Hardest High School Classes: Which Subjects Challenge Teens the Most?

The Great Debate: What Makes a High School Class "Hardest"?

The title of hardest high school class is hotly debated in every school hallway, lunchroom, and group chat. Is it AP Calculus with its wild graphs, or AP Chemistry with dizzying equations? Or maybe English Literature with those endless essays that feel like a marathon for your brain. Before we point fingers at specific classes, it’s worth thinking about what “hard” really means in the high school world. For some students, hard means a mountain of homework; for others, it’s confusing concepts, relentless pop quizzes, or a teacher known for no-nonsense grading. Sometimes, it’s the way a class pushes you to wrestle with something you’ve never even heard of—like titrations in Chemistry or derivatives in Calculus—rather than just memorize answers. Let’s be real, a lot of students will tell you the subject they struggle with most is automatically the toughest, but there’s more to it than just gut feelings.

Here’s a wild fact: a survey by the National Center for Education Statistics found that math and science are the most frequently failed classes in American high schools. Why? These subjects don’t just pile on facts to memorize—they demand you understand each step before you can move to the next. Mess up one link in the chain and the whole thing falls apart. And the hardest courses aren’t just about content; they’re about the pace. AP and honors courses, especially, don’t wait for anyone to catch up. If you miss a concept, it’s like missing a bus—it’s gone, and you better run or risk falling hopelessly behind.

But don’t write off the arts or language classes! For students with a math brain, writing a ten-page analysis on Shakespeare can be more stressful than any calculus test. Foreign languages aren’t just about memorization—they make your brain work in new ways, and that can be a shock for people used to thinking in only one language. Some students who shine in numbers totally freeze when it’s time to present in Spanish or debate in AP Government. So, while there are trends, nothing is universally hard; it depends on your skills, interests, and, let’s face it, who’s teaching the class.

Context also matters. Taking AP Biology in a school where the lab is a dusty closet and the teacher is busy coaching football isn’t the same as learning in a classroom with all the resources. Factors like classroom environment, teaching style, and even after-school support play a role in shaping perceptions of the “toughest” classes. The bottom line—no single answer fits everyone. But some classes do keep popping up again and again as the most fearsome in the American high school experience.

The Classics: Math, Science, and the AP Gauntlet

So, which classes are always mentioned in the 'hardest high school class' conversation? If you ask enough students around Chicago—really, anywhere in the U.S.—three subjects always come up: AP Calculus, AP Chemistry, and AP Physics. Let’s start with AP Calculus. It’s not just about crunching numbers. The jump from algebra or even regular precalculus to calculus can leave your head spinning. Suddenly, it’s all about functions, limits, derivatives, and integrals. You need to visualize concepts in new ways, and if you’re tripped up by the basics, good luck with the AP test in May. According to College Board’s 2024 AP report, only 55% of students scored a 3 or higher on the AP Calculus AB exam. That’s only slightly better than flipping a coin—and most students taking it are already at the top of their math class.

Next up, AP Chemistry. This class is the reason school supply aisles are cleaned out of index cards. There’s massive amounts of content: atomic structure, thermodynamics, kinetics, equilibrium, and—oh yeah—labs that need to actually work. Students are thrown into a new world of balancing equations, memorizing the periodic table, and calculating reaction rates. Make one error and entire experiments flop, or you’ll be redoing a formal lab report at midnight before it’s due. Fun fact: the national AP Chem pass rate has hovered near 56% for the past three years, which means nearly half of the students who take it walk away with a lower score than they’d like—and, usually, a battered sense of self-esteem.

Then there’s AP Physics. Don’t be fooled by the equations on the board; the real challenge is blending abstract math with the physical world. Whereas Calculus lives in the realm of numbers, Physics forces you to look at every car crash, light beam, or thrown football as a problem to solve. You’ll be dealing with topics like mechanics, electricity, magnetism, and waves. The formulas are tricky, but the kicker is knowing when and how to use them. A survey from the American Physical Society once found that AP Physics C had a lower pass rate than even AP Chemistry, hovering around 55–60% nationally. Physics isn’t “memorize and move on;” it’s “understand or get lost.”

Honorable mention goes to AP English Literature. Sure, it doesn’t have equations, but analyzing complex novels and poetry takes a different kind of brainpower. You’ll have to write, revise, and defend your ideas to teachers who aren’t just looking for a summary; they want a unique argument, with evidence, every single time. Many students say English Lit feels harder because there’s never a clear right answer—you’re always justifying what you see in the text.

Still wondering how students break down which class is the hardest? Here’s a snapshot from a Chicago high school survey:

Notice that while the “big three” math and science courses grab most of the votes, a not-insignificant chunk of students put English or languages at the top. The numbers back up how tough these core classes are, but they also show how your own strengths, and even the school you attend, might shape your answer.

The Wild Cards: Language, Social Studies, and Arts Aren’t Pushovers

Don’t get too caught up thinking only STEM classes are tough. Plenty of students are blindsided when they step into a foreign language or advanced English class and realize this isn’t just about flashcards or reading a book. Take AP Spanish or AP French—by the time you reach these levels, everything is in the target language. Tests, discussions, and presentations are all done with hardly a word of English. That’s a massive cognitive load, especially when you factor in nuanced grammar, idioms, and culture. Oral exams? The anxiety is real. In fact, College Board data shows that the AP Spanish Literature exam has one of the widest spreads in scores—plenty of students scrape by, but few master every section.

Then there’s social studies, like AP U.S. History or AP Government. On the surface, these classes look easier—just memorize dates and names, right? Not even close. The new AP History format expects students to write in-depth essays under time pressure, analyze historical documents, and connect events in ways that sometimes stump even adults. Sure, you might ace the multiple-choice, but lose a whole grade if you can’t nail the essay or synthesis parts. I’ve watched friends who breezed through science nearly crumble after weeks of outlining and rewriting history essays to meet their teacher’s exacting standards.

Don’t forget about the arts. AP Art History blindsides more students than people expect. The class covers over 250 works of art, each with historical, cultural, and stylistic context. Instead of drawing or painting, you’re memorizing and analyzing art in ways that demand both creativity and precision. Then there’s band, choir, or drama—these aren’t classes to slack off in if you want to perform. Practices, performances, and the sometimes brutal critiques from teachers or peers can be stressful in a way math homework just isn’t.

For every student who says Physics is the hardest, there’s another who’s completely lost in AP English or foreign language. And it often depends on your exact mix of classes. Trying to juggle AP Physics and AP U.S. History? That can feel like playing two different sports without enough time to master either. The point is, the label of “hardest class” isn’t just about raw content—it’s the mental multitasking, shifting between modes of thinking, and keeping up with the demands of every tough course on your schedule.

Survival Guide: Strategies for the Hardest High School Classes

Here’s the truth: if you’re aiming for the toughest courses—whether that’s AP Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, or something else—you need more than just brains. Successful students build habits and seek out lifelines. First off, never go it alone. Study groups work, and not just for sharing answers. Explaining stuff out loud helps cement concepts. My friends and I used to camp out at the local library in Chicago, hammering through Calc problems for hours. Sounds brutal, but it paid off when test day came. Look for tutors if you’re lost early—waiting until you’re totally underwater just makes things worse.

Practice is key, especially for subjects like math and science. Don’t just read through the textbook—do as many practice problems as possible. For AP classes, get your hands on old exam questions. The College Board website and teacher’s resources are overflowing with past tests, and there’s no better way to spot the traps or weird question wording than seeing it up close.

Time management keeps students in the running, especially if you’re trying to survive multiple tough courses. Use a planner, set mini-deadlines for essays and projects, and carve out short, regular review sessions. It’s easy to get behind in math or science, and once you’re lost, the feeling is like watching a movie with the last hour missing. Scheduling review sessions, even in small chunks, makes a difference.

Ask for feedback on essays and lab reports. Teachers can seem intimidating, but most are happy to help if you show real effort and specific questions. Plus, peer review works wonders—sometimes your classmates can explain things in a way that just clicks.

If you’re feeling absolutely destroyed by a class, don’t buy into the myth that everyone else finds it easy. Surveys and honest convos show most students are grappling with some aspect of their schedule. Mental health matters. Don’t wait until you’re completely exhausted before reaching out to a counselor or trusted adult—you’re not weak if you ask for help.

For foreign languages, immerse yourself in real-world materials. Watch TV shows, listen to radio, or find a language partner. With essays, try breaking down prompts into bite-sized pieces so you aren’t scrambling late at night. Apps like Quizlet for vocab and Khan Academy for walkthroughs can help untangle confusing topics, too.

The toughest high school classes aren’t going anywhere. But with a smart attack plan, a willingness to ask questions, and a support system—be it friends, teachers, or online tools—you’ll make it through. And hey, when you finally ace that monstrous test or finish that impossible essay, celebrate a little. You survived what hundreds of students have called the "hardest high school class"—that’s worth a victory lap in the hallway.