Which AP is the Hardest? - Ranking AP exams by difficulty

The speaker, Karan, introduces the topic of ranking AP exams by difficulty. He humorously acknowledges the timing of the discussion, noting that it comes at the end of the school year rather than earlier. Karan outlines the criteria for ranking the exams, which include ease of studying for the exam, concept difficulty, breadth of information covered, and actual test difficulty. He emphasizes that his rankings are based on personal experiences and the commonality of AP tests, and he encourages viewers to share their thoughts in the comments.

Karan discusses AP Computer Science (AP CS) as the easiest exam to study for due to its structured curriculum and the availability of resources like IntelliJ for testing code. He explains that while the concepts of AP CS can be challenging, especially inheritance, they can be easily understood through practical application. He also covers AP Statistics, noting that it requires memorization of vocabulary and the use of a graphing calculator. Despite the memorization aspect, Karan finds AP Statistics straightforward to study for and the test itself to be a repetition of previous questions.

Karan ranks AP Biology as a challenging exam due to its heavy memorization requirements and the abstract nature of the questions. He acknowledges that while the study materials specify what will be on the test, the problem statements can be lengthy and complex. Moving on to AP Physics 1, he explains that it builds on trigonometry knowledge, making it easier for those who have taken that subject. He finds the study and test-taking process for AP Physics 1 manageable, with a focus on problem-solving.

Karan discusses AP Physics C as more abstract than other physics courses, making it harder to visualize and relate to real-life experiences. He notes that the exam requires memorization of formulas and understanding of challenging concepts like electric potential. In contrast, he finds AP Calculus BC to be conceptually difficult due to the newness of the material, but he appreciates the test's focus on calculations over conceptual explanations. Karan emphasizes the difficulty of understanding derivatives and integrals, which are central to the subject.

Karan shares his struggles with AP Spanish Language, highlighting the difficulty of cramming for a language exam with a year's worth of material. He admits to neglecting Spanish throughout the year and facing the challenge of learning it in a short time. Regarding AP Chemistry, he notes the high number of challenging concepts that blend math and science, making it a tough subject to study for and the actual test to be one of the hardest among the AP STEM exams.

Karan ranks AP US History as the third most difficult exam due to the breadth of content and the challenging nature of the test format, which includes multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions. He criticizes the essay sections for requiring quick thinking and writing under pressure, skills he feels are unrelated to historical study. Finally, he places AP Physics C: Mechanics at the top of the list, citing its combination of challenging physics and calculus concepts as the reason for its difficulty.

In conclusion, Karan reiterates his rankings and acknowledges that they are based on his personal experiences. He expresses hope that the video helps viewers understand the relative difficulty of the AP exams and prepares them for the tests ahead. He also encourages viewers to like and subscribe for more content and humorously asks for understanding if he has ranked a viewer's favorite exam low.