Top 10 Most Difficult AP Classes and Websites to Help You in Them
A morning that felt impossible
It’s 7 a.m., and you’re staring at your backpack, two notebooks, and a lab report due tonight.
You haven’t slept enough, and your practice problems still look like puzzles.
You’re juggling multiple difficult AP classes, and the AP course workload already feels relentless. (College Board).
That first-hour panic shows why these choices matter for you.
You don’t just need grit—you need strategy, better AP exam prep, and smart resources.
What you should know
- Time demands: some APs need daily practice and deliberate study sessions.
- Problem type: STEM APs often require multi-step reasoning, not just memorization.
- Writing load: humanities APs expect tight, evidence-based essays under the clock.
- Resource fit: the right website or practice test can cut hours off your study time.
You’ll see real differences in difficulty across subjects, and you’ll learn which sites match each class’s demands.
Table of Contents – Top 10 Most Difficult AP Classes
- AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
- AP Physics C: Mechanics
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Chemistry
- AP Physics 2
- Physics 1
- AP Calculus AB
- AP United States History (APUSH)
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP Music Theory
1. AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism
You’ll meet vector calculus and fields that demand both conceptual insight and algebraic fluency. Multi-step problems combine several concepts in one long solution.
Top-score range: roughly 25-35% of students score a 5 on this exam (College Board).
Why it challenges you:
- Problems combine calculus, vector reasoning, and careful sign conventions.
- Tiny algebra mistakes often ruin multi-step solutions.
- Lab-style thinking appears in free-response questions.
How you can approach it:
- Build calculus fluency with daily focused drills.
- Sketch field diagrams before computation.
- Turn past AP problems into timed practice sets.
Recommended sites:
| Site | What It Helps With |
|---|---|
| Khan Academy | Step-by-step tutorials for E&M concepts |
| The Princeton Review | AP-style practice exams and test strategies |
| College Board AP Central | Official past exam questions and scoring guides |
| BestColleges | Study guides and explanations for physics topics |
2. AP Physics C: Mechanics
You’ll apply derivatives and integrals to motion problems that require precise setup. Many tasks involve multi-step reasoning combining algebra and calculus.
Top-score range: about 20-30% earn a 5 (College Board).
Why it challenges you:
- Translate physical scenarios into calculus equations.
- Vector decomposition and torque problems appear frequently.
- Speed and accuracy both matter during exams.
How you can approach it:
- Practice problems until procedures feel automatic.
- Review derivations with peers to reduce careless mistakes.
- Break complex problems into smaller steps.
Recommended sites:
| Site | What It Helps With |
|---|---|
| Khan Academy | Mechanics concept tutorials and problem walkthroughs |
| The Princeton Review | Practice exams and stepwise problem-solving tips |
| College Board AP Central | Past exams and scoring rubrics |
| BestColleges | Study guides and example problems |
3. AP Calculus BC
You’ll cover integration techniques, sequences, and series at a fast pace. The AP course workload can feel overwhelming without consistent study.
Top-score range: about 38-50% achieve a 5 (College Board).
Why it challenges you:
- The syllabus includes both AB and BC topics, plus series testing.
- Fast recognition of which technique to use is critical.
- Cumulative assessments demand long-term practice.
How you can approach it:
- Test yourself on formulas weekly.
- Mix short daily exercises with longer timed practice.
- Practice AP-style free-response questions under timed conditions.
Recommended sites:
| Site | What It Helps With |
|---|---|
| CollegeVine | Concept explanations and difficulty rankings |
| BestColleges | Worked examples and study guides |
| Khan Academy | Integration and series practice problems |
| The Princeton Review | AP-style practice quizzes and timed exams |
4. AP Chemistry
You’ll juggle equilibrium, kinetics, and lab reasoning alongside quantitative calculations. Conceptual understanding is essential.
Top-score range: about 10-20% earn a 5 (College Board).
Why it challenges you:
- Connect symbolic chemistry to real lab data.
- Stoichiometry errors cascade through multi-part problems.
- Thermodynamics and kinetics require conceptual clarity and math skill.
How you can approach it:
- Keep neat lab notes to translate experiments into equations.
- Practice equilibrium and rate problems regularly.
- Combine conceptual flashcards with calculation drills.
Recommended sites:
| Site | What It Helps With |
|---|---|
| Khan Academy | Concept tutorials and problem walkthroughs |
| The Princeton Review | Lab-focused tips and practice exams |
| College Board AP Central | Past exam questions and scoring guidelines |
| BestColleges | Step-by-step example problems |
5. AP Physics 2
You’ll face fluids, thermodynamics, optics, and modern physics with strong conceptual emphasis.
Top-score range: 8-20% earn a 5 (College Board).
Why it challenges you:
- Many topics rely on conceptual interpretation over rote math.
- Experiment interpretation and graph reading are frequent.
- Concepts connect across units; systems-level thinking is key.
How you can approach it:
- Translate experiments into predicted graphs first.
- Practice short explanatory answers to strengthen reasoning.
- Review applied physics visuals for waves, optics, and fluids.
Recommended sites:
| Site | What It Helps With |
|---|---|
| Khan Academy | Applied physics examples and tutorials |
| The Princeton Review | Timed practice exams and conceptual guidance |
| College Board AP Central | Official past exams and scoring rubrics |
| BestColleges | Study guides for AP Physics 2 topics |
6. AP Physics 1
You’ll rely heavily on reasoning and problem-solving over formula memorization. Conceptual understanding drives most questions.
Top-score range: roughly 5-20% earn a 5 (College Board).
Why it challenges you:
- Newtonian mechanics is applied in multi-step problems.
- Limited formulas require deeper conceptual understanding.
- Small algebraic errors can lead to major mistakes.
How you can approach it:
- Review force, motion, and energy concepts daily.
- Break down problems step by step before calculating.
- Incorporate AP exam prep questions into weekly routines.
Recommended sites:
| Site | What It Helps With |
|---|---|
| Khan Academy | Concept tutorials and problem walkthroughs |
| The Princeton Review | Timed practice exams and strategies |
| College Board AP Central | Past exams and scoring rubrics |
| BestColleges | Stepwise example problems and study guides |
7. AP Calculus AB
This foundational calculus course moves quickly, and cumulative assessments increase the AP course workload.
Top-score range: about 18-25% earn a 5 (College Board).
Why it challenges you:
- Limits, derivatives, and integrals require fluency.
- Free-response problems test reasoning and application.
- Time pressure makes consistent practice crucial.
How you can approach it:
- Memorize formulas and practice derivations regularly.
- Complete past AP exams under timed conditions.
- Combine short daily exercises with longer problem sets.
Recommended sites:
| Site | What It Helps With |
|---|---|
| CollegeVine | Concept explanations and walkthroughs |
| BestColleges | Worked examples and guided practice |
| Khan Academy | Derivatives, integrals, and application problems |
| The Princeton Review | Timed quizzes and exam-style problems |
8. AP United States History (APUSH)
You’ll synthesize heavy reading loads and write timed essays that emphasize critical thinking.
Top-score range: roughly 10–15% earn a 5 (College Board).
Why it challenges you:
- Requires memorization of large timelines and key events.
- Document-based questions demand evidence-based analysis.
- Essays must connect causes, effects, and context quickly.
How you can approach it:
- Create timelines and summaries for major periods.
- Practice DBQs under timed conditions.
- Use review books and practice quizzes for concept reinforcement.
Recommended sites:
| Site | What It Helps With |
|---|---|
| The Princeton Review | DBQ practice and essay strategies |
| Khan Academy | APUSH videos and topic summaries |
| College Board AP Central | Past exams and scoring guidelines |
| BestColleges | Timeline and study resources for APUSH |
9. AP English Language and Composition
You’ll analyze rhetoric and write timed essays requiring textual evidence.
Top-score range: roughly 8-14% earn a 5 (College Board).
Why it challenges you:
- Analyzing style, tone, and argument structure under time pressure is difficult.
- Essays must clearly convey thesis and evidence.
- Multiple-choice questions test nuanced reading comprehension.
How you can approach it:
- Annotate passages for rhetorical strategies.
- Write practice essays under timed conditions.
- Review sample essays to understand scoring standards.
Recommended sites:
| Site | What It Helps With |
|---|---|
| CollegeVine | Essay examples and analysis tips |
| BestColleges | Practice questions and reading guides |
| The Princeton Review | Timed essay strategies and multiple-choice prep |
| Khan Academy | Rhetorical devices and reading comprehension tutorials |
10. AP Music Theory
You’ll analyze harmony, sight-sing, and apply ear-training under time pressure.
Top-score range: roughly 10-20% earn a 5 (College Board).
Why it challenges you:
- You must read and interpret complex harmonic progressions quickly.
- Sight-singing and aural exercises test musical perception.
- Timed tasks require both theory knowledge and applied skill.
How you can approach it:
- Practice sight-singing daily.
- Analyze chords and harmonic progressions.
- Review ear-training exercises consistently.
Recommended sites:
| Site | What It Helps With |
|---|---|
| Khan Academy | Music theory tutorials and exercises |
| The Princeton Review | Timed practice exams and study strategies |
| College Board AP Central | Past exams and scoring rubrics |
| BestColleges | Step-by-step theory guides and practice exercises |
Mastering Your AP Journey
Managing difficult AP classes isn’t just about memorizing formulas or dates—it’s about planning, strategy, and building confidence for the exams. By understanding the unique challenges of each class, you can focus on what truly matters.
Understanding Your Workload
High school students often underestimate the hours needed to excel. For difficult AP classes, the workload can easily double compared to standard courses.
Tips to manage your workload:
- Break large projects into smaller, manageable tasks.
- Create weekly calendars for each AP class to track priorities.
- Focus on assignments that impact your exam most.
- Mix short study sessions with longer, focused blocks.
By tracking your AP course workload, you reduce stress and gain control over even the toughest difficult AP classes.
Smart AP Exam Prep
Effective preparation for difficult AP classes is more than reviewing notes. You need active recall, timed practice, and problem-solving strategies.
Strategies for better results:
- Complete past AP exams under timed conditions.
- Focus on weaker topics first; repetition strengthens retention.
- Use online platforms like Khan Academy or The Princeton Review for structured AP exam prep.
- Form study groups to discuss challenging concepts.
Structured AP exam prep improves confidence and performance, even in the most demanding difficult AP classes.
Leveraging Study Skills Across APs
Some skills transfer across multiple difficult AP classes:
- Note-taking: Organize concepts, highlight connections, review daily.
- Time management: Allocate study blocks based on AP course workload and exam difficulty.
- Problem-solving techniques: Identify patterns in STEM APs and apply frameworks in essays.
- Active review: Summarize, quiz yourself, and teach peers.
When you consistently apply these skills, your AP course workload feels manageable, and your performance in difficult AP classes improves significantly.
Your Next Step
Understanding the most challenging courses, planning your time, and using effective study strategies creates a roadmap to success. You’re not just learning content—you’re learning how to conquer difficult AP classes efficiently.
Which strategies will you use first to tackle your most challenging difficult AP classes?
References
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https://reports.collegeboard.org/ap-program-results/class-of-2024
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College Board. AP Data and Research. AP Central, College Board
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/ap-data-research
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https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2019/2019430.pdf
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U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. Civil Rights Data Collection — Data Story: Equity in Access to College Preparatory Opportunities
https://ocrdata.ed.gov/What-is-CRDC
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https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-college-physics-1
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https://www.princetonreview.com/college/ap-test-prep
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CollegeVine. “AP Classes Ranked by Difficulty.” CollegeVine Blog, 18 June 2025
https://blog.collegevine.com/ap-classes-ranked-by-difficulty
Accessed 14 Jan. 2026
BestColleges. “What Are the Hardest AP Classes and Tests?” BestColleges, 11 July 2025
https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/hardest-ap-classes/
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Brookings Institution. “Tracking and Advanced Placement.” Brookings
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/tracking-and-advanced-placement/
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College Board. AP Students in College: A Review of Key Research (research review). AP Central, College Board (pdf)
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-students-in-college.pdf
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Long, Michael C., et al. “Life on the Frontier of AP Expansion: Can Schools in Less-Advantaged Areas Successfully Implement AP Science?” PLoS/PMC (article), 2019
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7269181/
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University of Colorado. A Survey of Research on Post-secondary Outcomes for AP Students (AP research summary). CU.edu (pdf)
https://www.cu.edu/sites/default/files/AP_Research.pdf
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