Hey! I’m a sophomore and we are starting to schedule for next year. I can only take one science per year and have narrowed it down to AP Physics 1 and AP Bio. Most people in my class are take AP Physics junior year then either Bio or Chem senior year. However, I’m taking most of my difficult classes like calc BC next year, so don’t want to overload. So, which would you think is easier? I know it’s relative to each person, but in general, which may be an easier option to take junior year?
Thanks!
At my school, AP Bio is known as one of the easier AP classes. I don’t know anything about AP physics.
What is your freshman and sophomore class schedule? Specifically math classes. Also what are your other junior year classes?
@TomatoLabyrinth oh, ok thanks! That does help a lot!
There have been many recent threads from high GPA students about getting "C"s and "D"s in AP Biology.
@damon30
Freshman Year, I had Geometry H and Bio H. This year, I’m taking Algebra 2 H, AP Stats, Chem H.
And I am taking Pre Calc over the summer so that I can take AP Calc in the fall if junior year.
If you were taking Honors Bio this year, I could see taking AP Biology next year while it’s all still fresh in your mind. But if you were looking for the easier AP science class, I think you might find AP Physics 1 easier since you are strong in math and AP Bio has a lot to study and memorize. But either course sequence should be ok. Physics is considered to be a more core STEM class than Biology, unless you will be majoring in Biology.
In general, AP Physics 1 is easier than AP Bio, but a lot depends upon the individual teacher.
You will need physics at some point, depending on your college list, and if you are a senior in a class of all juniors, you may feel out of place.
TBH, it really makes no difference. But know that most students take AP Bio as a senior and regular/honors bio as a freshman, and they have no problem catching up having had a 2 year break from bio.
@skieurope @damon30 oh, okay thanks! Many people are complaining about the Physics teacher which made me think twice. And I heard a lot about physics being really difficult and Bio not being that difficult. Is that true? Does one take any less effort or time or anything than the other?
Some people are physics people;some people are bio people. What’s “difficult” is relative.
When I took AP Physics first, it was the old AP Physics B, which was kinda like AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 mashed together. By comparison, I also took AP Physics C later, which was the most time consuming HS class I ever had,and I had post-AP math classes. So for me,to only have to do AP Physics 1 over the course of a year seems like a walk in the park. But you may find physics a challenge, or your teacher might be really demanding. We here have no way of knowing.
@skieurope I agree, thanks for the help!