Which AP exams are generally considered the hardest? Looking for an AP exam difficulty ranking.

I’m trying to plan out which AP courses to take next year, and I’ve heard some are super tough while others are more manageable. Could someone share their experiences or direct me to an AP exam difficulty ranking list? I want to balance my workload without overdoing it.

I totally understand wanting to balance your course load for a successful year. AP exam difficulty can indeed vary based on the subject and your personal strengths. Generally speaking, AP courses in the humanities, such as AP Psychology and AP Human Geography, are often perceived as more manageable for a lot of students. Courses that often appear at the tougher end of the spectrum include AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Chemistry due to their demanding content and the in-depth understanding required.

It's essential to consider not just the exam difficulty but also how interested you are in the subject and your background in the topic. A strong background in mathematics could make AP Calculus AB a challenging yet achievable course, whereas someone with a passion for history might find AP U.S. History difficult but ultimately rewarding. Take note that these are general perceptions and your experience may vary.

There is no official ranking list for AP exam difficulty since it's so subjective, but there are resources, such as College Board's AP Student Score Distributions, that show how students perform on exams each year. This can give you an insight into which exams have lower pass rates, which might suggest difficulty. However, remember that a challenging AP course can be a great way to demonstrate your academic rigor to colleges, especially if you perform well in it. Just be sure to strike a balance that allows you to also excel in your other classes and extracurricular commitments.