Adrian Linares, Class of 2026

AP Economics is a complicated AP course. It is not a class about memorization, like AP United States history. It shares more similarities to classes like AP Chemistry, where application is key. It can be described as an over-complication of common sense ideas—obviously people will buy less when prices go up. However, there is much more to the application of it. The difficulty of the class comes from the added layers of complexity that make up the motions of the economy. Yes, the relationship between supply and demand is simple on its own, but when you start adding other factors, you may start to struggle. WHY do supply and demand change? HOW are they described on a model or graph? WHAT is the purpose of learning all of this? What can you do with it? All of these questions are answered in this class. 

The complexity of the class comes from the fact that everything you learn connects with everything else. Some of the questions will ask you, for example, to figure out how a change in the demand of the economy will affect the prices of bonds. Obviously they connect, but there is no graph that directly connects them. You would have to go through different graphs and understand how bonds relate to the money supply and banking in order to figure the question out. However, it really is not as difficult as it may seem. The class is based on cause and effect. When one thing happens, something else changes. When government spending increases, aggregate demand increases. The goal is to identify what changes what and how. It’s really that simple. 

Once you break it down like that, it becomes quite fun, like a puzzle with a solution within your grasp. Think of it like a brain teaser, except probably easier because the answers make sense. Some things won’t make sense, and that’s normal. All you have to do is ask questions. Eventually, everything will make sense. That’s the nature of the course. 

Personally, I enjoyed my experience with the class. It’s a good blend of difficulty and real world knowledge. I would recommend it if you want to shake up your regular schedule a bit. Do note that it IS located all the way in the Business building. The homework load is manageable, with usually 2-3 assignments per week, and late work being accepted all the way until the end of the unit. 

Overall, it’s a good choice if you want a manageable challenge that doesn’t take too much out of your schedule.