how to calculate your weighted GPA.
Is AP or honors harder? ›
AP classes, however, are more challenging than honors classes. These courses cover information, teach skills and give assignments that correspond to college classes. High school students taking AP courses will be held to the same standard as college students.
What GPA is an A in AP class? ›Many schools treat AP classes differently when calculating a student's grade point average (GPA). Rather than the traditional 4.0 scale, AP classes are weighted on a 5.0 scale — in an AP class, an A is equivalent to 5.0 instead of 4.0, and a B is equal to 4.0 instead of 3.0.
Do colleges care if I get a B in an AP class? ›If you take AP classes and get B's, don't worry too much. Colleges take the difficulty of your classes into consideration, and a lot of admissions officers are impressed by students who challenge themselves with the tougher courses.
Can you still get into Harvard without AP classes? ›However, if your high school only offers regular coursework, remember that Harvard will be looking at the overall type of courses your school offers! It's not an automatic rejection if you were never able to take AP courses.
Does AP look bad on transcript? ›AP scores have very, very little impact on college admissions, especially if the exam has nothing to do with your major. If you don't report, they probably won't really notice. They can't assume you failed, as maybe you never took the exam in the first place. They care more about your grade in the class.