Sophomore year is when most students take their first or second AP class. You've adjusted to high school, understand your learning style, and can handle more academic rigor.
The APs you choose now should build skills for junior year while matching your interests. Below you'll find which AP classes work best for 10th graders based on pass rates, prerequisites, and feedback from 500,000+ Fiveable students.
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Sophomore year bridges your adjustment period and the high-stakes junior year. The courses you take now prepare you for APUSH, AP Calculus, and other demanding junior APs.
Colleges see your sophomore grades in full when you apply. Strong performance in 1-2 APs shows you can handle college-level work. It also shows your academic interests, helping you pick a more focused junior schedule.
Take 1-2 APs that align with your strengths. Save the heavy AP load for junior and senior year.
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These courses build on freshman-year skills and prepare you for what's ahead. Most don't require formal prerequisites and offer moderate difficulty for 10th graders.
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Pass Rate | 55.2% |
| Fiveable Pass Rate | {{FIVEABLE_PASS_RATE_WORLD}} |
| Typical Grade Level | Sophomores and juniors |
| Prerequisites | None officially; strong reading and writing skills help |
What You'll Learn: AP World History covers global history from 1200 CE to present. Topics include the rise and fall of empires (Mongol, Ottoman, Ming), trade networks and cultural exchange, colonialism and its effects, revolutions and independence movements, and 20th-century conflicts and globalization.
Course Format: Heavy reading and writing. You'll write Document-Based Questions (DBQs) analyzing primary sources and Long Essay Questions (LEQs) making historical arguments. Multiple choice tests your ability to interpret historical evidence.
Why It Works for Sophomores: The chronological structure makes studying logical. Writing skills transfer directly to English classes and APUSH. The analytical foundation you build here pays off junior year when colleges are watching closely.
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| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Pass Rate | 59.0% |
| Fiveable Pass Rate | 95% |
| Typical Grade Level | Sophomores through seniors |
| Prerequisites | None |
What You'll Learn: AP Psychology introduces the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes. Topics include biological bases of behavior (brain structure, neurons), sensation and perception, learning and memory, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, and social psychology.
Course Format: Mostly memorization-based with clear vocabulary to learn. Exams include multiple choice and free-response questions applying psychological concepts to scenarios. Less writing than history APs.
Why It Works for Sophomores: The content is interesting—you're learning about yourself and others. Free-response rubrics are predictable and straightforward. It's a good first or second AP for students exploring their strengths. The 59% pass rate reflects how accessible it is.
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| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Pass Rate | 51.8% |
| Fiveable Pass Rate | 91% |
| Typical Grade Level | Sophomores and juniors |
| Prerequisites | None; strong reading skills help |
What You'll Learn: AP European History covers Europe from 1450 to present. Topics include the Renaissance and Reformation, the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, the French Revolution and Napoleonic era, industrialization and its social effects, World Wars I and II, and the Cold War and European integration.
Course Format: Similar to AP World—DBQs, LEQs, and source analysis. Heavy emphasis on understanding cause and effect, continuity and change over time.
Why It Works for Sophomores: Strong preparation for APUSH. The content connects to art, literature, and philosophy you may see in other classes. Builds analytical writing that colleges want to see. Consider this if your school doesn't offer AP World.
Start studying AP European History →
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Pass Rate | 82.8% |
| Fiveable Pass Rate | 97% |
| Typical Grade Level | Sophomores and juniors |
| Prerequisites | None |
What You'll Learn: AP Seminar is the first course in the AP Capstone program. You'll learn research methodology and source evaluation, academic argumentation, presentation skills, collaborative inquiry, and how to synthesize multiple perspectives on complex issues.
Course Format: Project-based with a team project and individual research paper. No traditional final exam—you're assessed on your research projects and presentations throughout the year.
Why It Works for Sophomores: Builds research skills applicable to every other AP course. The high pass rate reflects that it assesses skills rather than content memorization. Starting Seminar sophomore year sets up AP Research senior year, completing the AP Capstone diploma.
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Pass Rate | 56.1% |
| Fiveable Pass Rate | 93% |
| Typical Grade Level | Juniors; some advanced sophomores |
| Prerequisites | Honors Chemistry strongly recommended |
What You'll Learn: AP Chemistry covers the composition and behavior of matter. Topics include atomic structure and electron configuration, chemical bonding and molecular geometry, stoichiometry and reactions, thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibrium and acids/bases.
Course Format: Lab-intensive with lots of math problem-solving. Exams require calculations, conceptual explanations, and lab-based questions. Much harder than honors chemistry.
Why It Works for Sophomores (if ready): Only take this if you got an A in Honors Chemistry and have strong math skills. Most students take AP Chemistry junior year. Taking it early frees junior year for other tough courses. Requires a big time commitment.
These courses aren't impossible for sophomores but need careful thought.
AP US History — The 48.2% pass rate and demanding analytical writing make APUSH better suited for juniors. Taking AP World or Euro first gives you useful prep.
AP Calculus — Only if you've finished Pre-Calculus. Most sophomores are in Geometry or Algebra 2. Don't rush your math sequence.
AP Biology — Benefits from prior chemistry knowledge. Most students take AP Biology after finishing chemistry courses.
AP Physics 1 — Requires Algebra 2 (concurrent enrollment OK). The 43.6% pass rate reflects conceptual difficulty. Better for juniors or seniors.
AP English Language — Typically a junior course. The rhetorical analysis skills build on writing foundations you develop through sophomore year.
For most sophomores, 1-2 AP classes is appropriate.
| Previous Experience | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| No freshman APs | 1-2 APs |
| One freshman AP (succeeded) | 2 APs |
| One freshman AP (struggled) | 1 AP, focus on improvement |
Avoid overloading. Sophomore grades matter for college admissions, and you want room to increase rigor junior year. Taking 4 APs sophomore year leaves little room for the growth colleges want to see.
If taking two APs, choose courses that balance each other:
| Pairing | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| AP World + AP Psychology | History writing balanced by memorization-based Psych |
| AP Euro + AP Seminar | Writing-heavy but different skill types |
| AP Psychology + AP CSP | Both accessible, different subject areas |
| AP World + AP Human Geo | History focus, but different regions and approaches |
Avoid pairing two writing-heavy courses like AP World and AP Euro unless you excel at and enjoy essay writing.
Build toward junior year. Think about which junior APs you want and choose sophomore courses that prepare you. AP World sets up APUSH. AP Seminar builds research skills.
Talk to your counselor. Discuss your intended major (if you have one) and ask which AP sequence makes sense. They know your school's specific course options.
Keep up extracurriculars. Sophomore year is when many students take leadership roles in clubs. Balance academics with activities that matter to you.
Work on time management. Use sophomore year to refine your study schedule. Try different approaches before the high-stakes junior year.
Get to know teachers. You'll need recommendation letters junior year. Building relationships with AP or honors teachers now helps.
Looking back at what works best for freshmen? Or ready to plan for the high-stakes junior year?
See AP classes for freshmen → | See AP classes for juniors → | Plan all four years →
The AP classes you take sophomore year build the foundation for junior year success. The right resources make the difference.
Fiveable offers study guides for all 38 AP subjects, 10,000+ practice questions per course, downloadable cheatsheets, and live review sessions with expert teachers. Our students have a 96% pass rate.
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How many AP classes should sophomores take?
Most sophomores should take 1-2 AP classes. This allows you to build on freshman success while keeping bandwidth for extracurriculars and maintaining strong grades. Avoid overloading—sophomore grades matter for college admissions and you want room to increase rigor junior year.
What is the best AP class for sophomores?
AP World History and AP Psychology are the best AP classes for most sophomores. AP World History builds analytical writing skills useful for APUSH junior year. AP Psychology has straightforward content and a 59% pass rate. Both require no prerequisites and fit naturally into 10th grade.
Should sophomores take AP Chemistry?
Most students take AP Chemistry as juniors. Sophomores should only take AP Chemistry if they excelled in Honors Chemistry with an A grade, have strong algebra skills, and want to free up junior year for other challenging courses. It requires significant time commitment.
Is AP World History hard for sophomores?
AP World History is manageable for sophomores with good reading and writing skills. The 55.2% pass rate is moderate. The chronological structure makes studying logical. Expect heavy reading, DBQ essays, and source analysis. It directly prepares you for AP US History junior year.
Can sophomores take AP US History?
While some schools allow it, most students take APUSH as juniors. APUSH has a 48.2% pass rate and requires sophisticated analytical writing. Taking it sophomore year means competing against older students who have more writing experience. AP World or AP European History first is recommended.
Is AP Psychology easy for sophomores?
AP Psychology is considered one of the more accessible APs with a 59% pass rate. The content is interesting and relates to everyday life. It is primarily memorization-based with clear vocabulary. Less writing is required compared to history APs. Good choice for students unsure of their AP strengths.
Should sophomores take AP Seminar?
AP Seminar is excellent for sophomores. It builds research and presentation skills applicable to every other AP course. The 82.8% pass rate reflects that it assesses skills rather than content memorization. If your school offers AP Capstone, starting Seminar sophomore year sets up AP Research senior year.
What AP science should sophomores take?
Most sophomores focus on completing honors-level science prerequisites. If you want an AP science, consider AP Environmental Science. It is less math-intensive than Chemistry or Physics and connects to current events. Save AP Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for junior or senior year.
Can sophomores take AP Calculus?
Sophomores can take AP Calculus if they completed Pre-Calculus. However, this is uncommon. Most students take Pre-Calculus sophomore year and AP Calculus junior year. Taking Calculus early means you may need to find additional math courses for junior and senior year.
What AP classes prepare for college admissions?
Sophomore APs should build toward junior year rigor. AP World History prepares you for APUSH. AP Seminar builds research skills. AP Psychology introduces college-level reading. The goal is to show colleges an upward trajectory of increasing challenge from freshman to senior year.
Is AP European History good for sophomores?
AP European History is solid for sophomores interested in history. The 51.8% pass rate is moderate. It provides excellent preparation for APUSH and builds sophisticated writing skills. The content connects to art, literature, and philosophy. Expect similar workload to AP World History.
How do I balance two AP classes sophomore year?
Choose APs in different subject areas to spread the workload. For example, pair AP World History (writing-heavy) with AP Psychology (memorization-based). Create a study schedule with dedicated time for each subject. Start exam prep 8 weeks early and use practice tests to identify weak areas.