Is it bad if you don't take AP classes?

If you're a good student and the school thinks you're a good match, you will get in. AP courses give you bonus points, but they are never required. Some high schools don't even offer AP courses. You'll be absolutely fine.

Do colleges care if you don't take AP classes?

If you are not interested in AP, it is absolutely fine. You can choose from contemporary courses like IB or Honors. If some other course interests you, then even that will work. Every college has its own admission criteria.

What if I never took an AP class?

Yes. We recommend taking the AP course before taking an AP Exam—but it's not required. We want to be sure homeschooled students and students in schools that don't offer AP can take AP Exams.

Is it OK to take no AP classes in high school?

Some high schoolers may worry that their lack of access to AP courses will hinder their chances of college admission. But admissions experts say students should simply focus on taking the most challenging courses they can at their school.

Should I feel bad for not taking AP classes?

There is nothing wrong with not choosing to take AP classes. No one should look down on you for that. It is better to take on level classes and get terrific grades than to take AP classes and not do well or not do as well. AP classes are not the be-all, end-all of things.

3 AP Courses I'd Never Take

Do you really need 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.

Does AP really matter?

While your score on the AP exam might not be reported, your enrollment in the class definitely is, as is your GPA, both of which can have a major impact on your chances of acceptance.

Can you get into Ivy League without AP?

It is still a possibility to get into an Ivy League without APs, but it would mean that your extracurriculars, essays, and your grades in school should be well built.

Can you take 0 AP classes?

There is nothing wrong with not choosing to take AP classes. No one should look down on you for that. It is better to take on level classes and get terrific grades than to take AP classes and not do well or not do as well. AP classes are not the be-all, end-all of things.

Is it OK to take no AP classes sophomore year?

It's completely fine to not take any APs freshman year. Ideally, you should pace yourself and limit the number of APs you take every year. 3 for sophomore year and 5 each for junior and senior year is going to feel much better than 8 junior year and 5 senior year.

What is the easiest AP class?

Is a B in an AP class good?

AP classes are designed to be much more challenging than grade-level classes, and a "B" in an AP class is typically equivalent to an "A" in a grade-level class.

Do I need to take AP classes to get into Harvard?

While Harvard will not grant college credit for your AP tests, the school does want to see that you have taken advantage of all of the opportunities that are available to you, including AP courses and tests. Some schools offer international baccalaureate classes.

What AP classes are the hardest?

What Is the Hardest AP Class? Looking at the numbers, the hardest AP test is Physics 1. In May 2022, just 43.3% of test-takers passed, and only 7.9% received a perfect score. Other hard AP exams include US History, Macroeconomics, Chemistry, and Calculus AB.

Is 2 AP classes too little?

College counselors recommend that students strive to take 5-8 AP classes throughout their high school career, especially if they are interested in attending a highly-selective institution such as an Ivy League college.

Are AP classes harder than GCSE?

AP should, for the most part, be harder than GCSEs because GCSEs are sat by 16 year olds. A better comparison would be AP and A-Levels. For the most part, from what I've heard, A-Levels are harder and more in-depth on a subject, but you only take 3–5 A-Levels. In the US, you do way more subjects at once.

Is 4 AP classes too little?

This is when you should start taking your AP core classes. Take three to five if you are aiming for a highly selective school, and two to four 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.

Is 7 AP classes enough for Ivy League?

Ivy League

To be a competitive candidate for admission, you will need to take at least 8 AP® classes, more if you can. It is a good idea to take 1 AP® course in each of the following core disciplines: English, Foreign Language, History, Math, and Science to impress the admissions officers.

Is 4 AP classes enough for Ivy League?

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.

Is 10 AP classes enough for Ivy League?

Most students who attend extremely selective schools have taken anywhere from 7 to 12 AP courses in high school, although there are exceptions to this rule. If a high school offers only a limited number of AP courses or none at all, colleges will not fault students for taking fewer of these classes.

Is a 1 on an AP exam bad?

Key Takeaway: AP students who earn a score of 1 or 2, or average a score of 1 or 2 across their AP Exams in high school, have better college outcomes than academically similar college students who did not take an AP course and exam.

Do AP classes matter anymore?

Yes and no. Some colleges do accept AP scores for credit hours, but others (especially top schools) will only accept high scores to place you out of introductory courses.

Is 9 AP classes enough?

9 APs is generally enough to be a competitive applicant to top schools. The main concern of colleges is not about the rigor of your course load per se, but whether you took the most challenging course load possible given your circumstances.

Is 8 AP classes enough for Ivy League?

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 AP required for Oxford?

Overall grade of 1.1-1.3, depending on the course. Grade 5 or A in three elective subjects, taken from either Category A or Category C. Either four APs at grade 5; Or three APs at grade 5 plus a score of 33 or above in the ACT or 1480 or above (out of 1600) in the SAT.