What are the “Easiest” AP Classes?

By College Raptor StaffPublished on May 20, 2025

Key Takeaways

  • Taking AP classes is great for boosting your GPA, allows you to earn college credit, and helps you stand out on college applications.
  • Based on the 2024 score distributions, these are the ten AP classes that the majority of students scored a 3 or higher on: AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP Research, AP Seminar, AP Drawing, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP 2D Art and Design, AP Calculus BC, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Chemistry, and AP Precalculus.
  • However, when it comes to choosing the “easiest” AP classes for you, it is going to come down to focusing on your interests, strengths, and goals.

Student studying to earn college credits in high school.

Thinking about taking an AP class, but want to make sure you are actually going to pass? You might be thinking about which AP class will be the easiest for you. After all, taking an easy AP class is a sure way to help boost your GPA, earn you college credit, and help your application stand out to college admission officers.

However, with 40 AP classes to choose from, it can be hard at first glance to know which ones are considered “easy.” While the scale of “easy” is going to look different for everyone, there are a few ways to determine which ones are the easiest AP classes.

What Is an AP Class?

An Advanced Placement (AP) class is a college-level course that you take while still in high school. They provide a challenging academic experience and allow you to start getting familiar with what a college workload looks like. At the end of your course, you’ll take an AP exam that has multiple-choice and free-response questions. You have the opportunity to earn a score of 1-5, with many schools giving college credit for a score of 4 or 5.

The Benefits of Taking AP Classes

You might be wondering why you would need to take college-level courses before actually attending college. Here are the benefits of signing up for an AP class:

  • Challenge Yourself: These are college-level courses, which means the curriculum is more rigorous. Taking an AP class is a great way to challenge yourself academically to see what you are capable of accomplishing.
  • Earn College Credit: If you do well enough on the final exam, you may earn college credit for the course, meaning you don’t have to take the class once you get to college. This could save you tuition money!
  • Boost Your GPA: AP classes are typically weighted, which means you could earn above a 4.0 if you do extremely well.
  • Learn Something New: Oftentimes, AP courses allow you to learn something that your high school might not offer in regular classes, such as Japanese or environmental science. This is a great opportunity to study something you may want to continue pursuing in college.
  • Stand Out on Applications: Taking AP classes show colleges that you are willing to challenge yourself and this is something they like to see. They want to know that you are going to put yourself out there academically once you get to campus.

What AP Classes Are Available?

There are 40 AP classes, and they fall into seven subject categories. Note that not every high school will offer all 40 classes, however, you may be able to take one online that interests you. Make sure you talk to your guidance counselor to discuss your options.

AP Capstone Diploma Program

  • About the AP Capstone Diploma Program
  • AP Research
  • AP Seminar

Arts

  • About the AP Art and Design Program
  • AP 2-D Art and Design
  • AP 3-D Art and Design
  • AP Drawing
  • AP Art History
  • AP Music Theory

English

  • AP English Language and Composition
  • AP English Literature and Composition

History and Social Sciences

  • AP African American Studies
  • AP Comparative Government and Politics
  • AP European History
  • AP Human Geography
  • AP Macroeconomics
  • AP Microeconomics
  • AP Psychology
  • AP United States Government and Politics
  • AP United States History
  • AP World History: Modern

Math and Computer Science

  • AP Calculus AB
  • AP Calculus BC
  • About the AP Computer Science Courses
  • AP Computer Science A
  • AP Computer Science Principles
  • AP Precalculus
  • AP Statistics

Sciences

  • AP Biology
  • AP Chemistry
  • AP Environmental Science
  • AP Physics 1: Algebra-Based
  • AP Physics 2: Algebra-Based
  • AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
  • AP Physics C: Mechanics

AP World Languages and Cultures

  • AP Chinese Language and Culture
  • AP French Language and Culture
  • AP German Language and Culture
  • AP Italian Language and Culture
  • AP Japanese Language and Culture
  • AP Latin
  • AP Spanish Language and Culture
  • AP Spanish Literature and Culture

What Are the Easiest AP Classes?

This question is tricky because the answer isn’t straightforward. The truth is, what might be an “easy” class for you doesn’t mean it’s easy for someone else. While you might loathe calculus, it might feel like learning the ABCs for someone else. However, we can look at the AP score distributions from 2024 to gauge what the easiest AP classes might be based on how many students passed with a 3 or higher:

Top 10 “Easiest” AP Classes

  1. AP Chinese Language and Culture (88.6%)
  2. AP Research (86.1%)
  3. AP Seminar (85.7%)
  4. AP Drawing (83.8%)
  5. AP Spanish Language and Culture (82.9%)
  6. AP 2D Art and Design (82.8%)
  7. AP Calculus BC (80.9%)
  8. AP Physics C: Mechanics (76.3%)
  9. AP Chemistry (75.6%)
  10. AP Precalculus (75.6%)

How To Choose the Easiest AP Classes

When it comes to picking the easiest AP classes, it will vary from student to student. However, there are a few tips that can help you choose which is going to be the best for you:

Choose AP Classes That Align With Your Interests and Goals

Before just signing up for any AP course, you should first see what your high school offers and then jot down the ones that make the most sense for your future. For example, if you plan to go to medical school, you might consider taking AP Chemistry or AP Biology so that you can start to get a feel for what the course load might look like.

You can also choose to take an AP class if it piques your interest. For instance, if French language and culture have always intrigued you, you may decide to sign up for that class. And who knows, it may even lead to you choosing that as your major.

Choose AP Classes With a Reputable Teacher

Talk to your peers and see what they did or did not like about a certain teacher. Maybe they explain things really clearly, or their tests are super tough. Getting the inside scoop from other students can help you make an informed decision before signing up. The chances are, if a teacher comes highly recommended, you’re likely to do better in their class.

Choose AP Classes Based on Your Strengths—Not Weaknesses

Just because your friends all signed up for AP Literature doesn’t mean you need to as well. If you don’t like reading or writing essays, you need to be able to say, “This is not the class for me.” Ask yourself (and maybe chat with your guidance counselor) these questions to help you understand if a class is going to be for you or not:

  • Do I enjoy the kind of work this class will require me to do?
  • Have I done well in similar subjects before?
  • Will this class challenge me in a good way—or just stress me out?

You don’t have to take every class—just the ones that are a good fit for you.

Tips for Acing Your AP Classes

You are capable of succeeding in any AP course you take, but you have to be willing to put in the work. Here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help you along the way:

  • Time Management: Remember, AP classes are college-level work, meaning they demand more than your typical high school workload. You’ll need to learn some time management strategies that work for you so that you keep your stress manageable.
  • Studying: Even if you’ve gotten by with minimal studying in the past—that is not going to work with your AP courses. These classes require consistent effort, so figure out a routine that allows you to review regularly. This way, when the final exam rolls around, you feel well-prepared.
  • Organization: Keep all notes, assignments, and handouts in order so that you can easily find what you need, when you need it. Keeping all your coursework neat and tidy will save you time—and headaches—when it comes time to study.
  • Tutoring: There is no shame in asking for help. If you get stuck, talk to your teacher, join a study group, or get a tutor.

Choosing the easiest AP class is going to look different for everyone. What comes naturally to you might be someone else’s biggest challenge—and vice versa. While there are certain AP classes that the majority of students tend to do well in, that doesn’t guarantee that it will feel easy for you. It is best to assess your future goals, strengths, and weaknesses before signing up for a class. When selecting an AP class, make sure you choose something that fits you.

Easy might be subjective when choosing AP courses, but you know what’s actually easy? Finding colleges that are a perfect fit for you. Check out College Raptor’s College Match tool and find schools that match your goals, test scores, location, and more.

By College Raptor Staff
Applying to college can be challenging, and so we at College Raptor feel it's our duty to make that process as easy, smooth, and rewarding as possible. We work hard to clarify dense material, dispel myths, uncover information, and help you learn what you need to know!

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