How Many AP Classes Are There?: Full List

Reviewed by: Liam Taft

Published

23 June 2025

Contents

Advanced Placement courses are offered in a variety of disciplines, including English, Maths, computer science, history, social science, world languages and culture, and the arts. Let’s talk about how many AP classes you have to choose from and how to select the right ones for you.

So, How Many AP Classes Are There?

There are almost 40 AP courses offered through the Advanced Placement Program. High schools can select from the full list, but they may not offer all of them.

Some courses are required for entry into some university programs. There are a few popular choices, and some are very hard to pass. Of course, you do not have to take all 38 of them!

We’ll provide a full list of possible options, and some advice on how to pick the right AP courses for reaching your academic and career goals.

Full List of AP Classes

Here is a full list of available AP classes organized by the discipline they fall under. Keep in mind that availability may vary by school.

Arts

Art History
2-D Art & Design
3-D Art & Design
Drawing
Music Theory

English

English Language and Composition
English Literature

History and Social Sciences

African American Studies
Comparative Government & Politics
US Government & Politics
European History
Human Geography
Macroeconomics
Microeconomics
Psychology
US History
World History (Modern)

Maths & Computer Science

Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Computer Science A
Computer Science Principles
Precalculus
Statistics

Sciences

Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Physics 1 (Algebra-Based)
Physics 2 (Algebra-Based)
Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
Physics C: Mechanics

World Languages and Culture

Chinese Language and Culture
French Language and Culture
German Language and Culture
Italian Language and Culture
Japanese Language and Culture
Latin
Spanish Language and Culture
Spanish Literature and Culture

Which AP Classes Are Compulsory?

AP classes are not required to get into most universities. The College Board doesn’t mandate any specific AP classes for students. However, some schools have some AP class requirements.

Taking AP classes can strengthen your college application. Universities often favour students who have challenged themselves academically and demonstrate their preparedness for college-level studies.

Some AP classes look better to college entrance boards than others. For example, AP Calculus BC and AP Physics are some of the most challenging courses. Excelling in these can enhance college applications significantly.

Schools may also give more value to other rigorous options like AP US History, AP World History, and AP Statistics.

The credit potential is higher for more challenging AP courses. Here are a few specific courses and their credit potential, which may vary between schools.

AP Calculus BC: May earn 6 to 8 credits and may translate to Calculus I and II.
AP Physics C (Both exams): Can potentially earn 7 credits and cover introductory physics courses.
AP Biology: Sometimes covers credit for an entire year of introductory biology, including the lab.
AP English Language & Composition: Can potentially earn 4 to 5 credits, depending on the university.
AP U.S. History: Can potentially earn 4 to 6 credits.
AP Computer Science A: Might exempt students from introductory computer science courses.
AP Psychology: May potentially earn 3 credits.
AP Spanish Language and Literature: Has the potential of earning 16 credits.

How to Choose Your AP Subjects

Selecting AP classes should be done strategically. Here are five things for you to consider when you are trying to determine which AP courses will best meet your academic and career needs.

Your Academic Strengths and Weaknesses

Do an honest self-assessment of your academic strengths and weaknesses. For instance, if you do well in maths, consider taking AP courses like statistics, calculus, or computer science. But if maths isn’t your strongest subject, don’t put that extra pressure on yourself.

If you typically do well in science, consider taking AP Chemistry or AP Physics. Students who enjoy and excel in the arts and humanities may consider AP classes in art history, music theory, foreign languages, or English Literature.

Your Academic Workload

It’s easy for high school students to set unrealistic expectations for themselves, especially when they want to attend a top school. Taking on too much can lead to too much pressure and burnout, instead of helping you to succeed.

Consider your overall workload, including volunteer work, after-school jobs, student activities, and extracurriculars.

If you are already busy, taking too many AP classes can derail you instead of helping you. Also, remember that SP classes have different difficulty levels, and some are more demanding than others.

Teacher and School Reputations

Teachers and schools have their own strengths and weaknesses. There are teachers who have a knack for teaching some subjects. Some schools have better reputations for helping students pass specific AP exams.

If possible, choose a teacher who has a good reputation. They are more likely to help you succeed in AP classes. Ask your school about reports of pass rates for AP classes and exams. Knowing those pass rates can help you evaluate teacher capabilities.

Prospective College’s AP Credit Policies

Colleges and universities have their own policies for granting AP class credits. Some cap the number of credits students can earn for their AP classes. Others accept credit for specific classes, or only offer credit if the student earns a 4 or 5.

If you know where you want to apply, research the AP credit policies of your prospective schools. This way, you can strategically pick AP courses and exams so you get the most out of them.

Personal Interests and Career Goals

While you are weighing the practical considerations we’ve just presented, you should also keep your own interests in sight. If you love European history or Latin, enrol in those courses. If you are still deciding on a college major to pursue, take AP classes that you are interested in and those you know you can excel in.

If you already have an idea of the career you hope to pursue, select AP classes based on this goal. Is your goal to go into the medical field? Then you’ll want to focus on science classes.

How Many AP Classes Should I Take?

The number of AP classes you should take will depend on your specific academic and career goals.

One thing that will help you determine how many you should take is the competitiveness of your college choices. The more selective your school of choice, the more AP classes you’ll want to take.

It’s also important to consider that scholarships are often earned by students who challenge themselves academically by taking AP courses.

If you are interested in studying at highly selective schools, they will expect you to take 3 to 5 AP courses, including core subjects. If you are planning on attending one of the less selective schools, you may only need to take 2 to 4 AP classes.

Check with the schools you are considering to see if they offer credit toward placement for AP exams. This can influence how many AP classes you need to take.

What Happens If I Don’t Like My AP Classes?

If you dislike your AP classes, talk to your teacher or counsellor, switch to a different class if you can, or focus on other areas of your education. It’s critical to protect your mental health, and if your AP class choices are negatively affecting you, prioritize your well-being above all else.

Final Thoughts

Taking AP courses in high school can be beneficial for students who want to pursue university studies. Doing well on AP exams can earn college credits in some classes, which can save time and money. Taking AP courses also demonstrates to college entrance boards that students are dedicated to succeeding academically.

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