<p>I've always been curious to know this. Each subject for A-level takes 2 years, whereas AP takes 1. I know that the second year of A-level is a lot more challenging than the first. So is A-level more difficult?</p>
<p>I believe the first year of A-Leveles (AS level) is comparable to AP, the second year is much tougher.</p>
<p>I have never done AP before. I am am currently doing my A-levels, in my second year infact. A-levels are tough and it is not very easy getting the top grades. For example I am doing A-level maths and there are 6 papers altogether accounting for 6 different modules and the papers last for 1h30 minutes each with the exception of one which is 2h30! A few people cannot handle the pressure and they do drop out, but if you stay focussed with what you have to do, they are relatively straight forward. It also depends how many subjects you do, on average it's around 3-4 subjects, for example I am doing Maths, French, Economics and Geography. A few exceptional students can take 5 or even 6, depending on how brilliant you are. Universities only require 3 A-levels normally so if you choose to do more, you only do them because you want to (and your school lets you!) or because you think you will not do so well in one of the subjects or something like that. I am not 100% sure, but is AP just a score that you are given? I guess A-levels are quite good because you get given a grade from A to U so whether you scraped the A grade by 1% or got 100%, it's still an A.</p>
<p>A-Levels, as well as the German Abitur, are much harder than AP-courses. Mainly because it takes two years instead of only one. I'm from Germany and currently on exchange in Canada and its ridiculously easy even though I'm in grade eleven and am taking only grade twelve and AP course, which are exactly the same as in the states. When I'm done with AP Calculus I'm pretty much on the same level as someone in Germany after the first semester of grade twelve (In Germany it's 13 grades).
I know the A-Levels and the German Abitur are pretty much on the same level. In Germany you focus on two specific subjects and I think they are slightly harder than their A-Level equivalent but for your Abitur you also get tested in three other subjects and they might be a tiny bit easier than their A-Level equivalent. It also depends on the school I guess.
It's not a coincident that the British and the German bachelor degree takes only three years.</p>
<p>Even if you're trying to have as little math as possible by getting the German Abitur your on a similar level as someone who took AP Calculus in North America. (Of course only in terms of what you were taught since someone who tries to avoid math will be worse than someone who likes math in almost every country)</p>
<p>I think A levels is harder. Our teacher told us not to bother with APs since they are easier.</p>