Is AP Biology easy or hard? Read on to discover why we’ve given AP Biology a difficulty rating of “Quite Hard”, based on our unparalleled, deep-dive analysis of 2024 (and historic) pass rate data and over 3200 course reviews from alumnae.

An overview of the data: how hard is AP Biology?

Here’s an overview of all the data we’ve analysed on AP Biology, from both 2024 pass rates and alumnae reviews:

  • AP Biology is considered quite hard, with class alumnae rating it 6.4/10 for overall difficulty
    • That makes it the 9th-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes we surveyed
  • The pass rate is average vs other AP classes, with 68% graduating with a 3 or higher
  • AP Bio is very widely-taken (260,000 entries last year)
  • And 97% of alumnae would recommend the class
Overview graphic showing all 2024 data and alumnae ratings for AP Biology with footnotes on assessments

Alumnae recommendations: the tl;dr

Whilst AP Bio rates as quite hard, alumnae reviews suggest the course is enjoyable (more on that below!).

What’s more, they think that you’ll do well if you study/practice regularly and you understand the larger concepts that link together the units. Practicing for the FRQs is also an important component to success in AP Biology.

Taking a visual comparison:

Here’s a visual on how AP Biology compares compares to other classes, by difficulty, the amount of study time required, and class size:

Bubble chart showing AP Biology compared to all other main AP classes as rated by alumnae reviews

We’ve only highlighted AP Bio and the related scientific classes (Chemistry, Psychology and Environmental Science). But you can see the full multi-coloured version of this chart in our popular, definitive difficulty ranking of ALL the AP classes!

Psst: we’ve also got deep-dives into AP Chemistry, AP Psychology, and AP Environmental Science if you want a full comparison!

Behind the scenes: our Data Analyst and methodology

Exam Study Expert founder William Wadsworth in a library. He is smiling.

Exam Study Expert founder William Wadsworth is a Cambridge University trained psychologist and data analyst. Since he first started crunching AP data in 2019, over half a million AP students have used his difficulty ratings analysis to choose their AP classes.

Additional research, graphics, and article review by Kerri-Anne Edinburgh, PhD

Analysing AP class data: the methodology

We want to be transparent about how we research, collect and analyse the AP data we use to provide you with our assessments and recommendations. This methodology gives a brief outline of our source material and analytical processes:

Please click here to learn more about our rigorous editorial policies here at Exam Study Expert.

Source material for AP data:

We use two primary sources of data:

  1. Pass rate data from College Board itself, including the proportion of students who pass overall (3+ score) and the proportion of students who score a 5. This data is taken from the College Board website plus tweets from Head of AP Trevor Packer, which include the score breakdown and numbers of students taking each class.
  2. Student reviews posted by users from r/APStudents who actually took the AP courses (as of 2024 the dataset includes 3,295 reviews). These reviews include a rating for:
    • Overall difficulty rating
    • Difficulty if self-studying
    • How much time is required

The data we post is based on College Board’s June data release and may shift slightly as late-arriving exams are scored. This shift has historically been negligible.

How we evaluate and use the data on AP classes:

We consider class alumnae’s difficulty ratings to be the most reliable indicator of difficulty, more so than pass rate.

Pass rate, or percentage of students scoring a certain grade, is a misleading metric for two main reasons:

  1. Some classes attract highly able students, so may have a high pass rate, but this is more a reflection of the calibre of students taking the class. This particularly applies to language classes.
  2. Research has shown that popular, widely taken AP classes tend to have lower passing rates. So, a low passing rate could indicate a larger variety of student skill, not necessarily class difficulty.

Our assessments of course difficulty

We have given each every AP class a graded ranking of difficulty, primarily based on class alumnae difficulty ratings. Many other important factors are taken into consideration when making our recommendations for how easy or hard you may find the AP course.

The rankings are determined as followed:

  • Very Easy – scores less than 4.0
  • Quite Easy – scores between 4.0 and 4.9
  • Moderate Difficulty – scores between 5.0 and 5.9
  • Quite Hard – scores between 6.0 and 6.9
  • Very Hard – scores more than 7.0

You should take every available metric into account when making your choice of AP classes. Remember that some students tend to find certain fields easier or harder than others, based on pre-existing experience.

And remember, as College Board’s Trevor Packer reminds us, an AP score is only one indicator of student learning and achievement.

A deep dive into the 2024 data on AP Biology

If you want to know more about how AP Bio stacks up against the average AP class, and against previous years’ results: read on for five charts that set out all the data you could want.

1. Difficulty: a look at the ratings

AP Bio is considered quite hard, with class alumnae rating it 6.4/10 for overall difficulty, making it the 9th-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes surveyed.

Graph showing difficulty ratings for AP Biology from alumnae reviews

2. The AP Bio pass rate in 2024

In 2024, the pass rate for AP Biology was exactly average compared with other AP classes, at 68%.

The highest number of students received a passing grade of 3, a little higher than the all-AP average, and 16% attained a 5 – that’s pretty good.

Graph comparing AP Biology 2024 pass rate data to the all-AP average

3. So, how does this compare to the last five years?

Over the many years we’ve been doing this analysis, we’ve learnt that AP pass rates can fluctuate wildly. So get a better picture, let’s examine the score distribution for the past five years of exams – all the way back to 2020:

The AP Bio score distribution has fluctuated somewhat by 8% over the past 5 years of exams, between a low of 61% in 2021 and a high of 69% in 2020. And we’re nearly back at that high in 2024.

Chart showing the AP Bio score distribution between 2020 and 2024

4. How time consuming will AP Bio be?

According to the data from class alumnae, AP Biology is rated as quite time-intensive relative to other AP classes. That may make it a harder class for you.

N.B. A survey of AP alumnae asked for a rating out of 10 for time needed to study each class. 1 = least time needed, 10 = most time. The average rating for AP Biology was 6.5/10 (vs the average across all AP classes of 5.4/10).

Graph showing alumnae time required ratings for AP Bio

5. How hard is it to self-study for AP Biology?

According to class alumnae, AP Biology is rated as quite hard to self-study relative to other AP classes.

N.B. A survey of AP alumnae asked for a rating out of 10 for how easy each class is to self study. 1 = easiest to self study, 10 = hardest to self study. The average rating for AP Biology was 6.8/10 (vs the average across all AP classes of 5.7/10).

Reviewing the course: 165 alumnae share their experiences

If you’re looking forward to taking AP Biology, it’s important to take both the positive and negative feedback in context. There are multiple factors that could contribute to a great or poor experience of the class, such as your teacher, struggling with science, and your personal preferences as a learner.

An impressive 97% of AP Biology alumnae would recommend the class.

The majority of the reviews focus on course enjoyment, understanding larger concepts and particular topics, the importance of regular studying, and helpful resources. We’ve collated a selection that give a variety of advice on common topics:

1.      Many students found AP Bio challenging but fun

“It was the hardest class alive ever taken but also one of the most fun and mind changing, I truly loved it” – Score: 4

“I absolutely loved this class. It really helps that my teacher made it enjoyable. Since I loved it so much, I really wanted to do well. I ended up with a 99.5% in the class, but I did a lot of independent studying. Make sure that you really like the subject. If you don’t, it’ll be difficult to motivate yourself to study.” – Score: 5

“Fun class if you like biology. I took it alongside w AP Chemistry and i actually recommend doing both in the same year bc there is a lot of overlap.” – Score: 4

“’It’s a lot of stuff to learn and requires good notetaking and work ethic but it’s by no means impossible.“ – Score: 4

2.      AP Biology is all about understanding and applying concepts

Focus on big concepts that can apply to many different topics e.g. conformational change, specific shape for specific function, etc. Make sure you know vocab, it’s very easy to mix up similar words for things that have very different properties. Don’t just memorize what happens- understand WHY it happens.” – Score: 4

“Not a hard test if you know the general concepts. Lots of work if you take the class though.” – Score: 5

“Doing well on this exam seems more about breadth of study, not depth. Beyond that, much of the exam seems rather interpretive.” – Score: 4

“I found that memorization is not that helpful in this class; understanding the material and knowing how to apply it is far more useful.” – Score: 4

“Understanding concepts like photosynthesis/cell respiration is helpful, sometimes you just have to use logic to figure out the questions” – Score: 4

“Make sure you know your models and diagrams; they show up everywhere on tests so you need to be able to understand how they function. Labs IMO are really useful in understanding concepts so focus on them as well. Would recommend if you’re only juggling maybe 3 or 4 APs.” – Score: 5

3.      There are lots of topics worth focusing on

“Cellular respiration is probably the hardest topic to learn, some are really hard to fully understand if you don’t comprehend the basic chemical structure of biomolecules, so try to take your time and learn the structures of biomolecules” – Score: 4

“While understanding the molecular part of the course can be rather intimidating and quite confusing at times, taking time to memorize these processes is important and using visual aids will definitely help.” – Score: 5

“Don’t get caught up in the extreme specifics when reviewing microbiology/cellular energetics.” – Score: 5

“My teacher gave us access to all of the past exams teachers have access to, which were really good to show that you shouldn’t bother too hard with the labs; reading the manual is really most of what we did. also, focus less on rote memorization of details – unless you happen to know every single piece of biology ever, it’s much better to practice connecting concepts unless it’s neurons. you need to know everything about neurons.’ – Score: 5

“Organize notes thoroughly, understand concepts completely from the start – every topic builds on the last one and it’s a lot easier if you understand how the units connect and relate to each other.” – Score: 5

4.      Get to grips with what the exam requires …

“Know that the AP Exam is more similar to the ACT than other AP Exams are, in that application of concepts is more important than rote memorization.” – Score: 5

“The test is more reading comprehension through the lens of a science course rather than a serious science course like AP Chemistry or AP Physics.” – Score: 5

“The tests are hard because they rely a lot more on application of concepts than they do of rote memorization, which is what many students are more used to. It’s a very difficult course, but if you work hard and study a lot you can probably get at least an A minus.” – Score: 3

“The new exam is nearly completely logic based, so on one hand it may be very easy, on the other hand it can be therefore difficult to prepare for.” – Score: 5

“’Make sure to be able to apply the knowledge you learn in class to the questions on the AP test, because about 90% of the questions on the exam will have terms you have probably never heard of, but that’s okay; you just need to know what the question is asking you.” – Score: 4

“Exam is not based on remembering information – more about making inferences and applying info usually in experiments’ – Score: 4

“Your score on the exam is dependent on how well you can apply concepts to different scenarios. Practice past frqs and do all the CB exams and you should get a 5. the exam is not very hard either.” – Score: 3

5. … especially the FRQs

“LEARN EXACTLY HOW TO WRITE BIOLOGY FRQS ANSWER, I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH. Get straight to the point, no flowery language, and ANSWER THE QUESTION. A lot of students make too many archaic mistakes or write too much. Also read your textbook. It can help you get more info or understand a concept, but don’t rely on it too much.” – Score: 4

“Practice, practice, practice free response questions. You can know every little detail in Campbell and still not get a 5 if you can’t answer a free response question well. The multiple choice is super easy because it’s mostly common sense, and 50% of your score is frq, so a lot of your focus should be going toward practicing answering frqs.” – Score: 5

“For the exam itself, make sure you’re calm – the 69 questions for MCQ are not easy to finish on time. Be quick in your reasoning and move on if you can’t figure something out. Just come back later – 1 mark won’t affect you as much as the marks you’d lose if you don’t finish the potentially easy questions at the end. … For FRQs, try to explain as succinctly and clearly as possible. Look at past student samples to guide your responses.” – Score: 5

6.      Students had varied opinions on self-studying

“AP Bio shouldn’t be self studied – even as an exam primarily reliant on critical thinking, it is also heavily reliant on random concepts and content from Honors, AP or normal Biology that you will likely not be able to revise without an AP course.” – Score: 5

“AP test in itself isn’t too difficult so self-studying is definitely a valid option.” – Score: 5

What does it take to succeed in the AP Bio exam?

Well, a good starting place is knowing what’s required of you – and what the experts say went well (or not!) this year:

What is AP Biology? Course Outline & Requirements

According to College Board:

“Students cultivate their understanding of biology through inquiry-based investigations as they explore the following topics: evolution, cellular processes, energy and communication, genetics, information transfer, ecology, and interactions.”

Prerequisites for AP Bio are the successful completion of high school courses in biology and chemistry.

There is also a laboratory requirement, that requires that “25 percent of the instructional time will be spent in hands-on laboratory work, with an emphasis on inquiry-based investigations that provide students with opportunities to apply the science practices”.

You will develop skills in:

  • Analyzing and explaining concepts and visual representations
  • Exploring scientific methods and data
  • Performing statistical tests to analyze and interpret data
  • Developing evidence-based arguments

The exam consists of one 3-hour exam. There will be 50% (90 minutes) of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and 50% (90 minutes) with 6 free-response questions.

For more details, see: College Board’s AP Biology course page.

Takeaways for success from the Head of AP

Every year as the exam results come out, College Board’s Head of AP, Trevor Packer, offers an update on what’s gone on in each subject this year, including what people found easy and hard.

In 2024, Trevor made the following comments about the AP Biology exam results:

  • “AP Biology MC questions: students score incredibly well across Ecology questions (Unit 8), with a massive 50% of students answering most or all such questions correctly. Performance on Cell Communication / Cell Cycle questions (Unit 4) was also very high.”
  • “The only unit where AP Biology students really struggled in the MC section was Gene Expression and Regulation (Unit 6); on average, students answered half of these questions correctly.”
  • “AP Biology FR questions: many students demonstrated such strong knowledge and skills on the scientific investigation (Q3); 22% of students earned every point possible on it. https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap24-frq-biology.pdf
  • The most difficult component of this year’s AP Biology Exam was FRQ5 (analysis of a model / visual); if you’re feeling up to a real challenge, give it a try: https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap24-frq-biology.pdf

How to (self) study for AP Bio, with advice from alumnae

Let’s turn back to those alumnae reviews. Many students who’ve taken the course also have great advice on how to study – and self-study – for the exam, including what to practice and the best resources. We’ve collated a selection for you:

1. Success in AP Bio often comes down to dedication!

Study every day; 10-30 minutes. when the ap test comes around, do all the practice tests you can find :)” – Score: 5

“Biology isn’t really that hard. A study group helps immensely IMO. Do a LOT of practice tests as well, and try to study at least 30 minutes every day. Before the test, get a good rest and good breakfast. You can do it!” – Score: 3

“If you do all homework and reading and devote an hour or two on the weekend to go over material you learned with a prep book, then you are good! I got a 3 due to the fact that I didn’t get enough sleep and was extremely stressed out, so don’t do that!” – Score: 3

Make sure you practice FRQs!! Time management is really important for the writing portion.” – Score: 4

“For the love of God, study. It’s not a class you can pass by bullshitting your way through. You’ve got to know what you’re talking about.” – Score: 4

“Study study study. None of the material is actually hard, it’s just a lot of stuff to learn.” – Score: 5”

Start reviewing early — DO NOT procrastinate. Practice tests from previous years are very helpful in trying to time yourself for the actual exam.” – Score: 3

Small, but regular study (review notes 2-3/week for 20-30 mins). Practice free response from early as poss.” – Score: 5

2. The test prep resources are really helpful if you struggle in class

“Use as many resources as you can get, including Fiveable, Seneca Learning, All review books, edX AP bio courses, collegeboard videos, past free response, Khan academy, and Youtube. With all these resources, you will most likely get a 5. I got a 4 btw, and just discovered most of these resources. I could have gotten a 5 if I prepared more.” – Score: 4

“Crash course/khan academy for topics that involve lots of mechanisms or steps (i.e. Hormones, cell signaling) if you don’t get it right away in class” – Score: 4

“Read and reread the Campbell AP Bio textbook, and make sure you are able to draw connections between biological concepts and key terms throughout different units (which will be helpful from FRQs on the AP exam, as it’s necessary to be able to analyze something by drawing on a bunch of info from a variety of units).” – Score: 5

“Crash Course and Khan Academy are good review for concepts you don’t really understand; draw diagrams and make review sheets for major processes(cell resp, photosynthesis, etc)” – Score: 4

“Reading Campbell’s Biology and doing all of the corresponding study guides was the most helpful for me as I self-studied for this exam.’ – Score: 5

“Study using Pearson Campbell textbook during the school year, it’s the best way to learn the information. 2-3 weeks before the exam, go through Khan Academy’s study material. It’s best if you test yourself using AP-style questions and FRQs to get used to them.” – Score: 5

“I just to advise all of you to read the textbook (Campbell) and only THEN use outside resources. The textbook is very thorough in terms of what you need to know. Also, try to memorize the vocab and diagrams as those will be very useful. Do a shit ton of practice FRQs and MCQs.” – Score: 5

3. Don’t just memorize: try to understand the concepts

“Review your notes/book and try to understand the material rather than only memorizing” – Score: 5

“Practice FRQs, don’t just memorize material but apply it to scenarios, and study!!” – Score: 3

“PAY ATTENTION!! There are so many details and stuff that paying attention will really help you grasp and understand everything, hopefully.” – Score: 3

“Bozeman, practice M/C and OE on Alvead or released College Board Tests while timing yourself, Study with a group, and don’t memorize tiny details, focus on the large picture.” – Score: 5

The best books and test prep resources for AP Biology

If you’re looking for the best books to study to help you ace AP Bio, well, we’ve also crunched the numbers on the available textbooks. Check out the winners, according to reviews from successful AP students, in our overview of the best AP study guides for every subject.

Where next?

Find out how AP Bio compares to other classes: click here for our popular, definitive overview of all AP Classes ranked by difficulty.

Or compare how AP Bio compares to other science courses with our deep-dives into AP Chemistry, AP Psychology, and AP Environmental Science.

If you’ve found our analysis helpful, have a question for our Data Analyst and AP expert, William – or just have some thoughts to share: please leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Good luck!

Exam Study Expert founder William Wadsworth in a library. He is smiling.

Exam Study Expert founder William Wadsworth is a Cambridge University trained psychologist and data analyst. Since he first started crunching AP data in 2019, over half a million AP students have used his difficulty ratings analysis to choose their AP classes. William’s research on effective study strategies has been presented at top education conferences and reported in The Times, and he also hosts the top-rated Exam Study Expert podcast, with 1 million downloads to date.

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