Which is harder: AP Micro or AP Macro Economics? (2024)

FAQs

Which is harder: AP Micro or AP Macro Economics? ›

Pass rates on the respective AP exams also suggest that Macroeconomics is slightly more challenging. On the 2023 AP exams, 68% of Microeconomics students passed the AP test with a score of three or better, while only 64.7% of Macroeconomics students did the same.

Is AP Microeconomics harder than AP Macroeconomics? According to score distribution data provided by CollegeBoard, roughly 51% of students scored a three or higher on the AP Macroeconomics exam, while about 59% of students scored a three or higher on the AP Microeconomics exam.

Some students find AP Micro to be easier because it's more concrete, dealing with specific examples and situations, while others prefer AP Macro since it deals with broader concepts. Ultimately, it depends on whether you prefer studying the larger picture of the economy or the detailed workings of markets.

The overall average pass rate for the AP Macro exam is 63.2%, while the average pass rate for all AP exams combined is 71.13%. That means that statistically speaking, the AP Macro exam is about 8% “harder” than the average AP exam.

Generally, macroeconomics will have more calculus-based mathematics, as quantitative economics tends to be very modeling heavy. Microeconomics (especially now that behavioral economics is in) still has mathematics, but the focus is a bit more statistical in nature, especially in terms of study design and analysis.

United States History, Biology, English Literature, Calculus BC, Physics C, and Chemistry are often named as the hardest AP classes and tests. These classes have large curriculums, tough tests, and conceptually difficult material.

Both introductory courses are important — and both should be taken early on. Many students prefer to take microeconomics first because it feels more applicable to their daily lives, so the concepts should be easier to grasp.

Microeconomics can be math-intensive. Fundamental microeconomic assumptions about scarcity, human choice, rationality, ordinal preferences, or exchange do not require advanced mathematical skills.

Macroeconomics is difficult to teach partly because its theorists (classical, Keynesian, monetarist, New Classical and New Keynesian, among others) disagree about so much. It is difficult also because the textbooks disagree about so little.

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.

Can I pass AP Macro without studying? ›

No way around it – study, study, study

Simply put, there's a lot of concepts that you'll need to know to do well on your AP® Macro exam, and the only way to get there is to study!

Let's look at an ideal AP® Macroeconomics study plan to get you started. This plan is set up with the goal of getting a perfect 5 on the exam. You should expect to put in 8 – 12 hours of study in a week.

If you're planning on taking both courses, most students recommend taking AP Microeconomics first because this course covers more of the basics.

If you enjoy analyzing smaller, more detailed economic interactions, you might find AP Microeconomics more engaging and, consequently, less difficult. On the other hand, AP Macroeconomics covers the broader economic principles, studying the performance and behavior of the entire economy.

Hey there! Choosing between macroeconomics and microeconomics is ultimately a personal preference, as some students may find one easier than the other based on their individual strengths.

There is more math in AP Micro than in AP Macro, but it's approachable if you can work with fractions and formulas.

Both subjects share some foundational concepts, and tackling them in the same year might even help you reinforce the material, as the courses can complement each other.

Lucky for you, AP Macro is one of the easier AP subjects to self-study. While teaching yourself an entire AP class won't be easy, it is entirely doable. You are about to embark on a difficult journey in learning economics, but one that will be entirely worth it.

AP® Macroeconomics students learn why and how the world economy can change from month to month, how to identify trends in our economy, and how to use those trends to develop performance measures and predictors of economic growth or decline.