Every year, students wonder which AP exams are “easiest” or “hardest” to pass. While the difficulty depends on your personal strengths, College Board score trends reveal which AP exams consistently have the highest pass rates — and which ones challenge students the most.
This guide covers:
- What AP score trends are
- Which AP exams have the highest pass rates
- Which AP exams have the lowest pass rates
- How to interpret pass rate data when choosing classes
Understanding AP Score Trends
- Pass rate = percentage of students scoring 3 or higher on the 1–5 AP scale
- Data is released annually by the College Board
- Trends vary year to year but often show consistent patterns for certain subjects
AP Exams with the Highest Pass Rates
While these rates don’t mean the classes are “easy,” they do suggest students are more likely to earn passing scores:
- AP Chinese Language and Culture – Often above 85% pass rate, but most test-takers are native speakers
- AP Calculus BC – Around 75–80% pass rate, usually taken by strong math students
- AP Physics C: Mechanics – Often 75% or higher, typically taken by advanced STEM students
- AP Drawing – Pass rates around 85%, but grading is portfolio-based
- AP Research – Around 75% pass rate, project-based rather than exam-based
AP Exams with the Lowest Pass Rates
These exams often challenge students due to heavy content loads or complex skills:
- AP Physics 1 – Pass rates around 40–45%, with a high volume of abstract concepts
