Ranking all 40 AP classes from Tier S (the highest) down to Tier F (the lowest).
Choosing which Advanced Placement (AP) classes to take can be overwhelming. With 40 AP courses available, it helps to know which ones offer the biggest benefits. This AP Tier List ranks all AP classes from Tier S (the highest) down to Tier F (the lowest). The ranking considers several factors:
How to Use This Tier List: Higher-tier courses (S or A) are generally the most valuable — they are rigorous, look great on applications, and often earn useful credit. Lower-tier courses (E or F) might be considered easier or less impactful overall. That does not mean they have no value; any AP can strengthen your schedule and interests. But if you are aiming to maximize your time and effort, this list can guide you. Always balance these rankings with your own interests and strengths — enjoying a subject can make even a hard class worth it, and colleges know you will do best in classes you care about. For more information on AP scoring, check our AP score range guide. Now, let us break down the tiers!
For quick reference, here is a table listing all 40 AP courses and their assigned tier in our ranking:
| AP Course | Tier |
|---|---|
| Tier S - The Elite APs | |
| AP Calculus BC | S |
| AP Chemistry | S |
| AP English Literature & Composition | S |
| AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism | S |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | S |
| AP United States History | S |
| Tier A - Excellent Choices | |
| AP Biology | A |
| AP Calculus AB | A |
| AP English Language & Composition | A |
| AP European History | A |
| AP Spanish Language & Culture | A |
| AP World History: Modern | A |
| Tier B - Strong Options | |
| AP African American Studies | B |
| AP Art History | B |
| AP Chinese Language and Culture | B |
| AP Computer Science A | B |
| AP French Language and Culture | B |
| AP German Language and Culture | B |
| AP Italian Language and Culture | B |
| AP Japanese Language and Culture | B |
| AP Latin | B |
| AP Macroeconomics | B |
| AP Microeconomics | B |
| AP Spanish Literature & Culture | B |
| Tier C - Solid Choices | |
| AP Physics 1 | C |
| AP Physics 2 | C |
| AP Statistics | C |
| Tier D - Average Value | |
| AP Music Theory | D |
| AP Precalculus | D |
| AP Psychology | D |
| AP Research (Capstone) | D |
| AP Seminar (Capstone) | D |
| AP United States Government & Politics | D |
| Tier E - Lower Value | |
| AP 2-D Art and Design | E |
| AP 3-D Art and Design | E |
| AP Computer Science Principles | E |
| AP Drawing (Art and Design) | E |
| AP Environmental Science | E |
| Tier F - Lowest Value | |
| AP Comparative Government & Politics | F |
| AP Human Geography | F |
Tier S includes the AP classes that are most highly regarded for their rigor and benefits. These courses are the gold standard — they challenge you at the college level and signal academic excellence to admissions officers. They often cover core subjects deeply and can earn substantial college credit if you score well. These classes are hard work, but they carry the biggest "wow" factor on a transcript.
Covers a full year of college-level calculus (Calc I & II). It is one of the most advanced math courses available in high school. Doing well demonstrates top-tier math ability and preparation for STEM majors. Many colleges grant credit for Calc I (and sometimes II) with a high AP score. Rigor: Very high — moves fast and expects strong math skills.
Two separate exams, both calculus-based physics. AP Physics C is considered among the hardest AP courses, but also the most respected for future engineers and physics majors. You will tackle college-level physics topics with calculus, showing exceptional analytical skills. Credit: Often can place you out of introductory physics in college if you score well.
A deep, college-level chemistry course with lab work. It demands strong math and problem-solving. AP Chem covers atomic structure, reactions, thermodynamics, and more in great detail. It is highly valued for STEM fields (pre-med, engineering, etc.) and often yields college credit for general chemistry.
The pinnacle of high school English. You will analyze literary works and write critical essays. It is challenging due to the volume of reading and depth of analysis. AP Lit is one of the harder AP exams to score a 5 on, reflecting its rigor. Success in AP Lit shows advanced reading comprehension and writing skills, valued by virtually all college programs.
A comprehensive study of U.S. history that is known for heavy reading and writing. It is one of the most popular APs (nearly half a million take it yearly) and also one of the toughest humanities APs. The exam pass rate is among the lowest (around 48% in 2022), indicating its difficulty. Mastering APUSH shows you can handle college-level historical analysis.
Tier S summary: These APs are high-risk, high-reward. They require lots of effort, but in return they offer the greatest boost to your GPA and admissions profile. S-tier classes demonstrate intellectual maturity and willingness to take on challenges.
Tier A courses are excellent AP classes that still offer substantial benefits in rigor and college prep, just a notch below S-tier. They tend to be core academic subjects as well, covering important ground and impressing colleges, but they might be slightly less intense or universally valued than S-tier courses.
Focuses on rhetoric, non-fiction, and effective writing. It is usually taken before AP Lit and is extremely popular. AP Lang is not easy, but it is a bit more straightforward than AP Lit. It is highly useful: you build college-level writing skills and many universities grant credit for freshman writing courses if you score well.
A comprehensive biology course covering cellular processes, genetics, evolution, ecology, and more. It involves a lot of memorization and conceptual understanding. AP Bio is challenging (lots of labs and details) but not quite as math-heavy as AP Chem or Physics. It is essential for aspiring biology or pre-med students.
Covers the first semester of college calculus (differential and basic integral calculus). It is a rigorous math course, though not as fast-paced as Calc BC. A strong score often earns credit for Calc I. This AP shows you are willing to challenge yourself in math, which is great for STEM and business majors.
A global history course covering from 1200 CE to present. It is broad in scope, which means a lot of content, but less depth on each nation compared to APUSH. It requires good essay writing and the ability to connect historical themes across regions. Colleges appreciate seeing a world perspective.
Covers European history from the Renaissance to modern times. Similar in format to APUSH and AP World (document analysis essays, lots of content). It is typically as challenging as AP World, though usually taken as an elective. Excelling in AP Euro shows strong interest in history and solid analytical abilities.
A rigorous language course for students who have typically had 3-4 years of Spanish. Reaching AP level in a language demonstrates serious commitment and proficiency. A good score can often fulfill college language requirements or place you into advanced Spanish classes.
Tier A summary: These courses are highly respected and quite challenging, just shy of the S-tier. They build strong skills in core areas like English, math, science, and history. Taking Tier A APs can significantly boost the rigor of your transcript.
Tier B AP classes are solid choices that generally carry above-average value. They might be a bit more specialized, slightly less rigorous, or not as universally essential as Tier S/A courses, but they still look good on transcripts.
An AP math class focused on data analysis, probability, and statistical inference. It is often seen as easier than calculus, but it is still an AP math course that strengthens analytical skills. It is valuable for social science, business, or biology interests. Colleges often give credit for an introductory statistics course if you score a 4 or 5.
Two separate half-year AP courses (often taken together across one year). They cover basic economic principles. Both are not too difficult if you grasp the concepts, making them popular add-ons in junior or senior year. They are quite beneficial and can fulfill introductory econ requirements at many colleges.
A programming-focused course (in Java). It is essentially an intro computer science class, covering algorithms, data structures, and problem solving through coding. If you are into programming or engineering, AP CSA is a great pick and demonstrates technical skill.
A new AP course focusing on African American history, culture, and contributions. It is interdisciplinary and covers a lot of important material. Taking it shows intellectual curiosity and cultural awareness.
An in-depth survey of art through the ages around the world. Students study 250+ artworks, learning to analyze style, historical context, and meaning. It is a challenging course (lots of memorization and essay writing). AP Art History is an impressive elective if you have interest in art or history.
Taking any foreign language to the AP level is commendable. These courses require advanced proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking (except Latin, which focuses on translation). They can fulfill language requirements or place you into higher-level classes in college. Among these, AP Latin and AP Spanish Literature are known to be particularly tough.
Tier B summary: Tier B AP classes are generally impressive and useful, though they may be more elective or specialized compared to Tier A. These courses often round out a rigorous schedule.
Tier C AP courses are middle-of-the-road in terms of difficulty and impact. They are genuine AP classes that will boost your weighted GPA and teach you a lot, but they are either not especially rigorous or not especially valued beyond the GPA boost and potential credit.
These are algebra-based introductory physics courses (Physics 1 covers mechanics and basic circuits; Physics 2 covers fluids, thermodynamics, electricity, optics, etc.). They are often taken by students not ready for or not needing the calculus-based Physics C. Physics 1 has one of the lowest pass rates of any AP exam (only ~43% pass), but conceptually they are middle-tier: easier content than Physics C, but still challenging.
While useful, AP Stats is actually one of the more accessible AP math classes. It involves less abstract math than calculus, focusing instead on interpreting data and using formulas. It is a great AP to have, especially if you are headed into fields like psychology, business, or biology where statistics knowledge is a plus.
This course examines the structure and function of the U.S. government, the Constitution, political parties, and policy-making. It is often a one-semester class and is typically considered one of the easier AP humanities courses. AP Gov requires understanding of key concepts and Supreme Court cases, but the content is more straightforward than APUSH or AP Euro.
Tier C summary: These AP classes are respectable but not exceptional in the eyes of admissions. They demonstrate you are doing AP-level work, but they will not carry the same weight as an AP Chem or AP Lit.
Tier D includes AP courses that are okay to take but generally have lower impact on your admissions portfolio. These tend to be either specialized courses that not everyone needs, or APs known to be on the easier side.
These two make up the AP Capstone program. AP Seminar teaches research, argumentation, and presentation skills, and AP Research has you design and conduct an in-depth research project. They are skills-focused rather than content-focused. While completing the AP Capstone program earns a special diploma, colleges vary in how impressed they are by it. There is usually no direct college credit given for these.
This is a specialized AP for students who are serious about music. It covers music notation, harmony, ear training, sight-singing, and music analysis. AP Music Theory is not broadly applicable or valued unless relevant to your major. Take it if you love music and want to deepen your understanding.
A new AP course (first exams 2024) that covers advanced algebra, trigonometry, and other precalculus topics in depth. It is easier than AP Calculus since it is preparing you for calculus rather than doing calculus. Its college credit potential is uncertain; many selective colleges do not award credit for precalc since they consider it high school level.
AP Psych is famous as an easy and fun AP. Many students enjoy the class because it covers interesting topics about human behavior and the brain. While it is considered one of the easiest APs, it is hugely popular (over a quarter million students take it each year). It is enriching and useful, just not impressive by itself.
Tier D summary: Tier D AP classes are mostly electives or skill-based courses that you might take for personal interest or specific goals. They typically do not carry as much weight for showing academic rigor to colleges.
Tier E APs are those generally regarded as easier AP classes or very niche ones that contribute little to a competitive profile beyond the surface level. In terms of admissions impact, these are low.
Often called "AP Easy" by students, this science AP covers ecology, earth science, environmental policies, and human impacts on the planet. It is interdisciplinary and much less math-intensive than AP Physics or Chem. In college admissions, APES is generally considered one of the easier APs. It is great if you are interested in environmental issues, but if it is your only AP science, it will not carry the same weight as AP Bio/Chem/Phys.
This course is an introduction to computing without heavy coding. It has one of the highest pass rates (around 70-80%+). AP CSP was designed to be an inclusive, beginner-friendly AP. It is a fantastic course to take if you want to dip your toes into computer science. For someone already experienced in coding, CSP will feel very easy.
These are portfolio-based AP courses for creative students. Instead of a written exam, you submit a portfolio of artwork. These classes are time-consuming but not academically challenging in the traditional sense. They are ideal if you are passionate about art; outside of art-focused paths, an admissions reader will not weigh an AP Art as heavily as AP Calculus or AP English.
Tier E summary: Tier E APs are low-impact in terms of impressing colleges. They can be thought of as "dessert" APs: a sweet addition to your schedule, but not the main course.
Tier F is the bottom tier, reserved for AP courses that offer the least bang for your buck. These are widely regarded as the easiest AP classes available or ones with very narrow benefit.
Often taken by freshmen or sophomores as their first AP, "AP Huge" is commonly cited as the easiest AP class. It is basically an introduction to human cultural, economic, and political patterns around the world. The course content is interesting but not very deep. For college admissions, this course does not carry much weight; it is considered a beginner AP.
A half-year AP course that compares the governments and political systems of six countries. This class is notoriously easy for those who take it — it covers less material than AP US Gov and the exam is short. It has a high pass rate (around 70%+ pass). While learning about other countries' governments is valuable, the class itself does not impress colleges as a rigorous endeavor.
Tier F summary: These AP courses are very low in rigor and thus lowest in our tier list. They are fine additions to a schedule that is already strong, or good starters for younger students, but they should not be the cornerstone of your AP strategy.