Choosing your AP classes can be a challenge — especially if you’re aiming for a high GPA, strong college applications, and possibly earning college credit. Some AP courses have a reputation for being much tougher than others, whether due to their content, pace, or workload.
This guide will rank the hardest AP classes based on College Board data, pass rates, and student feedback, and give you tips for tackling them successfully.
How We Ranked the Hardest AP Classes
Our rankings are based on three main factors:
- Pass Rate – Percentage of students scoring 3 or higher
- Percentage of Students Scoring a 5 – Shows how often perfect scores are achieved
- Workload – Hours of homework, reading, and preparation required weekly
Hardest AP Classes Ranked
- AP Physics 1
- Low pass rate and one of the lowest percentages of 5s among all AP exams
- Heavy on algebra-based physics concepts and problem-solving skills
- Requires a deep understanding of mechanics, energy, waves, and electricity
- AP United States History (APUSH)
- Demands mastery of U.S. history from the colonial period to the present
- Includes multiple essays: DBQ, LEQ, and SAQs under strict time limits
- High content load with an emphasis on critical analysis
- AP Chemistry
- Complex concepts in stoichiometry, thermodynamics, equilibrium, and kinetics
- Requires both conceptual understanding and mathematical problem-solving
- Frequent lab work and high memorization demands
- AP English Literature and Composition (AP Lit)
- Focuses on analyzing prose, poetry, and drama
- Requires mastery of literary devices, close reading, and essay writing under time pressure
