The exam
The AP Precalculus exam
AP Precalculus Exam Tuesday, May 11, 2027
Format
| Section | Questions | Time | Share of score |
|---|---|---|---|
| I Part A: Multiple Choice (calculator not permitted) | 29 | 65 minutes | 43.75% |
| I Part B: Multiple Choice (graphing calculator required) | 13 | 40 minutes | 18.75% |
| II Part A: Free Response (graphing calculator required) | 2 | 35 minutes | 18.75% |
| II Part B: Free Response (calculator not permitted) | 2 | 35 minutes | 18.75% |
Each part has its own calculator rule, shown beside it in the table. Where a graphing calculator is allowed, College Board says it should be in radian mode. The free-response questions are worth the same number of points each.
The 4 free-response questions
- Question 1. Function Concepts. Functions given as graphs, tables and formulas. The parts can ask about composition, inverses, input and output values, zeros, asymptotes and end behavior, or which type of function fits a model.
- Question 2. Modeling a Non-Periodic Context. A real-life context. You build a function model from the information given, calculate and use average rates of change with their units, and reason about the model's assumptions or limitations.
- Question 3. Modeling a Periodic Context. A real-life context modeled by a sine or cosine function. You place points on the graph and its midline, find the function's parameters, and describe its behavior, concavity and rate of change.
- Question 4. Symbolic Manipulations. Exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric or inverse trigonometric functions. You solve equations and rewrite expressions in equivalent forms, finding exact values and showing your work.
Questions 1 and 2 are in the part that requires a graphing calculator, and Questions 3 and 4 in the part that does not allow one.
Multiple-choice weighting by unit
| Unit | Approximate weighting |
|---|---|
| Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions | 30–40% |
| Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions | 25–40% |
| Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions | 30–35% |
Ranges as printed in College Board's AP Precalculus Course and Exam Description.
Unit 4, Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices: Not assessed on the AP Exam.