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AP® Courses: A Beginner’s Guide To AP Classes

Whether you’re aiming to boost your GPA or strengthen your college applications, taking AP® exams is crucial. This guide covers everything you need to know about AP courses and exams.
Photomontage of illustrations from UWorld’s AP exam courses

Advanced Placement® (AP) courses are college-level classes offered in high school, typically taken during the junior or senior year. Each course ends with a standardized exam, scored by College Board® on a scale of 1 to 5. Many U.S. colleges offer placement and/or credit for scores of 3 or higher.

What Is an AP Class?

AP classes provide high school students with in-depth content equivalent to entry-level college courses, helping them get ahead academically. These classes, which can last 1 semester or the whole school year, enhance writing, critical thinking, problem-solving, and cross-topic connections. Taking AP courses is recommended for students planning to attend college, as they can impress admissions committees and potentially save money on tuition.

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Click here to improve your score to 5 on AP with UWorld’s free AP practice tests.

How Many AP Courses Are There?

For the 2025-26 school year, there are 40 AP courses1 across 7 primary disciplines. The availability of courses varies by school, so check with your AP coordinator or counselor to see which ones are offered at your high school. Here are the 7 disciplines with available AP courses:

  1. AP Capstone Diploma Program: This is a 2-year program based on 2 AP courses:
    • AP Seminar
    • AP Research
  2. Arts: Under the Arts umbrella, there are 3 AP courses:
    • AP Art History
    • AP Art Design and Program — AP Studio Art: 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Drawing
    • AP Music Theory
  3. AP English: AP English is divided into 2 AP courses:
    • AP English Language and Composition
    • AP English Literature and Composition
  4. History and Social Sciences: This discipline consists of 10 AP courses:
    • AP Comparative Government and Politics
    • AP European History
    • AP Human Geography
    • AP Macroeconomics
    • AP Microeconomics
    • AP Psychology
    • AP U.S. Government and Politics
    • AP U.S. History
    • AP World History: Modern
    • AP African American Studies
  5. Math and Computer Science: The following AP courses are included in this category:
    • AP Calculus AB
    • AP Calculus BC
    • AP Precalculus
    • AP Computer Science A
    • AP Computer Science Principles
    • AP Statistics
  6. Sciences: Under the AP Sciences, there are 7 AP courses:
    • 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*

    *These courses have a lab component. Save your lab notebooks and reports! Colleges may ask to see them before granting you credit.

  7. AP World Languages and Culture: Under AP World Languages and Culture, there are 8 AP courses:
    • 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

Several factors influence which AP courses are most commonly taken and why some are more popular. The following reasons help explain this popularity.

  • Broad college credit applicability: Many colleges require AP courses, such as English Language and Composition, making them popular for securing graduation credits.
  • Core and specialized credit: Courses such as AP Calculus AB and AP Chemistry allow students to bypass foundational college courses, useful for majors like physics or medicine.
  • High school availability: Popular AP courses, such as AP Calculus AB and AP Chemistry, are commonly offered, making them more accessible.
  • Difficulty reputation: Some AP courses are perceived as more difficult, leading students to avoid them in favor of “easier” courses for securing credits.

Number of 2024 Test Takers by AP Course

The following courses have been consistently preferred by test takers year after year. Based on the number of test takers in 20242, this list compiles the most popular AP courses:

*Note that College Board has yet to release data regarding the number of students who took the AP exams in 2025.

Why Take AP Classes?

AP courses offer the opportunity to explore subjects in-depth, preparing you for college-level work. They enhance creativity, build confidence, and teach essential time management and study skills. Here are 4 more key advantages of taking AP classes in high school:

  1. College readiness: AP courses are fast-paced and challenging, covering more material than standard high school classes. They help you build creativity, intellect, and research skills, easing your transition to college.
  2. Boost college applications: Scoring well on AP exams enhances your résumé and shows college readiness. It signals academic rigor, which positively impacts college admissions, with 85% of institutions reporting a favorable view of AP experience.
  3. Strengthen your high school transcript: AP courses can add extra weight to your GPA. Getting an A in an AP class boosts your GPA more than in a regular class, potentially helping you rank in the top 10% of your class.
  4. Save time and money: AP credits can allow you to skip introductory college courses, saving both time and tuition fees. This can potentially save you a year of college and one-quarter of your total tuition costs.

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Can I Take an AP Exam Without Taking the Class?

It’s not mandatory to take an AP class to sit for the AP exam. While self-studying is an option, expert instructor guidance can be helpful as AP exams cover content beyond the standard high school curriculum. Online AP courses offer a convenient option for students who prefer to prepare from home.

When Should I Start Taking AP Classes?

Typically, students take AP classes in 11th grade after building foundational knowledge. However, some 9th and 10th graders may take AP classes, which is acceptable to College Board.

How Many AP Classes Should I Take?

The number of AP courses you take depends on your goals and the college you’re applying to. Generally, most students take 3 AP courses per year, aiming for a minimum score of 3 for college credit or placement.

  • Ivy League schools (such as Princeton or Harvard) expect 8-12 AP courses, with a mix of core subjects and specialized courses.
  • The Top 20 schools (such as Stanford and MIT) typically look for 6-10 AP courses, focusing on core subjects and related to your future goals.
  • Selective colleges (Top 100) prefer 4-6 AP courses, often across core subjects.
  • Less selective colleges usually look for 1-5 AP courses related to your major.

Let’s break it down in the following table:

How many AP Classes are recommended for specific colleges?
Ivy League Colleges Minimum of 8 AP courses (5 core + 3 specialized)
Top 20 schools Minimum of 6 AP courses (core + specialized)
Top 100 schools Minimum of 4 AP courses
All other schools Minimum of 1 AP course

Choosing the Right AP Course

When choosing AP courses, focus on your passions and strengths to maximize success. Here are some tips:

  • Balance core and specialty courses: Opt for a mix of foundational courses (e.g., English, Calculus AB) and specialized ones if you’re uncertain about your major.
  • Check college credit/placement: Ensure your AP courses are accepted for credit or placement at your prospective college. Use College Board’s AP Credit Policy Search to guide your decision.
  • Align with your major: If you have a specific field in mind, select AP courses related to it. For example, take AP Calculus BC or AP Physics for STEM majors, or AP Biology and Chemistry for careers in medicine or pharmacy.
  • Research course content: Review AP course topics, talk to teachers and peers, and explore practice tests to ensure the course aligns with your interests and goals.

Here are 15 popular and core AP courses to help you understand their content and difficulty level. Some of these courses may be more challenging to score well in than others.

  1. AP English Language and Composition

    The AP English Language course focuses on developing critical reading, writing, and persuasive skills. It prepares you for careers in copywriting, editing, translation, and journalism by teaching you to analyze non-fiction works and write essays with various goals, such as explaining, arguing, or persuading.

  2. AP English Literature and Composition

    The AP English Literature course enhances your ability to analyze fiction, poetry, and theater from different periods and cultures. You’ll study classic literature and write essays to interpret and argue your analysis, preparing you for careers in English literature, film studies, or comparative literature.

  3. AP Human Geography

    The AP Human Geography course explores population, migration, and land-use trends using geographic tools. You’ll learn to apply geographic concepts to real-world situations, analyze data in various formats, and understand spatial relationships. This course prepares you for careers in anthropology, civil engineering, environmental studies, and area studies.

  4. AP Psychology

    The AP Psychology course explores the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. It teaches you to analyze research data and apply psychological concepts to real-life situations. It’s ideal for students interested in fields like anthropology, childcare, criminology, film studies, and psychology.

  5. AP U.S. History

    The AP U.S. History course covers the cultural, economic, political, and social developments of the United States from 1491 to the present. It involves a detailed study of historical events, movements, laws, and dates. The curriculum is memory-based, focusing on understanding the chronology. This course is ideal for future curators, geographers, lawyers, or historians.

  6. AP World History: Modern

    The AP World History: Modern course covers global cultural, economic, political, and social developments from 1200 CE to the present. It teaches you to analyze historical texts, visuals, and evidence to develop reasoning-based arguments. This course is ideal for careers in foreign service, history, political science, or law.

  7. AP Calculus AB

    The AP Calculus AB course covers differential and integral calculus concepts, methods, and applications. It prepares students to solve problems using calculus and helps bypass core math courses in college. This course is essential for careers in engineering, physics, architecture, and other math-intensive fields.

  8. AP Calculus BC

    The AP Calculus BC course covers differential and integral calculus, focusing on theory, problem-solving, and proper mathematical notation. It prepares students for careers in finance, education, aerospace engineering, and mathematics.

  9. AP Statistics

    The AP Statistics course teaches statistical methods to analyze and interpret data, focusing on calculating probabilities and identifying patterns. It prepares students for fields like engineering, actuarial science, economics, and criminology.

  10.  AP Biology

    The AP Biology course covers key scientific concepts, theories, and processes related to biological systems, with hands-on lab work. Students will design experiments, analyze data, and draw conclusions. It’s ideal for those pursuing careers in medicine, pharmacy, biochemistry, or biomedical engineering.

  11.  AP Chemistry

    The AP Chemistry course covers key concepts like structure, states of matter, intermolecular forces, and reactions. It teaches you to test hypotheses, balance chemical equations, and understand complex chemical processes. Ideal for those pursuing careers in atomic science, biochemistry, or chemical engineering, this course is essential for those interested in chemical structures and reactions.

  12. AP Environmental Science

    The AP Environmental Science exam measures your understanding of ideas, theories, concepts, and problems arising from human interaction and the environment. The course will teach you how to evaluate the risks associated with these issues and the advantages of potential alternatives.

  13. AP Physics

    The AP Physics course covers fundamental concepts like Newtonian physics, work and energy, momentum, rotational motion, and simple harmonic motion. It also teaches you to apply algebra to problems in Newtonian mechanics and energy. You’ll gain hands-on lab experience, making this course a solid foundation for meteorology, astronomy, or mathematics careers.

  14. AP United States Government and Politics

    This course requires students to describe, analyze, and compare U.S. political concepts, apply legislative decisions to real-world situations, and assess their consequences. It’s ideal for those pursuing law, African American studies, or journalism careers.

  15. AP Macroeconomics

    AP Macroeconomics explores economic principles that apply to the economy as a whole, including inflation, unemployment, and monetary policy. Students learn to analyze economic data and evaluate government policies. It’s a strong fit for those interested in business, finance, or public policy careers.

Before selecting the AP subjects, consider your interests, future goals, and career aspirations. Think of it as building a foundation to ensure you’re committed to your future career path!

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

To take AP classes, follow a few easy steps:

  1. Choose the AP courses you wish to take, and check with your high school’s website for the offered courses.
  2. Once you finalize your list of AP courses, reach out to your high school counselor or AP coordinator.
  3. They will help you with the sign-up process and inform you of any prerequisite high school courses required for your chosen AP course.
Yes, you can take AP classes during the summer if you can access a local school offering AP courses. You can also take AP classes online.
You cannot take AP classes outside of school. However, you can independently prepare for your AP exams by self-studying through guidebooks or online courses.
Ideally, they don’t. AP classes culminate with the AP exam, which is held once every year in May. However, your teacher may still give you AP class tests and quizzes throughout the course to ensure you are learning the material.
You can switch out of an AP class, but conditions apply. You have to request it at the beginning of your school year. If you decide to switch out of the class right after the school’s deadline for changing or dropping classes, you may not be able to switch out of the class, and a withdrawal will show up on your high school transcript for that class. Talk to your AP coordinator if you plan to switch out of your AP class, as policies might differ from school to school.
AP courses start at the beginning of your school term.
If you’re interested in taking AP courses online, you can contact your AP teacher to get a recommendation for online AP course providers.
As a homeschooled student, you can prepare for the AP course by self-studying or getting help from online course providers. Your AP coordinator can help you with suggestions for online AP course providers.
It is generally not recommended that 9th graders take AP classes. This is because AP classes have a rigorous university-level curriculum that students new to high school and in the 9th grade may not be prepared for. Specific AP subjects, such as European History and World History, are excellent options for 10th graders, but most AP classes are best suited to high school juniors and seniors. If you’re up for a challenge, there is no harm in trying!
An AP class typically gives you 1 extra point toward your high school GPA.

Learn More About Specific AP Courses and Exam Information

AP Sciences AP English AP History & Social Science AP Math
AP Biology AP English Language AP Human Geography AP Calculus AB
AP Chemistry AP English Literature AP Psychology AP Calculus BC
AP Environmental Science   AP U.S. Government AP Statistics
AP Physics 1   AP U.S. History  
    AP World History: Modern  
    AP Macroeconomics  

References

1How Many AP Courses Are There? (2025). College Board. Retrieved July 15, 2025, from https://blog.collegeboard.org/how-many-ap-courses-are-there 

22024 AP Score Distributions. (2024). apstudents.collegeboard.org. Retrieved July 16, 2025, from https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions/2024

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