When deciding on the math classes that you’ll be enrolling in during high school, you’ve got three options at your disposal. Across most of the high schools in the US, you’ll have standard stream, Honors math classes, and Advanced Placement (AP) math to choose from. However, once students decide that they’re looking for something more challenging than the standard high school math course, they often get confused in differentiating the other two options. To put it simply, Honors classes are designed to go into more detail and progress at a faster pace than regular classes, whereas AP classes go a step further and actually tackle college-level coursework and include a standardized AP Exam. Once you wrap your head around what separates the two, your decision becomes a whole lot easier!
What are AP math classes?
There are several types of Advanced Placement classes that are based on mathematical material. One or more of these topics may spark your interest more than the others. As it currently stands, the College Board currently offers four AP math courses: AP Precalculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Statistics. If you tell people you take AP math, you’ll likely be met with a fair share of pats on the back. That’s because it’s well known for being quite the challenge, comprising of courses with different mathematical focuses. AP Precalculus is what’s going to help you build a strong understanding of functions, algebra, logarithms, and trigonometry before you make the jump to calculus. AP Statistics will cover all you need to get started at college in the realm of data analysis, probability, and statistical inference.
These subjects deal heavily with mathematics. As the name suggests they are “advanced”. There are also classes that offer a faster pace and therefore difficulty than the other. For example, AP Calculus BC is set at a faster pace, and therefore covers more material than AP Calculus AB. AP classes can earn you college credits if you earn a high enough grade on the exam.On an AP exam, you are typically graded on a scale from one to five. Most colleges will require that you get a three on your AP exam, however, there are some colleges and universities that require at least a four.
Course availability depends on the school. Some schools may offer AP Calculus but not AP Statistics, while others may offer several AP math options.
What are Honors Math classes?
Honors math is not like Advanced placement classes. AP classes and exams are designed by CollegeBoard while Honors math classes and exams are designed by the teachers at your high school and following the regular math curriculum at a more advanced level. Here are the classes you can take if you choose the path of taking Honors Math:
- Honors Algebra
- Honors Geometry
- Honors Algebra II
- Honors Pre-Calculus
These classes, follow the normal high school curriculum for math but are set at a higher difficulty meaning you’ll be learning at a faster pace, have less time to take exams, more coursework, and the overall need to work much harder for your grade in Honors Math.
AP vs. Honors Math Classes Differences at a Glance
📘 Curriculum
✍️ Assessment
🎓 College Credit
4️⃣ GPA Weighting
Let’s put the two classes under the lens so that we can arrive at the differences between honors and AP. You’ll find that they become that much clearer when looking at how they are structured and assessed. One of the primary reasons that students choose these paths is because of how they can strengthen their academic record.
| Category | Honors Math | AP Math |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | Advanced high school-level math | College-level math |
| Course Structure | Varies by school | Follows a standardized AP framework |
| Assessment | School-designed tests quizzes and projects | Schoolwork plus a standardized AP Exam |
| College Credit | Generally does not offer college credit | May offer college credit or placement |
| GPA Weighting | May receive extra GPA weight | May receive more extra GPA weight |
| Difficulty | More challenging than standard classes | Generally more rigorous than honors |
However, it’s important to note that they offer different experiences in terms of coursework, exams, college credit, and GPA. We’ve made life a little easier for you by compiling the differences in the table above.
Curriculum and Academic Rigor
The biggest academic difference that you’ll want to be aware of when making your decision boils down to the level and standardization of the curriculum. When you hear the term “honors classes,” this basically just means advanced high school classes. This is in contrast to what goes on inside an AP course, as they’re designed to prepare students for college-level expectations, giving them a head start on some of the material that features at this level. This is why AP courses actually follow more of a defined framework, while honors courses are generally designed internally and allow for some variance from one school to the next.
An easy way to see the difference is if you take what goes on inside the classroom, for instance. Inside an honors precalculus class, students can expect to work through functions, trigonometry, and other prerequisites for calculus. AP Precalculus actually looks quite a bit different from that, introducing topics such as limits, derivatives, integrals, differential equations, and applications of calculus. So, while both are more challenging for students than standard math classes, they ultimately have unique learning objectives.
Exams and Assessment
The next area where the pair differ is in how they are examined and assessed. Since honors classes are designed internally, the assessments are typically designed by the math teachers at the school. So, if you were to enroll in these classes, you could expect plenty of unit tests, quizzes, projects, homework, and an end-of-year exam. On the other hand, AP courses are assessed through a standardized AP Exam.
The College Board allows students to take an AP Exam without being enrolled in the corresponding AP class, although schools may have their own policies regarding course enrollment.
This assessment measures students’ understanding of the AP curriculum and their ability to apply mathematical concepts and communicate their reasoning. So, you can see how the course gears students up for what lies ahead in college, not just in its material, but right down to how it’s assessed!
College Credit and Placement
The next defining difference between the classes comes down to college credit. By completing your honors course, you don’t normally come out with college credit to show for it. What it does show is that a student has taken the initiative to challenge themselves and has a certain aptitude for problem-solving. AP courses, on the other hand, do provide the incentive of earning college credit or advanced placement through the AP Exam. You’ll find that when you get around to making your college applications, many colleges offer students credit or allow them to jump ahead if they’ve received adequate results on the standardized AP Exam.
GPA Weighting
Another major concern for students during the decision-making process is what the math classes do for their GPA. Well, both avenues may receive additional weight when a high school calculates a weighted GPA. But again, this is subject to some degree of variance depending on what school you are in. A common system that many high schools adhere to gives honors courses an additional 0.5 grade points and AP courses an additional point.
So, in a system like this, if you were to really put your head down and get an A, you could expect it to count as 4.0 if you took a standard class, 4.5 if it was honors, and a whopping 5.0 if you managed to pull it off in an AP class. You can see why this weighting provides an attractive incentive for students to opt for the more challenging path, but it’s also important to note that this can vary from one school to the next, and some may not offer any extra weight at all. These are some of the reasons you should take classes with a maths tutor such as those mentioned earlier:
Are AP Classes Harder Than Honors Classes?
It’s only natural that part of your decision-making process will have you curious about how much you’ll be biting off with either course. Generally speaking, since AP classes are college-oriented while honors classes remain within the advanced high school curriculum, we can conclude that they are more challenging as a result. AP math often comes with a faster pace. We also touched on earlier how more depth is expected in students’ answer booklets, simulating what’s required at the college level.
With that said, seeing as honors courses are set by each school, we can’t universally determine that AP is harder than honors. AP Statistics, for example, requires students to reason about data, probability, and statistical inference, while AP Calculus involves functions, limits, derivatives, and integrals. So, you must also consider that difficulty can be subjective, and what one student might sail through, another might experience great difficulty with. If you're still uncertain which path to follow, consulting a math tutor near me can provide additional insights.
Is AP or Honors Better for College?
There is no definitive answer that states that either option is automatically better for students. For the most part, admissions boards are looking for students who challenge themselves academically. Both of these courses communicate a candidate’s appetite for academic work. They’re more concerned with how you performed in the course that you studied.
Admissions boards may lean toward students who have gone the AP route since they’ve earned a standardized academic credential, which may lead to college credit or placement. But if you were to earn strong grades in honors, it could be a better academic decision than taking AP prematurely and allowing your grades to suffer. A bigger determining factor is going to be whether a candidate demonstrates aptitude in the subject through their grades or performance in the specific area of math they intend to pursue in college.
Which Type of Class Should You Choose?
It really isn’t an easy choice if you’ve taken regular math classes and want to take that leap to the more advanced classes. Both options are fantastic for different reasons. Comparing the two options AP classes are worth more and there is more variety. While Honors math is easier, however still it offers a more advanced option. If you can really dedicate yourself to studying and having the time to study and have a good background in math AP math can be perfect for you. Another reason you can choose AP math classes is if you see yourself taking a college major in a STEM subject, which stands for Science Technology Engineering Math. Taking AP Calculus, Statistics, or Computer Science is a fantastic option. If you want a career in economics, or business, or computer programming then taking one of these AP courses makes complete sense.
Honors math is a fantastic way of gaining extra points and making your high school curriculum look really impressive with a few fancy “Honors” titles thrown in there. If you feel that AP Classes are just a bit too advanced for you, taking Honors math is a good option. That being said, you also need more advanced math and organizational skills to pass these courses. Perhaps you don’t see yourself using math during your career, but still want an advanced subject on your resume. Taking Honors math would be the best option for you then. Having this problem of choosing between AP math and Honors math is a great one to have. IF you are a great student that can dedicate your time to either or both of these choices you’ll find yourself ahead in the future!
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