Macroeconomics (2024)

FAQs

How do you pass macro Econ? ›

Is AP Macroeconomics Easy Or Hard? AP Macroeconomics is considered quite easy, with class alumnae rating it 4.6/10 for overall difficulty (the 19th-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes surveyed). The pass rate is about average vs other AP classes, with 64% graduating with a 3 or higher.

The following chart reveals that the AP Macroeconomics pass rate is about 8% lower than the average for all AP exams, while the number that achieved the perfect score aligns with the average. These numbers suggest that AP Macroeconomics falls into the slightly harder than average range.

Macroeconomics is difficult to teach partly because its theorists (classical, Keynesian, monetarist, New Classical and New Keynesian, among others) disagree about so much. It is difficult also because the textbooks disagree about so little.

Economics is a hard major because it involves a lot of mathematics, statistics, and logic. You need to learn how to use different models, formulas, and methods to analyze data and solve problems.

Some students find AP Micro to be easier because it's more concrete, dealing with specific examples and situations, while others prefer AP Macro since it deals with broader concepts. Ultimately, it depends on whether you prefer studying the larger picture of the economy or the detailed workings of markets.

At the entry-level, microeconomics is more difficult than macroeconomics because it requires at least some minimal understanding of calculus-level mathematical concepts. By contrast, entry-level macroeconomics can be understood with little more than logic and algebra.

Economists use math as a tool for manipulating and exploring economic models. Sometimes it makes sense to express economic ideas in words; other times, math does a better job. Economics is not math, but rather math is a tool for presenting and manipulating/exploring/using economic models.

As mentioned previously, AP Microeconomics course material was designed to mimic an introductory college-level course, so it will certainly be more difficult than a standard high school class. Students unfamiliar with economic topics — or how to work with data — may find it challenging.

Is macroeconomics easy to self study? ›

Lucky for you, AP Macro is one of the easier AP subjects to self-study. While teaching yourself an entire AP class won't be easy, it is entirely doable. You are about to embark on a difficult journey in learning economics, but one that will be entirely worth it.

Fundamentally, the hard part about learning economics is that people need to use what physics calls a “first principles approach” to figure out what is happening. Economics tends to have a small amount of information that is true with a goal to reason your way up from there.

Is AP Microeconomics Easy Or Hard? AP Microeconomics is considered quite easy, with class alumnae rating it 4.5/10 for overall difficulty (the 20th-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes surveyed). The pass rate is about average vs other AP classes, with 66% graduating with a 3 or higher.

Generally, macroeconomics will have more calculus-based mathematics, as quantitative economics tends to be very modeling heavy. Microeconomics (especially now that behavioral economics is in) still has mathematics, but the focus is a bit more statistical in nature, especially in terms of study design and analysis.

As mentioned previously, AP Microeconomics course material was designed to mimic an introductory college-level course, so it will certainly be more difficult than a standard high school class. Students unfamiliar with economic topics — or how to work with data — may find it challenging.