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How Many AP Classes Should You Take in High School?
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By Sawyer Hiton Sawyer Hiton is a former scholarship and financial aid writer with Scholarships360. Previously, Sawyer worked with the nonprofit College Possible, supporting high school juniors in beginning their college plans and applications. Sawyer graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in Philosophy. Learn about oureditorial policies
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Updated: December 5th, 2022
Whether you want to save money, challenge yourself, or beef up your college applications, taking AP classes is a great option for your high school course load. But exactly how many AP classes should you take? Too few and you may be sacrificing a great opportunity. Too many and you may be overwhelmed and unable to focus on the rest of your life. In this article, we’ll explore the Advanced Placement program, and the factors you should consider in determining your sweet spot.
Also see:How to get an AP Fee Reduction
What is the AP program?
AP classes are college-level classes offered at many high schools across the country. There are more than 30 AP classes offered, in a wide range of subjects. Once you complete an AP class, you take the corresponding AP test. How you do on that test determines whether or not you receive college credit in the subject area. More than 2,600 colleges and universities around the world accept AP scores as college credit. AP scores can also allow you to skip prerequisite courses at your college. If you do well on your AP Biology exam for instance, you may be able to bypass intro bio and move on to the harder stuff.
Even if you choose not to take the AP test, an AP class still provides a great opportunity for a more rigorous academic setting. You’ll engage with more difficult concepts, and read and write more. Conversely, you can also take an AP test without having taken the class. If you’ve been studying piano since you were a kid, you might consider taking the AP music theory test even if you have taken the official class. This is an excellent way to receive college credit for knowledge you already possess.
For more information on the AP program, check out the College Board website.
Why should you take AP classes?
There are many reasons why AP classes (and tests) are beneficial. For one, they can save you a great deal of money. If you can earn some of your college credits before even entering college, you may save time and thus money once you get to college. With the help of AP, you may even be able to graduate college early.
AP classes can also help you prepare for college-level academics. Through AP classes, you can explore a college atmosphere at your high school. You’ll read more challenging material and engage in deeper discussions. Not only will this ready you for college rigor, but it may help you stay more engaged and interested in high school.
Lastly, AP classes look great on your college applications. When a college sees you’ve taken AP classes, they’ll know you’re a driven learner. Schools want students who will go above and beyond to challenge themselves, and this is just what you’re doing when you take AP classes. Still, this doesn’t mean you should overload your schedule with AP classes. Colleges don’t automatically accept students who took the most AP classes.
Related:How does AP credit work?
So how many AP classes should you take?
The quick answer is: it depends. The number of AP classes depends largely on what kind of school you want to get into. If you’re aiming for a less selective school, it’s up to you how many AP classes you take. Think practically about which credits you might want to get out of the way during high school. Instead of signing up for more AP classes than you can handle, focus on excelling in a few.
More selective schools, on the other hand, want to see their applicants taking the most challenging courses available to them. While there is still no “magic number” of AP classes to take, you should be prepared to take a lot. See if your dream school has a note on their website about their selection process. Or contact a current student at the school and ask them about their high school course load.
Stanford University writes, “we expect you to challenge yourself throughout high school and to do very well. The most important credential for evaluating your academic record is the high school transcript. Please know that our evaluation of your application goes beyond any numerical formula. There is no minimum GPA or test score; nor is there any specific number of AP or honors courses you must have on your transcript in order to be admitted to Stanford.”
While Stanford, like other selective schools, doesn’t require a certain amount of AP classes, they do pay close attention to transcripts, and the academic choices applicants make. This means, if you are aiming for a highly selective school, you should be taking the hardest classes available at your high school. Take a range of your high school’s AP classes, including math, English, history, and science. And sign up for any non-core AP subjects, like psychology or art history, especially if they are fields you are interested in pursuing.
Also see:What are the AP Scholar Awards?
Freshman year
Some high schools don’t allow 9th graders to take AP classes, and the College Board does fully support doing so. But if you’re able to, and feeling up to it, take one of the easier ones. AP Psychology and AP Environmental Science are usually regarded as having lighter loads. Make sure to take honors-level core classes to bolster your skills and transcript.
Sophomore year
Take 1 to 3 AP classes. Try pairing 1 hard AP with 1 to 2 easier ones. Talk to upperclassmen or counselors at your school to gauge the difficulties of the various APs. Continue pursuing honors classes. This could be a good year to push yourself, considering that your next years will only get harder.
Junior year
This is when you should start taking your AP core classes. Take 3 to 5 if you are aiming for a highly selective school, and 2 to 4 if you are aiming elsewhere. Note that many students describe this year as significantly harder than past ones. And you’ll also likely be taking your standardized tests. So use your time wisely and don’t spread yourself too thin.
Senior year
Continue to take AP core classes and other AP subjects of interest. Leave space for your college applications, as they can feel like another AP class in themselves. That being said, your college applications will likely be done by the second semester, so you will gain more free time. Students aiming for highly selective schools may take up to 6 AP classes this year. But again, don’t overburden yourself. Based on your AP experience in past years, you know you best at this point.
See also: Why should I earn college credit in high school?
Final words on AP planning
In the whirlwind of college preparation, many students forget to follow their gut and interests. While it is beneficial to push your comfort zone, try formulating a course load that you are genuinely excited about. If this means taking AP music theory instead of AP chemistry, go for it. You will do better if you are legitimately engaged.
If your grades are slipping, or you’re losing ability to concentrate in sports, you may be in too many APs. Here is a fun article by Bustle detailing other signs you may be in over your head. Taking an extra AP course won’t be the reason you get into your dream school, but dropping out of cross country might be the reason you don’t.
Always consult your counselor, as they’ve done this before. As mentioned earlier, it is also helpful to communicate with upperclassmen at your high school and students at your dream college. Get an idea of how those before you have mapped out their AP life. And trust yourself. Don’t get too caught up in AP frenzy—stick to your strengths as a student. At the same time, take some leaps. Now is the time to prepare for college academics, earn credits, and pick up some new strengths while you’re at it.
Also read:What is dual enrollment?
More resources for students
After working out your AP schedule, you can start preparing for college in other ways! Scholarships360 offers a wealth of resources for every step of the college admissions process. That includes writing college essays,finding the right school,deciding on a major, andcustom-matching you with scholarships. Good luck with the process and make sure to check back on our site to help you with any other questions.
FAQs
How many AP classes should I take to get a scholarship? ›
| Selectivity of School | Number of APs Recommended * |
|---|---|
| Less Selective/ State Schools | 1-5 |
| More Selective/ State Schools Honors/ Scholarship Programs | 4-8 |
| Highly Selective | 7-12 |
Aim for four to eight AP exams in your junior and senior years. For competitive Ivy League schools, admission officers also want to see AP courses for core subject areas and additional courses. If possible, aim to pass about seven to 12 AP exams if applying to these highly selective schools.
What is a good number of AP classes to take? ›Because of this, you need to prepare for them the same way by taking AP® courses in each of the core subjects and excelling in them. You should aim to take 7-8 AP® classes as a minimum to be considered a competitive candidate for admission.
Is 3 AP classes a year enough? ›An Ivy League hopeful might take 3 to 5(!) AP classes, while if you're aiming for less-selective schools, 2 or 3 would be enough. (This truly is the most important year to take the most rigorous classes that you can AND do well in them!!)
Is 17 AP classes too much? ›To be competitive at some of the most highly selective colleges in the country, 8-12 AP courses may be the sweet spot amount, assuming the student can handle that level of rigor. There are no colleges out there that require you to take 14, 17, or some other obscene number of Advanced Placement offerings.
Is 5 APs too much junior year? ›You can definitely take 5 APs, but just make sure to stay on top of your work and spend a good amount of time studying to make sure you know the material.
Should I take 4 or 5 AP classes? ›Take as many as you can handle without spreading yourself thin, and make sure you will have time to study for the ACT or SAT this year. An Ivy League hopeful might take 3 to 5 AP classes, while if you're aiming for less-selective schools, 2 to 4 would be enough.
Do colleges prefer AP or honors? ›Colleges like them both. Both honors and AP courses are rigorous courses that most high schools weight more heavily on your transcript. AP courses, however, culminate in the AP Exam. Good AP scores show colleges you are ready to succeed at college-level work and can even earn you college credits.
What is the easiest AP class? ›- Physics C: Mechanics. 84.3% 41.6%
- Calculus BC. 81.6% 44.6%
- Spanish Literature. 75.1% 17.6%
- Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. 74.4% 40.4%
- Physics 2. 73.3% 14.0%
- Computer Science Principles. 71.6% 10.9%
- Psychology. 71.3% 22.4%
- Computer Science A. 70.4% 25.6%
Freshmen who have taken College Board Advanced Placement exams need a total of four full credits to be eligible for Advanced Standing. Credits are earned by scoring 5 on a minimum of four AP tests.
Is 11 AP classes a lot? ›
If you manage to take 11 AP classes throughout your high school stay, that's enough (33 credits on average) to skip a whole year of college. While that may too much, even a couple of classes can be enough to give you a semester ahead of your peers coming into college.
Do AP classes boost GPA? ›GPA Weight
While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class.
Weighted Grade
As you can see, taking three higher-level courses elevates your GPA to above a 4.0, even though your unweighted GPA is a 3.68.
For students applying to the most selective colleges, you might need 7–12. But even so, taking 4 AP courses in a year can be extremely challenging. You're better off spreading the course load over as many years of high school as possible, so you can limit yourself to at most 2–3 AP courses in a year.
How many AP classes do valedictorians take? ›Additionally, starting with the class of 2027, students must take at least six advanced placement, dual enrollment or early college classes to be considered for valedictorian status.
How many AP classes do Ivy League schools want? ›For students aiming for the Ivy League and Top 20 schools in the United States, a good target is to take (and pass) 10-14 AP classes throughout your high school career — or 3-4 each year.
Is 20 AP classes too much? ›It depends on the student's high school. If a school offers 20 AP courses but students are only allowed to take a maximum of 2 AP classes sophomore year and 8 AP classes in total junior and senior year, then admission officers will only expect a student to enroll in 10 AP courses. They don't expect any more.
How to survive 3 AP classes? ›Keep yourself organized
Staying organized is critical when enrolled in an AP course. During the year, you should take notes in class and complete all assignments to the best of your ability. You'll also want to hold on to all of your graded exams and assignments to review and study before an upcoming exam.
I recommend that you stick to 3 or fewer. There is no written guideline on the planet that exists that recommends Sophomores to take 3 or more APs. Most successful admits into the best school take 1 or 2 APs during 10th, maybe 3-5 during 11th, and 3-5 during 12th.
What percentage of kids take AP? ›Approximately 60% of the students took AP Exams in more than one year.
What is the hardest 5 Class AP? ›
| AP Class/Exam | Pass Rate (3+) | Perfect Score (5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Physics 1 | 51.6% | 8.8% |
| 2. Environmental Science | 53.4% | 11.9% |
| 3. Chemistry | 56.1% | 10.6% |
| 4. U.S. Government and Politics | 57.5% | 15.5% |
Does Harvard Accept AP Credit. Harvard does accept AP Credit for classes in which a student earned a 5 on the AP Exam. These credits are accepted under a program called “Advanced Standing.” To qualify, students must earn a 5 on a minimum of 4 AP tests, transferring a total of 32 credits.
Is AP Chem or AP Bio harder? ›However, our son thinks taking AP bio in junior year makes more sense since AP biology tends to be relatively 'easier' than AP chemistry for most kids and his next year classes are rigorous.
What AP is most popular? ›AP English Language and Composition is by far the most popular AP test, with over half a million students taking the exam in 2021.
Is it OK to not take AP classes? ›AP classes show colleges that you are challenging yourself, and can handle the academic rigor of a college-level course. Schools are aware of the amount of AP courses that are offered at your school and what level courses you take through your transcript. There isn't any harm if you don't take any AP classes.
Does the amount of AP classes matter? ›A 2013 study conducted by admissions officials at the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill found almost no difference in the first-year GPA for students who took five college-level classes (defined as AP, dual credit or International Baccalaureate classes) during high school compared with those who took six or more ...
What GPA is an A in AP class? ›Many schools treat AP classes differently when calculating a student's grade point average (GPA). Rather than the traditional 4.0 scale, AP classes are weighted on a 5.0 scale — in an AP class, an A is equivalent to 5.0 instead of 4.0, and a B is equal to 4.0 instead of 3.0.
Is AP harder then honors? ›AP classes, however, are more challenging than honors classes. These courses cover information, teach skills and give assignments that correspond to college classes. High school students taking AP courses will be held to the same standard as college students.
Do colleges look at 10th grade? ›Colleges will look at your sophomore grades, whether it's to see if you maintained an acceptable GPA or improved from the year before. Getting a headstart with strong grades and challenging school work alongside extracurricular activities can make all the difference when you reach your senior year.
What AP has the lowest pass rate? ›AP Physics 1
Despite a reputation as one of the most difficult AP classes, Physics 1 is also one of the most popular—144,526 students took it in 2022. Physics 1 has the lowest pass rate of any AP exam (43.3%) along with one of the lowest percentages of students scoring a 5 (just 7.9%).
What is the lowest AP score? ›
AP® Score of 1
Since a 1 is the lowest score that you can get on an AP® exam, this is not desirable. Thankfully, not many students leave the exam with a 1 unless complications arise during the test and they need to leave, or they are just trying to take the exam without knowing any of the material.
Chinese,Calculus BC, Japanese, Drawing, and Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism are the AP tests with the highest average scores, but they are all known to be quite difficult.
Does Yale accept 4 on AP? ›Yale awards acceleration credit to students for scores of 4 or 5 on some AP exams. Acceleration credit may offer some students the option to graduate in fewer than eight terms, but only after completing specific courses in specific departments.
Do Ivy Leagues prefer AP or dual enrollment? ›Do Ivy League schools accept dual enrollment? The majority of Ivy League schools do NOT accept dual enrollment credits under any circumstances.
How many AP classes do you need to get into Yale? ›Yale does not require students to take AP courses to get accepted by the school.
Do colleges look at AP classes? ›Students looking to earn admission to highly selective colleges should take multiple AP classes to bolster their applications and demonstrate they can handle challenging coursework. Some college admissions experts recommend taking as many as 7-12 AP courses before applying to the most elite universities.
How much harder is AP classes than normal classes? ›In general, there is a lot of material to cover in AP classes, so they tend to be more challenging than regular classes—especially courses like AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP Physics, US and World History, and English. These are all much harder than their regular or honors equivalents.
Can you get into an Ivy League without AP classes? ›The Ivy leagues don't discriminate if your school doesn't offer you AP classes. However, if your school offers AP classes and you don't take the opportunity to take them all they will notice that and it's not a good thing. This really depends on how many your school offers.
What GPA is a B+ in an AP class? ›...
Here's how to calculate your weighted GPA.
A GPA higher than 5.0 is rare, but school point systems are occasionally structured so that students taking advanced classes can rack up bonus points. One student even managed to land a stunning 10.03 GPA by taking 17 advanced classes at a school that awarded bonus points.
Are B's in AP classes good? ›
If you take AP classes and get B's, don't worry too much. Colleges take the difficulty of your classes into consideration, and a lot of admissions officers are impressed by students who challenge themselves with the tougher courses.
What GPA is a 95 in an AP class? ›A Quick Review
Harvard only accepts AP® scores of 5 for course credit. If you have 4 scores of 5, you can opt to obtain Advanced Standing. You can use AP® credits to opt-out of lower-level classes. Harvard has general academic requirements that all students must take.
I recommend taking only 2 APs sophomore year, 4-5 Junior year, and 3 to 4 Senior year. That puts you in the 9-11 range which more than enough.
HOW MUCH CAN 4 AP classes raise your GPA? ›AP classes can boost your GPA by 1 point because AP courses are graded on a five-point scale. Excellent students can achieve a GPA higher than a 4.0. The 5.0 scale is meant to reward students who excel in AP courses, as well as avoid penalizing students who want to challenge themselves with more difficult courses.
Are 2 AP classes enough? ›Aim for four to eight AP exams in your junior and senior years. For competitive Ivy League schools, admission officers also want to see AP courses for core subject areas and additional courses. If possible, aim to pass about seven to 12 AP exams if applying to these highly selective schools.
What is the average number of AP classes? ›While there are 38 total AP classes and exams offered worldwide, it's completely unreasonable to expect a student to take that many (or even half that many) AP courses. Although over 80% of high schools in the United States offer some type of AP class, the average number of AP classes taught hovers somewhere around 8.
Is 3 AP classes too much? ›Take as many as you can handle without spreading yourself thin, and make sure you will have time to study for the ACT or SAT this year. An Ivy League hopeful might take 3 to 5 AP classes, while if you're aiming for less-selective schools, 2 to 4 would be enough.
Is 14 AP classes good? ›How Many AP Classes to Take for Ivy Leagues and Other Top Schools in the US. For students aiming for the Ivy League and Top 20 schools in the United States, a good target is to take (and pass) 10-14 AP classes throughout your high school career — or 3-4 each year.
How many APs do you need for AP Scholar? ›Granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams.
Do AP classes help with scholarships? ›
Many colleges offer merit-based scholarships and grants for students based on their GPA, so taking an AP class could get your student closer to qualifying for these financial aid awards. In addition, many scholarships award funds based on a student's GPA or specific classes taken.
How much does 3 AP classes raise your GPA? ›GPA Weight
While honors courses usually add 0.5 points to your GPA, AP classes often add 1 point. In other words, a 3.5 GPA would be boosted to a 4.0 in an honors class and a 4.5 in an AP class.
| AP Class/Exam | Pass Rate (3+) | Perfect Score (5) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Physics 1 | 51.6% | 8.8% |
| 2. Environmental Science | 53.4% | 11.9% |
| 3. Chemistry | 56.1% | 10.6% |
| 4. U.S. Government and Politics | 57.5% | 15.5% |
Freshmen who have taken College Board Advanced Placement exams need a total of four full credits to be eligible for Advanced Standing. Credits are earned by scoring 5 on a minimum of four AP tests.
Is being an AP Scholar impressive? ›AP Scholar with Honor: Students who received a score of 3 or higher on 4 or more exams, and have an average score of at least 3.25 across all exams taken. Nationwide, only about 6% of students will graduate high school with this degree of recognition or higher.
Is being an AP Scholar a big deal? ›The AP Scholar with Honors award is the highest honor that can be given to an AP student. It's given to students who've earned a grade of 3 or higher on all AP exams and an average score of at least 3.25 on all other college-level courses during their last two years of high school.
Do colleges look at AP Scholar? ›Do Colleges Look at AP Scores for Admission? While you don't typically need to send official AP score reports to colleges you're applying to, some schools will have space on their applications for you to self-report your AP scores. And if your scores are on your application, admissions committees will see them.
Should I take an AP class in 9th grade? ›Yes, as long as you are prepared to complete college-level work. Read more about prerequisites and other rules. AP Human Geography is a popular AP course for 9th grade, and AP Seminar, AP Computer Science Principles, AP European History, and AP World History are popular for 10th.
What happens if you don't take AP classes? ›AP classes show colleges that you are challenging yourself, and can handle the academic rigor of a college-level course. Schools are aware of the amount of AP courses that are offered at your school and what level courses you take through your transcript. There isn't any harm if you don't take any AP classes.
Does Harvard care if you take AP classes? ›Does Harvard Accept AP Credit. Harvard does accept AP Credit for classes in which a student earned a 5 on the AP Exam. These credits are accepted under a program called “Advanced Standing.” To qualify, students must earn a 5 on a minimum of 4 AP tests, transferring a total of 32 credits.