Ranking AP Classes Relative to Their Difficulty

Howdy, fellow students. I've been browsing through a list of AP classes at my school that I might take next year. But dang, there's quite a bunch and I'm unsure which ones would be considered more challenging. Is there a method or a resource for ranking these AP classes in terms of difficulty, maybe based on workload, type of content, or general student feedback?

Hello! The difficulty of an AP course tends to vary considerably based on the high school offering it and the teacher leading the class. For instance, at one school, AP English Literature could be notorious for its intense workload and challenging assessments, while at another school, it may be seen as one of the more laid-back AP classes on offer.

That being said, there are some resources for gauging the relative difficulty of AP courses on a broader scale. For instance, College Board provides an AP Course and Exam description for each AP class which details the course content, skills students will learn, and the format of the AP exam.

Additionally, there is student feedback reported by surveys like those taken by Trevor Packer, the head of the AP Program, that share the percent of students receiving each score on the national exam - these can give you a broad sense of the difficulty level when actually taking the AP test.

It might also be helpful to reach out to older students at your school or speak with the teachers who teach these AP classes to get a sense of the workload and class expectations. Certain classes may align better with your strengths or interests, which would inherently make them seem less difficult compared to a class in a subject area you find more challenging.

Remember to take into account your other responsibilities and commitments throughout the school year when selecting your AP courses - not just the perceived difficulty. This will ensure a balanced schedule that allows for optimal academic performance and personal wellbeing. Good luck with your decision!