How to Survive AP Classes Without Losing Your Mind

TL;DR

Don't take too many APs at once, stay on top of readings daily, use study groups, and remember: a B in an AP class is often worth more than an A in a regular class. Colleges care about challenge, not perfection.

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The Truth About AP Classes Nobody Tells You

Here's what every AP student eventually realizes: AP classes are basically college courses taught to high schoolers. The workload is real, the material is dense, and the exams are long.

But here's what teachers and counselors sometimes forget to mention: you're not supposed to take every AP class your school offers. You're not supposed to sacrifice your sleep, mental health, and social life for a transcript. And getting a B in AP is NOT the end of the world.

I'm going to give you the real talk about surviving AP classes — the strategies that actually work, the mistakes to avoid, and when it's okay to say "this is too much."

How Many AP Classes Should You Take?

This is the most common question, and the answer depends on your grade level and goals:

Sophomore Year: 1-2 APs

Start small. Popular first APs include:

• AP Human Geography (considered one of the easiest)
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Psychology
• AP World History (if you're a strong reader)

These courses introduce you to AP-level workload without drowning you.

Junior Year: 2-4 APs

This is the year colleges look at most closely. Choose APs in subjects you're actually interested in and strong at:

• AP English Language
• AP US History
• AP Biology / Chemistry / Physics
• AP Calculus AB (if you're ready)

Senior Year: 2-4 APs (or fewer)

By senior year, you know your limits. Don't overload yourself — you still need to handle college applications, senioritis, and actually enjoying your last year of high school.

The Golden Rule

Never take more APs than you can handle while still sleeping 7+ hours a night. An exhausted student with a 3.7 GPA and burnout is worse off than a well-rested student with a 3.5 GPA who actually learned stuff.

The AP Classes Ranked by Difficulty

Every student's experience is different, but here's a general ranking based on student surveys and pass rates:

Generally Easier APs

• AP Psychology
• AP Environmental Science
• AP Human Geography
• AP Computer Science Principles
• AP Government and Politics

Medium Difficulty

• AP English Language
• AP World History
• AP US History
• AP Biology
• AP Statistics
• AP Calculus AB

Generally Harder APs

• AP Chemistry
• AP Physics C
• AP Calculus BC
• AP English Literature
• AP European History
• AP Computer Science A

Important: "Easy" and "hard" are relative. If you hate reading, AP World History will feel brutal even though it's "medium." If you love science, AP Chemistry might click even though it's "hard." Choose based on YOUR strengths.

Daily Survival Strategies

1. Do the Reading (Even When You Don't Want To)

The #1 mistake AP students make is falling behind on readings. AP classes move fast, and once you're behind, catching up is brutal.

Hack: You don't need to read every word. Learn to read actively:

• Read the chapter introduction and conclusion first
• Read the first and last sentence of each paragraph
• Pay attention to bold terms, charts, and review questions
• Take brief notes as you go

15-20 minutes of active reading beats 45 minutes of passive "reading" (where you're actually scrolling your phone between paragraphs).

2. Take Notes That You'll Actually Use

AP teachers throw a LOT of information at you. You can't memorize everything, so your notes need to be strategic.

What works:

• Cornell Notes (divide your page into notes + summary sections)
• Writing questions in the margins ("Why did this happen?")
• Color-coding by theme or unit
• Summarizing each day's lesson in 2-3 sentences

What doesn't work:

• Copying the textbook word-for-word
• Taking no notes and "trusting your memory"
• Writing so much that you can't review efficiently

3. Don't Wait Until the Test to Study

AP exams cover an ENTIRE year of material. If you wait until May to start reviewing, you'll be staring at 30 chapters of content and panicking.

Instead, review as you go:

• Spend 10 minutes each weekend reviewing that week's material
• Make flashcards (digital or physical) throughout the semester
• After each unit test, set aside the concepts you struggled with for later review

This is called distributed practice, and it's scientifically proven to work better than cramming.

4. Form a Study Group (But Keep It Small)

A good study group has 3-5 people who:

• Actually study (not just socialize)
• Are at similar levels
• Can teach each other different concepts
• Meet regularly (weekly or before tests)

Study group activities that work:

• Quizzing each other with flashcards
• Going through past AP exam questions together
• Explaining concepts to each other (teaching is the best way to learn)
• Reviewing each other's essays or lab reports

5. Use AP-Specific Resources

Your textbook and class notes aren't always enough. These resources are gold:

Free:

• AP Classroom (College Board) — official practice questions and videos
• Khan Academy — great for AP Math and Science
• YouTube: Heimler's History (AP History), Professor Dave (AP Science), The Organic Chemistry Tutor
• Reddit: r/APStudents — study guides, tips, and exam-day advice from real students

Paid:

• Princeton Review / Barron's AP prep books (~$15-20 each)
• Albert.io — practice questions with detailed explanations
• Fiveable — live review sessions and study guides

The AP Exam: What to Expect

AP exams happen in May over a two-week period. Each exam is 2-3+ hours long and includes:

Multiple Choice Section

• Usually 40-55% of your score
• You get a question booklet and fill in a scantron
• No penalty for guessing — ANSWER EVERY QUESTION

Free Response Section

• Usually 45-60% of your score
• Short-answer questions, essays, or problems (depends on the subject)
• This is where strong writing and clear thinking make the difference

Scoring

• Raw scores are converted to a 1-5 scale
• 5: Extremely qualified
• 4: Well qualified
• 3: Qualified (most colleges give credit for 3+)
• 2: Possibly qualified
• 1: No recommendation

What Score Do You Need?

It depends on the college. Most give credit for a 3 or higher, but selective schools often require a 4 or 5. Check your target schools' AP credit policies.

AP Exam Prep: The 3-Week Sprint

Start your focused AP exam prep 3 weeks before your exam date:

Week 3 Before: Review your notes and textbook chapter by chapter. Identify the 5 units you're weakest on.

Week 2 Before: Do practice AP exam questions (use AP Classroom or prep books). Focus on free-response questions since they're worth more.

Week 1 Before: Take a full-length practice exam under timed conditions. Review your wrong answers. Do light review the day before.

Night Before: Lay out your supplies (pencils, calculator, ID, snacks). Set your alarm. Get 8 hours of sleep. Do NOT cram — it won't help at this point.

When to Drop an AP Class

There's no shame in dropping an AP class. Here are signs it might be the right call:

✅ You're consistently getting below a C despite real effort ✅ The class is affecting your grades in other courses ✅ Your mental health is seriously suffering ✅ You're sleeping less than 6 hours a night because of this one class ✅ You took the class because of pressure, not interest

How to Drop Without Hurting Your Application

• Talk to your counselor about the best timing
• Switch to the regular version of the same class if possible
• Be prepared to explain the change if colleges ask (a brief, honest answer works fine)
• Remember: colleges would rather see you thriving in fewer APs than drowning in too many

The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything

Here's the truth about AP classes and college admissions:

Colleges care about challenge, not perfection.

An admissions officer who sees you took 4 AP classes and got B's is often more impressed than someone who avoided all APs and got straight A's. They want to see that you challenged yourself, not that you played it safe.

So stop obsessing over getting an A in every AP class. A B in AP Chemistry shows you took on a challenge. An A in regular Chemistry shows... you took a regular class. The B in AP often says more about you.

This doesn't mean grades don't matter. It means a B in a hard class is okay. Breathe.

Common AP Student Mistakes

1. Taking APs in subjects you hate. If you despise writing, AP English Lit will be miserable regardless of how "good" it looks.

2. Comparing yourself to overachievers. That kid taking 7 APs is either a genius, a liar, or headed for burnout. Focus on YOUR plan.

3. Ignoring the AP exam. Some students ace the class but bomb the exam because they didn't prep specifically for the AP test format. They're different.

4. Not asking for help. Your AP teacher WANTS you to come to office hours. Other students are struggling too. You're not weak for needing help — you're smart for seeking it.

5. Sacrificing everything for AP classes. You still need to eat, sleep, exercise, see friends, and do things that make you happy. Academics are important, but they're not everything.

Let Gradily Help With AP Writing

From AP English essays to AP History DBQs, writing is a huge part of most AP exams. Gradily can help you brainstorm, outline, and draft practice essays that sharpen your skills — without doing the work for you.

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Your AP Survival Checklist

• Choose APs based on interest AND ability (not peer pressure)
• Stay on top of daily readings
• Take strategic, reviewable notes
• Review material weekly (don't wait for exam season)
• Use AP Classroom and free online resources
• Form a small, focused study group
• Start exam prep 3 weeks before the test
• Sleep. Eat. Breathe. You're a human, not a GPA machine.

AP classes are hard. That's literally the point — they're supposed to be. But "hard" doesn't have to mean "miserable." With the right strategies and realistic expectations, you can learn a ton, build your college app, and still have a life.

Now go take on those AP classes. You've got this. 📚💪