Timothy Peck February 21, 2023 6 Academics,Choosing Classes

A Complete List of All AP Classes

What’s Covered:

• Complete List of AP Classes
• How to Pick Your AP Classes
• Which AP Exams Are Most Popular?
• Which AP Exams Have the Highest Pass Rates?
• How AP Classes Impact Your College Chances

For many students, the introduction to AP classes can seem a bit overwhelming. At some high schools, there are dozens to choose from. Other high schools may offer only a few, or may not offer them at all. Some students wonder what other options exist if they choose to self study.

For any student interested in AP classes, it’s important to know what’s out there in order to make an informed decision. Keep reading for a complete list of all AP classes (and exams) along with data on which tests are the most popular and which have the highest pass rates.

Complete List of AP Classes

Let’s get started with the complete list. Here, we include all AP classes, regardless of whether or not they culminate in an AP exam.

AP Capstone Diploma Program

• Research
• Seminar

AP Arts

• Art and Design: Drawing 
• Art and Design: 2-D
• Art and Design: 3-D
• Art History
• Music Theory

AP English

• English Language and Composition
• English Literature and Composition

AP History and Social Sciences

• Government and Politics (Comparative)
• European History
• Human Geography
• Macroeconomics
• Microeconomics
• Psychology
• Government and Politics (U.S.)
• U.S. History
• World History: Modern
• African American Studies (Pilot program in select high schools)

AP Math and Computer Science

• Calculus AB
• Calculus BC
• Computer Science A
• Computer Science Principles
• Precalculus
• Statistics

AP Sciences

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

AP World Languages and Cultures

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

In 2024, the AP will also pilot a new program in select high schools, AP African American Studies. More than a decade in the making, the course provides high schoolers with an evidence-based introduction to African American studies.

How to Pick Your AP Classes

It might feel impossible to choose an AP track with so many options, but there are ways to narrow the full list down. Be mindful of these tips when thinking about deciding which AP classes (and exams) you want to take.

Consider Your Interests and Potential Major/Career Path

If there’s a specific subject that you’re really passionate about, see if any of the AP classes on the list are well suited to that subject. Additionally, you might have some idea of what you want to major in in college, and maybe even what you want to have a career in. If so, you should definitely consider taking the AP class that aligns best with that major or career path.

It’s an especially good idea to take an AP class related to an interest you have if that interest isn’t typically covered in a traditional high school curriculum, like psychology or economics. Ideally, your AP choices should show some versatility across subject areas, but also some specialization in areas of interest.

Evaluate Your Course Load

AP classes are generally more rigorous than a typical high school course. This usually means that you’ll have to devote more time and energy to an AP class. Consider things like the non-AP classes you’re going to be taking, your extracurriculars, volunteer work, and personal commitments.

If you’re already really busy and have a lot on your plate, you should think about the number of AP classes you’ll be able to take. If you’re busy but still decide to take a few AP classes, investigate to see which AP classes will be more manageable, which leads us to the next tip.

Assess Course/Exam Difficulty

There are many factors that go into determining how difficult an AP class or exam will be. The percentage of students who earn a passing score is merely one indicator of difficulty, and even that needs to be evaluated in the context of the specific class—more on that later.

You should not only think about course pass rates, but also about your own strengths and weaknesses, the experience of any particular class’s teacher, the resources available to you, and your own study habits.

Consider Teacher Experience

Often, a teacher’s amount of experience teaching a class is a good indicator of quality. In general, students will perform better in a class and on an exam if their teacher has been providing instruction in that particular subject for a long time.

The amount of experience a teacher has with the subject also affects how difficult the class will be for you. A traditionally “difficult” AP course may seem easier to you with a more experienced teacher—and a traditionally “easy” course may feel hard or require more self-study if your teacher doesn’t have a lot of experience with the course.

Which AP Exams Are Most Popular?

For a bit more of the bigger picture, take a look at these data from the 2022 AP student score distributions. Here you’ll be able to see the top ten most popular AP exams and how many students took each of them nationwide.

Other tests with more than 100,000 participants include:

These popular classes are more likely to be offered at your high school, and if they are, there is probably an enthusiastic group of students for you to study with as exam time nears. Popular exams tend to make finding study groups and resources simpler.

The five tests with the fewest participants are:

Taking a test with low popularity can also be a great choice. By doing so, you set yourself apart and highlight some of your unique interests and strengths.

Which AP Exams Have the Highest Pass Rates?

Some students are very eager to figure out which AP tests have the highest pass rates, but we provide these data only accompanied by a disclaimer—high pass rates are not equivalent to easy tests.

For example, if you take a look at the data below, you’ll see that the AP test with the second-highest overall pass rate is Chinese Language and Culture. While some might assume that this must be one of the easiest AP tests available, that’s not the truth. Instead, the truth is that the students who take this test go in exceptionally well prepared. Some test-takers may even be native speakers. It’s always important to look at the statistics within their greater context.

Data taken from College Board

Interestingly enough, it’s worth noticing that some of the exams previously listed as most popular among AP test-takers are also some of the exams with the lowest pass rates. This is likely due to an abundance of self-study test-takers who go into the test without the knowledge gained from actually taking the class, and sometimes without having even really studied.

How AP Classes Impact Your College Chances

Taking any number of AP classes can help make your admissions profile more competitive. Selective institutions, such as Ivy League schools, often use something called the Academic Index to assess applicants. The AI is a calculation that reduces a student’s overall academic record to one numerical score for easy comparison.

Check out our guide to better understand the impact of your AP classes on college admissions. After that, consult our free Admissions Calculator, which can help you see how the AP classes you take will factor into your college admissions profile. Moreover, it takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at hundreds of colleges across the U.S.

To learn more about AP exams and classes, check out our complete library of AP guides and helpful tips.