Is AP Macroeconomics Hard? A Complete Guide

In AP Macroeconomics, you learn about the economy on a broad scale. Students interested in accounting, finance, public policy, economics, and business administration may find this course helps prepare them for their college studies. For many, the goal is to earn college credit, advanced placement, or both.

Several key factors help determine the difficulty of AP classes and tests. These include the pass rate, exam score, content difficulty, and your academic strengths. According to the College Board, 122,639 students took the AP Macroeconomics exam in 2020, and 63.2% received a passing score of 3 or higher.

AP Macroeconomics focuses on the economies of countries and the world at large. The course starts with basic economic concepts like supply and demand and focuses on national income and price-level determination. Students also learn about the key economic performance indicators, including inflation, unemployment, and gross domestic product.

The course also covers topics like fiscal and monetary policy, the central bank’s control of the money supply, and producing long-run economic growth. Students gain an understanding of economic principles, models, and outcomes, and how to use graphs and visuals to model economic situations.

Commonly, the course content includes the following topics:

A good place to start when determining the difficulty of AP Macroeconomics is the pass and perfect score rates. Other key indicators include the course’s curriculum and your academic strengths. Consider asking yourself these five questions before taking an AP class.

Students must receive a score of 3 or higher to pass AP exams. The pass rate refers to the percentage of students who obtained 3 or better, while the perfect score reflects the percentage of students who received the top score of 5.

The following chart reveals that the AP Macroeconomics pass rate is about 8% lower than the average for all AP exams, while the number that achieved the perfect score aligns with the average. These numbers suggest that AP Macroeconomics falls into the slightly harder than average range.

Source: College Board

Keep in mind that several other factors play a considerable role in how you do on this exam. These include the strength of the teacher and school. If the class consistently demonstrates low pass rates, it may allude to experience level of the teacher. Of course, self-study can fill in the gaps.

For many students, this course is their first introduction to economics. This may mean that, while not overly complex, it requires studying and learning new concepts.

The good news is that the course starts with the basics and builds from there. Taking the time to grasp the concepts as the class progresses can help develop the knowledge required to pass this exam. Additionally, you’ll cover less material when compared to content-heavy courses like AP U.S. History.

Your academic strengths and background knowledge carry a bit of weight when determining the difficulty level of an AP course and exam. In AP Macroeconomics, students use charts, graphs, and data to explain economic concepts. They may also determine economic outcomes based on certain situations.

This type of exam requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills. If you consider these your strong suits, you may find this exam easier than others.

Students typically take AP Macroeconomics in their senior year, though some students may choose to take it in their junior year. If you take easier AP courses in your sophomore or junior year, you may feel more prepared for this advanced course.

Taking an AP course in your senior year means that you’ll need to study during a very busy time. Take into account your schedule and extracurricular activities when deciding which AP classes to pursue.

That said, if you’re aiming for a highly selective school, admissions may expect to see at least 3-5 AP classes. Some students take AP Macroeconomics in the fall and AP Microeconomics in the spring.

According to the chart below, 19.7% of students who took the AP Macroeconomics exam in 2020 received the top score of 5, and 63.2% passed the test with a score of 3 or better. This places the AP Macroeconomics exam in the medium-difficulty level. Knowing what to expect can help you direct your studies and manage your time.

Source: College Board

The AP Macroeconomics exam contains the following two sections:

The multiple-choice questions make up a little over 66% of the exam score. About one-fifth of these questions involve analyzing data or performing calculations. This section requires knowledge of economic principles and models and determining economic outcomes when given certain situations.

The free-response questions consist of one long-response question that carries 50% of the section’s score and two short-response questions. These questions may include visual data displays or graphs, essays, or an economic problem requiring a solution.

AP exams are scored on a scale of 1-5. A score of 3 translates to a college course grade of B-, C+, or C. An exam score of 5 equals an A or A+. Students must receive a score of 3 to pass.

The 60 multiple-choice questions make up about 66% of the exam score. You have just over a minute to answer each question. The free-response section is equally divided between a long question and two short questions with a time limit of 60 minutes. Students who struggle with essays may find this section more challenging.

Source: College Board

Your AP score may earn you college credit, advanced placement, or both. Advanced placement allows you to skip certain courses.

The minimum score required to earn college credits or advanced placement ranges from 3-5. Of the 1,999 colleges listed in the College Board, 1,451 required a minimum passing score of 3. Some colleges also require higher scores if the credit meets a student’s course requirement for their major. A few colleges do not award credits for AP exams.

When deciding which AP classes to take, consider your interests and potential major. If your interests lie in the fields of economics, business, or finance, AP Macroeconomics may get you further along in your college studies.

If you know which colleges you’ll be applying to, make sure to check their policies regarding AP classes and granting college credits or advanced placement.

Additionally, asking fellow students and teachers about the AP Macroeconomics class at your school can give you a clue about the difficulty level and how well the teacher prepares students for the exam.

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