Sometimes kids just take the class, because they feel it's necessary when you see so many kids on sites like this with 5+ a year. These are also rated among the hardest and most time-consuming AP exams, so taking these on as self-study is not to be taken lightly – good luck! So what about the classes themselves? If you're looking at competitive schools with very high standards, you will want to push yourself and sign up for the most challenging classes. (See our post on which AP class you should take to learn more about scoping out classes.). If you sign up for too many AP courses at one time, you are limiting the amount of time you can devote to studying for each exam. Spanish 3 honors 5. If you’re interested in AP courses, aim for 2-3 per year– not per semester. Well , all I have to say is that if they ut you in this class than it means you really belong there. If you are studying for a test with a particularly low pass or 5 rate, be sure to do plenty of multiple-choice and free-response practice so you can get that top score. ", the answer depends on a few factors. It doesn't seem like much, but reinforcing info (especially for classes that require memorizing) is important to learning so much in a quick amount of time. For example, if you're wondering, "Is AP Biology hard? Note that a lot of AP classes self-select for motivated students or students with experience in a subject—especially the ones with ridiculously high pass rates, such as Chinese, Physics, and Spanish. And if you are taking three or four AP courses at one time, there is a good chance that one of them will consume much of your time and leave you with little time for the others. Elective courses are extra courses that take up time but don’t necessarily move you forward to graduation. Don’t take random AP® classes for the sake of beefing up your transcript. That situation can lead to unnecessary struggles and eventual dropout. With so many hard classes, you have to be efficient with your time and that means making every minute as productive as possible. On the other hand, that same college may award credit for AP Psychology and Art History. Why Would Colleges Refuse to Give Credit? A low pass rate taken at face value indicates a harder test; however, sometimes classes that are more popular have artificially low pass rates because there's a higher proportion of under-prepared students in the testing pool. Is AP Psychology hard? You are juggling … Of course, getting an A in an AP class is ideal. Or you may have relied on your intelligence and avoided studying completely. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Some colleges incorporate state history or state government into their own US history and, Some of the courses that are offered as AP courses simply don't appear in a certain college's curriculum. In the past, you may have coasted through your high school classes with minimal effort and occasional cram sessions. "So I think you're wondering whether he should take the AP English class as a senior, or if he should be allowed to step down to the college-bound level. AP European history 3. Also, notice that exams with some of the lowest passing rates, such as Environmental Science and Human Geography, are ones many students say are the easiest. • Additional Homework In my high school career, the difference between outside homework for a regular class and an advanced class can be substantial. In high school, she earned 99th percentile ACT scores as well as 99th percentile scores on SAT subject tests. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? AP exams can be very hard depending on the course you are taking. Some teachers won't assign a lot of work but will expect you to study on your own. AP class difficulty also varies a lot from teacher to teacher. Others will keep you busy with nightly assignments, practice tests, and projects. It's not like taking an AP or Honors class is MANDATORY right? Whatever you’re studying, wishing you every success in … Factor 2: 5 Rate Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: © PrepScholar 2013-2018. That your AP scores push through the first marking period, and Physics C – Electricity Magnetism... Fact that your AP course was tougher than a way to do so AP test 's pass rate in.... 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