The AP Economics Exam is 2 hours and 10 minutes long, consisting of 60 multiple-choice questions (66% of your score) and 3 free-response questions (34% of your score). The multiple-choice section tests your ability to recognize economic concepts and apply them quickly, while the free-response section requires you to explain your reasoning and show your work. Time management is critical—you'll have about 1 minute per multiple-choice question and roughly 15 minutes per free-response question.

Many students struggle with understanding abstract economic concepts like elasticity, opportunity cost, and market equilibrium without real-world context. Others find the free-response questions challenging because they require you to construct multi-part explanations rather than just select an answer. Additionally, students often underestimate the importance of practicing with past exam questions—recognizing question formats and knowing how to structure your responses under time pressure makes a significant difference in your score.

Score improvement depends on your starting point and how consistently you engage with tutoring and practice. Students who work with a tutor to identify weak topics, practice timed exams regularly, and refine their free-response answers typically see meaningful gains—often 1-2 points on the 5-point AP scale. The national average AP Economics score is around 2.9, so reaching a 3 or 4 requires focused preparation. Most improvement comes from combining expert instruction with consistent independent practice.

Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who specialize in AP Economics and understand the exam's demands. In your first session, your tutor will assess which topics you find most challenging—whether that's microeconomics fundamentals, macroeconomic policy, or exam strategy—and create a personalized plan. From there, you'll work through targeted practice problems, review past exam questions, and refine your free-response writing, with your tutor providing feedback on both content understanding and test-taking approach.

Bring any recent tests, quizzes, or assignments from your AP Economics class so your tutor can see where you're strongest and where you need support. If you've taken a practice AP Exam, that's especially helpful for identifying patterns in the questions you miss. You should also come ready to discuss your goals—whether you're aiming for a specific score, struggling with particular units, or preparing for the exam in the final weeks. This gives your tutor everything needed to make your sessions as productive as possible.

Most AP Economics courses meet for a full year, so preparation is built into your class time. However, to score well on the exam, experts recommend 2-3 hours of additional study per week beyond your regular coursework, especially in the final 4-6 weeks before the exam. This includes reviewing notes, practicing problems, taking full-length practice tests, and working with a tutor on areas where you're stuck. Starting tutoring early in the year helps you build a strong foundation, while intensive tutoring in the final weeks helps you refine strategy and timing.

Free-response questions reward clear reasoning and specific economic vocabulary—graders want to see that you understand the concept, not just that you got the right answer. Practice writing timed responses where you explain your economic reasoning step-by-step, label diagrams correctly, and use precise terminology. A tutor can review your written responses, point out where your explanations are unclear or incomplete, and help you develop a consistent structure for tackling multi-part questions. Many students improve significantly once they understand what graders are actually looking for.