Can Freshmen Take AP Classes?
Yes! Freshman can take AP courses.
Why Many Schools Offer AP Courses in 9th Grade
The opportunity for a student to take an AP course typically begins with AP Human Geography. High schools want to set students up for long-term success by building the academic foundation provided by an AP course and by providing access to the rigor that universities expect to see on a high school transcript.
For most students, the rigor of an AP course most certainly has a learning curve for most students. The chance to take an AP course during freshman year allows a student to learn the workload, the rigor, and the cadence of AP exam preparation and practice.
This first course should be viewed as a solid opportunity to practice the increased workload, the preparation, the nerves (yes, there are lots of them!), the testing environment, and staying focused for the length of the test. This is, in and of itself, super important to a student’s growth as an academic while also teaching them that it is the learning that counts the first time.
Why “Taking an AP” and “Being Ready for an AP” Aren’t the Same
There is a difference between access to an AP course and readiness for it.
Most high schools provide students with access to take their first Advanced Placement course in the ninth grade. Whether a student is academically prepared for the opportunity is where the gap often lies.
Remember, an AP course is a college-level course which means it comes with college-level pacing, reading/writing/analytical skills, and workload. Preparedness is part of the practice. Rest assured, most students are able to get there and rise to the rigor but it requires grace to allow for some bumps and failure along the way.
Why the First AP Exam Feels So Different
1. It’s a Completely New Testing Experience
The pressure of the first AP exam is colossal for students. Just the length and depth of the test is a lot for a fifteen year old kid to stomach: 60 questions in 60 minutes and then 3 short-answer questions in 75 minutes that require students to analyze a series of documents before they can even begin to write.
2. The Questions Feel Different—Even If You Studied
One of the biggest differentiations between honors classes from the student’s past schooling vs. an AP course is that AP questions are not designed to test topics a student can memorize.
Success on an AP exam stems from being able to synthesize and apply all that a student learned throughout the course. Yes, memorization of facts will certainly help in building depth on a short answer or providing context, but that’s it.
3. Most Freshmen Don’t Know What to Expect Going In
While teachers do their best to prepare students for testing expectations, there is no way to truly prepare a student the very first time they walk into an AP exam. Imagine walking into a gym with rows of desks lined up, students seated in a random order, and proctors they likely don’t know. No backpacks allowed. No phones. No talking. No snacks (unless it’s break time). And, no water. The environment alone is intimidating. Hopefully, the comfort lies in the student’s preparedness throughout the year with timed writings, practice multiple-choice questions, and analysis of maps, documents, and speeches in context with particular topics. The test, while long, is quick and because of the sheer depth of each question, it takes each student the entire testing window to finish.
The Hidden Challenge: Skills, Not Just Content
Knowing the Material Isn’t Enough
Historically, students have been trained to memorize their course material and prepare ahead of time for academic success. This is not the case with AP courses. Knowing the material simply is not enough. Developing the critical thinking skills and analytical writing skills necessary for success in an AP course is new to ninth grade students, and the transition is not a quick or easy one. But, taking an AP course early prepares students sooner which is imperative to high school success. The rigor only increases as students move up in grade, so early practice in an AP course is most definitely a positive.
The Three Skills Freshmen Are Still Developing
As mentioned previously, ninth graders are learning and developing key skills.
First, time management to handle the workload of an AP course is critical. The volume of reading and analysis can be a lot, so knowing how to pace it out is essential. Additionally, during the actual AP exam, learning to manage the time throughout the test takes practice. This is a skill that will be practiced throughout the year, but as you know, once nerves set in, it is different on test day.
Second, learning to interpret challenging writing prompts and use the supplemental materials in the analysis is not an easy task. It requires a lot of muscle memory and practice.
And finally, writing under pressure is unique. Some are able to rise to the occasion immediately and, for some, it takes a lot of practice. That’s one of the biggest reasons having access to an AP course in the ninth grade allows for student readiness sooner.
As the Exam Approaches: What Matters Most
What Students Should Focus on Leading Up to the Exam
Most of the time, teachers are providing opportunities for students to practice under timed conditions. If not, that is the most important thing a student can practice. Additionally, studying weak content areas, gaining familiarity with question types, and learning the rubrics leads to student success on the AP exam. When students know what it takes to gain points on a free response questions because they know the rubric, they have an instant advantage.
By This Point, Content Coverage Is Largely Complete
All students are able to learn the material given. That part, we know. The shift from being able to learn given topics to then applying them to larger concepts is the shift that takes time and practice. Application of ideas is a high-level learning skill that, for most, is not instant or easily earned. And, we all know and understand that knowing the material is not enough in a collegiate-level course. Add in testing pressure and stress, it becomes an even larger challenge to pull deep analytical thinking into the mix.
Why This Phase of Preparation Is So Important
Students do find and achieve success by accomplishing two key things. One, learning and knowing the structure of the AP exam is essential. Two, identifying gaps in concepts or gaps in understanding of certain ideas is also important. That way, students know what to focus on while studying. Building confidence with the format and timing allows students to then put most of the focus on learning and bridging gaps with concepts that are more difficult for them. That’s the key.
What Parents Can Do Right Now
Here are the basic things parents can do to help their students:
- Encourage practicing under real testing conditions—with a timer, without snack/water, without a phone.
- Help your student cull through the material to find weaknesses in concepts. Studying areas in which more help is needed is much more beneficial than cramming everything.
- Give your child the grace and space to struggle. It’s hard and the learning curve is real. Allow it to happen.
- Make sure your student does not overstudy or “burn out.” Remember, this is freshman year and there is a lot of school left. If your student begins to dread the work, to struggle with focusing, or seems overwhelmed by it all the time, step in. This is a marathon, not a race.
When Extra Support Can Make a Real Difference
Why First-Time AP Students Often Struggle to Self-Correct
First-timers do struggle to self-correct because they are used to having a clear right answer. There is a learning curve in realizing that critical thinking and analysis lend themselves to a variety of answers. High achieving students are used to success, and the simple acknowledgement that extra help is needed is a learning curve in and of itself. Needing help is not a weakness; it is a strength to know when you need it.
How Targeted Support Improves Scores Quickly
Tutoring and extra support teaches students the necessary strategies to help with pacing and the depth in content. Receiving feedback from an expert builds confidence. As parents, that’s what we are after!
Why the Final Weeks Are High-Impact
In the final weeks leading up to the test, studying and practicing effectively will lead to student success. Attend the AP study sessions at school. Utilize the blue book practices. Hire the AP tutor if needed. This is how your preparation will have high impact on the test score.
Your Student’s First AP Exam Is a Starting Point—Not a Final Judgment
What This Experience Teaches Beyond the Score
Our children are more than the test scores and grades they receive. Pushing our students to take the hard class (within reason), to do the learning, to accept help when needed, and to find both success and failure in the learning process is more beneficial to the long-term growth of a student than anything.
How to Set Them Up for Future AP Success
Ensuring your student receives the help they need along the way is crucial to their long-term success in AP courses. This means allowing them to fail if it leads to growth. This means encouraging them to attend tutoring at school for extra help. This means seeking outside help with a tutor if the help at school proves not to be substantial enough. This also means celebrating the victories along the way!
FAQs About Freshman AP Classes
H3: Can freshmen take AP classes?
Yes! They can. Typically, AP Human Geography is an option in high school for freshmen to earn the state-required History credit. In rare cases, there are students who have completed Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 and will have the option to take AP Pre-Calculus. This is rare but it is available in many high schools.
Is AP Human Geography hard for freshmen?
Yes, it is a hard class. That said, it is not out of bounds. Most handle it well and enjoy the learning along the way. But, an AP class is a big step up from anything a student is used to historically. So expect some stress, a higher workload, and some struggle along the way. That is normal!
How should a 9th grader prepare for their first AP exam?
Practicing the pacing of the exam is the best way a student can prepare. Know and learn the rubric. Lastly, if a student is able to pinpoint key concepts in which they struggled throughout the course and study those, that will also help.
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