Everything You Need To Know About The AP® Macroeconomics Exam

Is AP Macroeconomics Hard?

It is safe to assume that any AP course you take is more challenging than your standard high school classes because they're equivalent to first-year college courses in those subjects. However, there are a few more factors that can help you understand whether a course like AP Macroeconomics may be challenging for you:

• The pass rates for the AP Macro exam can help you gauge its difficulty. The AP Macro exam for 2022 has a success rate of over 51%, which tells us that it is a moderately challenging exam to ace.
• What are your academic strengths? AP Macro requires both memorization and analytical skills. Students must be apt to memorize formulas and theories and then apply those to solve problems. Both skills are needed to succeed in this subject.
• Success on your AP exam can depend on how well your teacher covered the AP course material. Therefore, having a good AP teacher is important. High school seniors should talk to their teachers about the AP exam.
• Try to review the course material and go through the AP Macro CED to determine the difficulty level of this subject.

Should I Take AP Macroeconomics or Microeconomics?

In addition to AP Macro, the College Board administers the AP Microeconomics exam for students seeking a career in economics or financial advising. But, compared to AP Microeconomics, AP Macro is more popular among students due to the types of exam topics, making it more relatable to fields that require studying national and global economies.

In 2022, the number of students taking the AP Macro exam was significantly higher at 134,4132 compared to 84,386 students taking the AP Microeconomics exam. Although the numbers can indicate the popularity of a course, the most important factor is determining if the subject aligns with your academic goals and how taking AP Macro, AP Micro, or both can help you achieve your career.

AP Microeconomics includes the study of economic principles and practices that affect smaller financial units/systems like individuals, groups, and businesses. AP Macroeconomics focuses on the same fundamental principles but operates at the higher level of conglomerates, countries, and the global economy. However, the key difference lies in the specific areas of application they focus on. This could be a key factor in determining whether one course will suit you or if taking both will benefit you more.

At some schools, the decision of which course to take, either AP Macro or AP Micro, is made for you based on your GPA, learning aptitude, and career goals. However, in other schools, students can choose between the two courses. It is also a common practice for students to opt for both the AP exams to get more credit and course placement options in college.

In conclusion, choosing between AP Macro and Micro boils down to three key factors, and answering them will help you decide which course can work better for your career:

1. What major are you planning for in college?
2. Are you comfortable working with calculus? AP Microeconomics needs you to learn and apply basic calculus concepts.
3. Does your high school routine give you enough mind space to opt for both AP Macroeconomics and Microeconomics?

Need more insights? Our complete guide to AP Macroeconomics vs. AP Microeconomics is here to help!

AP Macroeconomics Review Tips

Preparing for AP Macro requires meticulous planning, time, and commitment, which may seem daunting. Some helpful tips can make reviewing the course a smoother experience for you:

• Prepare a study schedule ahead of your exam date.

  Lack of a structured study plan before AP exams can hinder your systematic engagement with the subject. Creating a study schedule is crucial to managing the course content and tackling challenging portions. This breaks the content into manageable parts and allows you to revise your work while progressing through the course.

• Make study notes on the side.

  When studying for exams, take notes regularly and use a set study schedule to break down the course material. Jot down difficult topics in each unit for future revision. If you previously studied politics or government, those notes can serve as a basis for your AP notes.

• Familiarize yourself with the question format through practice tests.

  Using practice tests such as UWorld's AP Macroeconomics Practice Problems will help you become familiar with the multiple-choice section. Since the exam involves long and short essay questions, practice tests can enhance your understanding and prepare you to write more efficiently. Reviewing FRQs from past AP Macroeconomics exams on the College Board website will help you with your time management skills and familiarize you with the question types.

Although self-studying from reference books has advantages, taking AP classes (online or in-person) allows for prompt clarification with the teacher. Our free step-by-step guide on how to study for the AP Macroeconomics exam aims to expedite your preparation process.