They're not required. But if you want your transcript to stand out to college admissions officers, AP classes are definitely a good idea. Of course, that's only true if you take AP classes that you can get good grades in.
But what are AP classes? Are they the same as college classes? Do you have to take an AP class to take an AP exam? If AP classes are not required to apply for college, why consider taking them? And, if you do, how many should you take?
Good questions! And, in this blog post, we're sharing all the information you need to determine whether one, two, several, or none is the right number of AP courses for you.
Sound good? Good. Let's get started!
What are AP classes?
AP classes, or Advanced Placement classes, are advanced-level subject courses that give high school students the opportunity to challenge themselves by taking classes with a rigor similar to college classes.
The College Board (the organization behind the SAT) is responsible for designing the AP curriculum and overseeing the exams given every year in May to students worldwide.
Your school likely won't offer every AP class that's available. But here's the full list of AP courses currently offered by the College Board.
Arts
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 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 Precalculus (New for 2023-24)
AP Computer Science A
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BC
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
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
There are also the AP Seminar and AP Research courses if you enroll in the AP Capstone Diploma Program.
should I take AP classes?
The short answer: more selective colleges generally care about AP classes. So, even though you don't have to take AP classes to apply for college, depending on your college list, you probably still should (but a heads up that AP policy varies from school to school—some schools allow students to take anything they want, while others have various rules and restrictions, and some schools have chosen to drop AP classes entirely). It's usually a good idea to discuss what fits you best with an advisor or counselor at your school.
The more detailed answer involves several factors to consider:
Show college admissions you can excel in challenging courses
The “rigor” of your high school coursework is one of the most important factors that college admissions officers consider when reviewing your college applications. For example, look at the MIT admissions requirements or UCLA admissions requirements: you'll see both colleges believe the rigor of your secondary school record to be "very important."
Why do colleges care so much about rigor? Because if you can do well in rigorous classes while in high school, college admissions officers feel more confident that you can succeed in college. The more challenging courses you've taken, the better. So, if your school offers several AP courses and you choose to take none, you may be at a disadvantage compared to other students who have taken AP classes. But note that if your school doesn’t offer any AP courses, you will not be expected to take them. (Side note: if that’s the case, it may be useful to clarify in your Additional Info section)
Show fit for your intended major or pre-professional programs
AP classes are also a great way to demonstrate your interest in whatever subject you list as your intended major on your college applications. For example, let's say you want to enter a pre-med program or BS/MD program and major in Biology. If you take AP Biology and do well on the AP exam, college admissions will believe you have a strong foundation in Biology and that you're more likely to be able to handle the challenging coursework required for a pre-med student.
Develop college-level academic skills
Many students worry about whether they'll be able to handle the increased expectations and workload of college classes. AP classes can help you develop the time management and study skills you'll need in college. AP classes also give you the opportunity to build your critical thinking and analytical skills and deepen your understanding of complex content and concepts.
Bonus: sometimes, college credit
AP classes also offer the opportunity to take an exam at the end of the course, which can earn you college credit or advanced placement in some programs. But the exact score and requirements for college credit will vary depending on the school and program. Typically, you'll need to score a 3 or higher on the exam to receive college credit.
Some colleges don't offer any credit for AP classes but will use your scores to place you in higher-level courses or exempt you from certain requirements. For example, if you take an AP English course and score high enough on the exam, you may be able to earn college credit or skip a lower-level writing course. Because things vary from school to school, you’ll want to double check as you build your college list.
What are AP exams?
AP exams test you on the material you learned over the course of your AP classes. Each exam typically lasts 2-3 hours and can include multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.
When are AP exams?
AP exams are offered once per year during May and June, typically lasting for two to three weeks. You can find the most recent exam date schedule here.
Can I self-study for an AP exam?
Yes. You can self-study for an AP exam even if you haven't taken the AP class. Self-study can be a great option if your school doesn't offer any AP classes or doesn't offer an AP subject that you're interested in. It's also a good choice if you already have a strong background in a particular subject.
The biggest issue with self-study for an AP exam is that you might have to learn a lot of complex material on your own in addition to the rest of your high school coursework. And self-studying is not a good idea if it will cause your grades to slip.
If you do decide to self-study, it's also essential to use an official AP curriculum or test practice book to guide your studies. Why? AP exams may expect you to answer the questions in a particular way based on what's taught in the standard AP curriculum.
A great alternative to self-study is to take an online AP prep course. These courses often include instructional videos, practice exams, and study guides tailored specifically to each AP subject.
We don't have any official recommendations for these online courses. But here are two examples of free and paid options:
Free online AP course: edX Online AP Courses
Paid online AP course: Northwestern's CTD’s Online AP® program
How many AP classes should I take?
Unfortunately, there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The right number of AP classes for you will depend on various factors, such as your academic strengths, study habits, learning style, and college list.
Some things to consider include:
Can you handle the increased workload of AP classes?
Do you have good study habits and time management skills that will allow you to succeed in AP classes and on exams?
No matter whether you take AP courses, or how many, the most important thing is to choose the classes that are right for you and work hard to excel in them!
Another factor to consider, as mentioned earlier, relates to your college list: Are you hoping to apply to highly selective (aka “highly rejective”) schools?
If not, then you can mostly focus on the factors just mentioned.
But if so, those schools will consider the “rigor” of your course load—did you generally take the toughest classes available to you? If you maintained a high GPA but did so by avoiding the harder courses your school offers, that will tend to hurt your chances with selective schools.
So… are AP classes worth it?
If you're applying to competitive college programs and have the time and motivation to take on the challenge, AP classes can definitely be worth it. They can help you prepare for college, build your academic confidence, and give you a leg up on admissions.
On the other hand, if you're struggling to balance schoolwork with other commitments or are simply not interested in AP courses, there's no need to feel pressured to take them. There are plenty of other ways you can prepare for college.
Preparing to take an AP exam soon? Check out these resources:
Special thanks to Ameer Drane for writing this blog post.
Ameer is a freelance writer who specializes in writing about college admissions and career development. Prior to freelancing, Ameer worked for three years as a college admissions consultant at a Hong Kong-based education center, helping local high school students prepare and apply for top colleges and universities in the US. He has a B.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from UCLA. When he’s not working, Ameer loves traveling, weight lifting, writing, reading, and learning foreign languages. He currently lives in Bangkok, Thailand.
Top values: Growth / Diversity / Empathy
