College Board
AP Microeconomics
Advanced Placement Microeconomics
A college-level introductory course in the principles that apply to the functions of individual decision-makers, both consumers and producers, within an economic system. A strong AP exam score can earn college credit.
What's on the exam
AP Microeconomics Course and Exam Description (six-unit framework)
Unit 1: Basic Economic Concepts
12-15%Scarcity and resource allocation · Production possibilities curve · Comparative advantage and trade · Cost-benefit analysis · Marginal analysis
Unit 2: Supply and Demand
20-25%Demand and supply · Price elasticity · Market equilibrium and surplus · Government intervention and price controls · Market disequilibrium
Unit 3: Production, Cost, and the Perfect Competition Model
22-25%Production function · Short-run and long-run costs · Profit maximization · Perfect competition · Firm entry and exit
Unit 4: Imperfect Competition
15-22%Monopoly · Price discrimination · Monopolistic competition · Oligopoly · Game theory
Unit 5: Factor Markets
10-13%Derived factor demand · Marginal revenue product · Profit-maximizing factor hiring · Competitive factor markets · Monopsony
Unit 6: Market Failure and the Role of Government
8-13%Externalities · Public and private goods · Taxes and subsidies · Income inequality · Government intervention
Frequently asked questions
How much does the AP Microeconomics cost?
The AP Microeconomics costs $99. $99 per AP Exam in the US (2025-2026); a College Board fee reduction of $37 per exam is available for eligible students.
How long is the AP Microeconomics and how many questions does it have?
60 multiple-choice, 3 free-response (1 long, 2 short) — About 2 hours 20 minutes.
What do you need to pass the AP Microeconomics?
Scored 1-5; a 3 or higher is generally considered passing, though credit policies are set by each college.
Can you retake the AP Microeconomics?
Once per year (next May administration).
What is the best way to study for the AP Microeconomics?
Study the official blueprint, not random material: the exam is weighted by domain (Unit 1: Basic Economic Concepts 12-15%, Unit 2: Supply and Demand 20-25%, Unit 3: Production, Cost, and the Perfect Competition Model 22-25%, Unit 4: Imperfect Competition 15-22%, Unit 5: Factor Markets 10-13%, Unit 6: Market Failure and the Role of Government 8-13%). Spaced-repetition flashcards built domain-by-domain against that blueprint are the most time-efficient way to cover everything the exam tests.
Program in development
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