AP Microeconomics: Course Overview

AP Microeconomics Course Overview

Summary

This blog provides a detailed guide to AP Macroeconomics, covering its syllabus, exam structure, and importance. It covers essential economic principles, focusing on market behavior, resource allocation, and decision-making. Topics include scarcity, supply and demand, production costs, imperfect competition, factor markets, and market failure. The exam consists of Multiple Choice (66%) and Free Response (33%) sections.

The course prepares students for careers in economics, business, finance, marketing, and public policy. It provides critical skills for decision-making and understanding market structures.

AP Microeconomics Syllabus

In this blog, we aim to be the go-to guide for students, breaking down the entire syllabus of AP Microeconomics in a concise and engaging manner. From foundational concepts to advanced market theories, we'll navigate the nuances of microeconomics. The AP Microeconomics Exam is scheduled for 5th May 2025. 

Importance of AP Microeconomics

  • Understanding Market Behavior: It provides a fundamental understanding of how individual markets operate, including supply, demand, and the behavior of firms and consumers.
  • Resource Allocation: The course explores how scarce resources are allocated among competing uses, offering insights into decision-making at the individual and firm levels.
  • Analytical Skills: Analytical skills are crucial for interpreting economic data and making informed decisions in various microeconomic contexts.
  • Policy Implications: Examining market structures, students gain insights into how government decisions impact market outcomes and competition.
  • College Credits Opportunity: Success in the AP exam may earn college credits, providing an advantageous start in higher education.
  • Diverse Career Paths: Knowledge in microeconomics opens doors to careers in economics, business, policy analysis, and more.

Syllabus of AP Microeconomics

Unit NameUnits CoveredWeightage in the Exam
Unit 1: Basic Economic Concepts
  • Scarcity
  • Resource allocation and Resource systems
  • Production Possibilities Curve
  • Comparative Advantage and Trade
  • Cost-Benefit Advantages
  • Marginal analysis and consumer choice
12-15%
Unit 2: Supply and Demand
  • Demand
  • Supply
  • Price Elasticity of Demand
  • Price Elasticity of Supply
  • Other Elasticities
  • Market Equilibrium and Producer and Consumer Surplus
  • Market Disequilibrium and Changes in Equilibrium
  • The Effects of Government Interventions in Market
  • International Trade and Public Policy
20-25%
Unit 3: Production, Cost, and the Perfect Competition Model 
  • The Production Function
  • Short-Run Production Costs
  • Long-Run Production Costs
  • Types of Profit
  • Profit Maximization
  • Firm's Short Run Decision To Produce and Long Run Decision to Enter or Exit a Market
22-25%
Unit 4: Imperfect Competition
  • Introduction to Imperfectly Competitive Markets
  • Monoply
  • Price Discrimination
  • Monopolistic Competition
  • Oligopoly and Game Theory
15-22%
Unit 5: Factor Markets
  • Introduction to Factor Markets
  • Changes in Factor Demand and Factor Supply
  • Profit-Maximizing Behaviour in Perfectly Competitive Factor Markets
  • Monopsonistic Markets
10-13%
Unit 6: Market Failure and the Role of Government
  • Socially Efficient and Inefficient Outcomes
  • Externalities
  • Public and Private Goods
  • The Effects of Government Intervention in Different Market Structures
  • Inequality
8-13%

AP Microeconomics Exam Structure

SectionNumber of QuestionsDurationWeightageDetails
Section I: Multiple Choice60 questions1 hour 10 minutes66%Covers economic principles, models, outcomes, and reasoning across course topics and skills.
Section II: Free Response3 questions1 hour (includes 10-minute reading)33%1 Long Question: 50% of section score.
2 Short Questions: 25% each.
Tasks include analysis, calculations, and graphing.

Top 10 Majors Backed Up by AP Microeconomics

1. Economics: Essential for students pursuing majors in economics, this course provides a deep understanding of microeconomic theories and principles.
2. Business Administration: Microeconomic principles contribute to strategic planning, decision-making, and understanding market dynamics in the business world.
3. Marketing: Understanding consumer behavior and market structures is crucial for success in marketing-related majors.
4. Finance: Knowledge of microeconomic factors is vital for making informed financial decisions, especially in the context of individual firms.
5. Entrepreneurship: Microeconomics offers insights into decision-making at the firm level, making it valuable for aspiring entrepreneurs.
6. Public Policy: Understanding market structures and the role of government is beneficial for students interested in shaping policies at the microeconomic level.
7. Accounting: Microeconomic concepts aid in understanding how firms allocate resources, impacting financial statements and accounting practices.
8. Industrial Organization: The study of market structures directly aligns with majors focusing on industrial organization and market competition.
9. Operations Management: Microeconomics contributes to understanding resource allocation and efficiency in operations management.
10. Environmental Economics: Examining the role of government in addressing externalities and promoting sustainability makes this course relevant for environmental economics majors.

Students can also check the AP Macroeconomics 2024 Exam Course Overview from here.

TutelaPrep’s College Navigator allows students to search for colleges based on their preferred country and course. Not only that, it also provides valuable insights into each college’s specific admission requirements for those exams. Through College Navigator, you can even connect with alumni at your chosen colleges to get a firsthand feel for campus life and academics.

 

We hope this article helped you with the subject knowledge. Reach out to us by filling out our assistance form if you need any help with the preparations.