AP Precalculus: What It Covers and How to Score a 5
AP Precalculus is the College Board's newest AP maths course. It builds the function and modelling skills students need for AP Calculus, and a score of 4 or 5 can earn college credit at many universities. Here is what the course covers and how to prepare.
The four units
| Unit | Topic | On the AP exam? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Polynomial and Rational Functions | Yes |
| 2 | Exponential and Logarithmic Functions | Yes |
| 3 | Trigonometric and Polar Functions | Yes |
| 4 | Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors and Matrices | No (taught in many schools, not tested) |
The exam format
The exam is about three hours long and is held in May. It has two sections:
- Section I: Multiple choice. One part without a calculator and one part with a graphing calculator. This section carries the larger share of the score.
- Section II: Free response. Four questions, two with a calculator and two without. You must show and justify your reasoning.
Scores are reported from 1 to 5. Check the current College Board course and exam description for exact timings and weightings, as they can be updated.
What examiners look for
- Function behaviour: rates of change, concavity, end behaviour and asymptotes.
- Modelling: choosing and building the right function for a real-world situation.
- Multiple representations: moving between graphs, tables, equations and words.
- Clear justification: in free-response answers, the reasoning earns marks, not just the final number.
A study plan for a 4 or 5
- Master each unit as you go. Do College Board-style practice questions at the end of every topic, not only before the exam.
- Practise without a calculator. Many students lose marks on the non-calculator parts. Work on algebra, logarithm rules and exact trigonometric values.
- Learn your graphing calculator well for regression, intersections and graph analysis.
- From March, do timed practice exams every two weeks, and review every mistake.
- Write full free-response answers and compare them with official scoring guidelines.
Registering for the exam
AP exams are ordered through schools, usually in the autumn. If your school does not offer AP Precalculus, you will need to find an authorised school or test centre that can register you, so start early.
How Heights can help
Our AP tutors hold MS and PhD degrees in Mathematics and teach to the current College Board framework, with AP-style questions in every class. Book a free trial class and we will build a plan from where you are now to a 5.
Questions parents and students ask
Is AP Precalculus hard?
It is a demanding course but very manageable with steady practice. Most difficulty comes from function modelling and trigonometry, which improve quickly with regular, focused work.
Is Unit 4 on the AP Precalculus exam?
No. Units 1 to 3 are assessed on the AP exam. Unit 4 is taught in many schools but is not tested on the exam.
Can I use a calculator on the AP Precalculus exam?
A graphing calculator is required for parts of the exam and not allowed for others, so students must be confident both with and without one.