AP Exams · Course Planning
The AP subjects most often called easiest are Environmental Science, Psychology, Human Geography, Comparative Government and Politics, Studio Art, and Computer Science Principles. "Easy" is relative to your student's strengths, but these six have a reputation for being more approachable, which matters most if you are stacking several exams in one year.
It is your senior year. You have not taken any AP exams. You want to apply to competitive colleges. What do you do?
If you understand the benefits of Advanced Placement but have not started yet, there is still time to catch up. Here is which subjects are easier to tackle if you are aiming for several exams, and how to study for them without a classroom.
A good score can earn college credit, potentially saving both time and money. Credit policies vary by institution, so check the specific colleges on your list before choosing subjects.
AP scores provide external validation of academic skills, which is especially valuable for homeschoolers. A score comes from the College Board rather than from a parent, so it corroborates the grades on a homeschool transcript. That is the same reason test scores and transcript grades need to line up.
AP material gives a realistic taste of college-level expectations and pacing before a student gets there.
"Easier" is subjective and depends on a student's strengths. That said, some AP subjects have a reputation for being more straightforward or for having friendlier score distributions. If you are trying to stack several exams in one year, consider these.
| AP subject | Why it is considered easier |
|---|---|
| 1. Environmental Science | Often recommended for students new to AP. Covers a broad range of topics but is generally less in-depth than other lab sciences. |
| 2. Psychology | An introductory-level course built on foundational principles and vocabulary, which many students find straightforward. |
| 3. Human Geography | Focuses on the patterns and processes shaping human use of the Earth's surface. The content tends to resonate and is more conceptual than technical. |
| 4. Comparative Government and Politics | For students interested in global politics. Gives an overview without the volume of U.S. History or European History. |
| 5. Studio Art | A portfolio submission rather than a traditional timed test, which suits artistically inclined students. |
| 6. Computer Science Principles | A deliberately gentler alternative to the more rigorous Computer Science A exam. |
This is where homeschoolers differ from everyone else reading about easy APs. Most homeschool students cannot simply enroll in an AP class, because no one is offering one at the kitchen table. The good news is that the class is not a prerequisite for the exam. AP exams are open to any student who registers, so self-study is the standard homeschool path rather than a workaround.
Three practical points:
A self-studied AP score is arguably worth more on a homeschool application than on a public school one. It is a nationally standardized number, produced outside your household, attached to a subject you taught yourself. That is exactly the kind of evidence an admissions officer is looking for when the transcript is parent-issued.
Before committing to a subject, take a preliminary test or work through sample questions to gauge where you actually stand. Choosing based on a real baseline beats choosing based on a reputation for easiness.
Invest in an AP study guide for the specific subject. These are written against what the College Board actually tests and include practice exams.
Khan Academy and AP Central both offer material organized by AP subject, at no cost.
Set consistent study times rather than a last-minute sprint. If you are preparing for several exams, rotate subjects to avoid burning out on one.
Periodically sit a complete timed exam. It measures progress and, just as importantly, builds familiarity with the format and pacing.
Forums and homeschool groups are useful for study tips, shared resources, and the accountability that a classroom would otherwise provide.
An AP course normally carries a +1.0 weighting on a 4.0 scale, so an A in an AP class counts as 5.0 rather than 4.0. If you self-studied for the exam without a formal course, list the course only if the student actually did the coursework, and record the exam score separately alongside other test scores.
See weighted vs. unweighted GPA for how the bonus is applied, and AP vs. CLEP vs. dual enrollment for how the three college-credit paths compare.
One caution on chasing "easy." Admissions officers read course rigor, not just grades. A transcript stacked only with the least demanding APs sends its own signal. Use the easier subjects to build momentum and to add exams efficiently, not as the whole strategy.
AP Environmental Science and AP Psychology are the two most commonly recommended for students new to Advanced Placement. Both are introductory in structure and less in-depth than lab sciences or the big history surveys. Which is genuinely easiest depends on the student's own strengths.
Yes. AP exams are open to any student who registers, which is why self-study is the normal route for homeschoolers. You do need to arrange a seat at a school or test center that administers the exam, since exams are not taken at home.
Psychology, Human Geography, Environmental Science and Computer Science Principles are the usual picks, because they rely more on concepts and vocabulary than on laboratory work or a long chronological narrative. Studio Art is also self-study friendly if the student is artistically inclined, since it is assessed by portfolio.
There is no fixed number. Two or three strong scores in subjects related to the student's intended major generally do more for an application than a long list of low scores. For a late starter, choosing a small number of approachable subjects is the better plan.
They tend to, yes. Because a homeschool transcript is parent-issued and usually unaccredited, colleges look for outside evidence that the grades are real. An AP score is standardized and comes from the College Board, so it corroborates the transcript in a way a parent-assigned grade cannot.
Fast Transcripts applies AP, Honors and dual-enrollment weighting automatically and calculates both weighted and unweighted GPA. The on-screen build is free to start.
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