AP Macroeconomics

AP Macroeconomics study planner for May 2027

Units are not worth the same. Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies is 20–30% of Section I and Financial Sector 18–23%, while Basic Economic Concepts is 5–10%. Tell the planner how sure you are of each unit and it spends your hours where the points are.

Hours a week for AP Macroeconomics
Unit 1: Basic Economic Concepts 5–10%
Unit 2: Economic Indicators and the Business Cycle 12–17%
Unit 3: National Income and Price Determination 17–27%
Unit 4: Financial Sector 18–23%
Unit 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies 20–30%
Unit 6: Open Economy: International Trade and Finance 10–13%

29 weeks to the exam on May 7, 2027

Start with Unit 5

Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies: 26.7 of your 116 hours. It carries 20–30% of Section I, about 15 of the 60 questions.

Hours per unit
UnitHoursAbout this many questions
Unit 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies26.715 of 60
Unit 3: National Income and Price Determination23.513 of 60
Unit 4: Financial Sector21.912 of 60
Unit 2: Economic Indicators and the Business Cycle15.59 of 60
Unit 6: Open Economy: International Trade and Finance12.37 of 60
Unit 1: Basic Economic Concepts85 of 60

Week by week

  1. Week 1 · Oct 14Unit 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies
  2. Week 2 · Oct 21Unit 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies
  3. Week 3 · Oct 28Unit 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies
  4. Week 4 · Nov 4Unit 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies
  5. Week 5 · Nov 11Unit 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies
  6. Week 6 · Nov 18Unit 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies
  7. Week 7 · Nov 25Unit 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies, Unit 3: National Income and Price Determination
  8. Week 8 · Dec 2Unit 3: National Income and Price Determination
  9. Week 9 · Dec 9Unit 3: National Income and Price Determination
  10. Week 10 · Dec 16Unit 3: National Income and Price Determination
  11. Week 11 · Dec 23Unit 3: National Income and Price Determination
  12. Week 12 · Dec 30Unit 3: National Income and Price Determination
  13. Week 13 · Jan 6Unit 3: National Income and Price Determination, Unit 4: Financial Sector
  14. Week 14 · Jan 13Unit 4: Financial Sector
  15. Week 15 · Jan 20Unit 4: Financial Sector
  16. Week 16 · Jan 27Unit 4: Financial Sector
  17. Week 17 · Feb 3Unit 4: Financial Sector
  18. Week 18 · Feb 10Unit 4: Financial Sector
  19. Week 19 · Feb 17Unit 4: Financial Sector, Unit 2: Economic Indicators and the Business Cycle
  20. Week 20 · Feb 24Unit 2: Economic Indicators and the Business Cycle
  21. Week 21 · Mar 3Unit 2: Economic Indicators and the Business Cycle
  22. Week 22 · Mar 10Unit 2: Economic Indicators and the Business Cycle, Unit 6: Open Economy: International Trade and Finance
  23. Week 23 · Mar 17Unit 6: Open Economy: International Trade and Finance
  24. Week 24 · Mar 24Unit 6: Open Economy: International Trade and Finance
  25. Week 25 · Mar 31Unit 6: Open Economy: International Trade and Finance, Unit 1: Basic Economic Concepts
  26. Week 26 · Apr 7Unit 1: Basic Economic Concepts
  27. Week 27 · Apr 14Unit 1: Basic Economic Concepts
  28. Week 28 · Apr 21Timed practice exam, then review every miss
  29. Week 29 · Apr 28Timed practice exam, then review every miss

Check your units with the free test

ExamFriday, May 7, 2027
Heaviest unitUnit 5, Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies: 20–30%
Next heaviestUnit 3, National Income and Price Determination: 17–27%
Last weeksKept for timed practice exams

How the plan is made

  • Each unit starts from the middle of its published Section I weight range.
  • A unit you have not started gets about one and a half times its share; a solid unit gets under half.
  • Units are ordered heaviest need first, and the final one or two weeks are timed practice exams with review of every miss.

Making the hours count

  • Start each unit with a few questions to find what you do not know, then the lesson, then more questions.
  • Draw a graph every day: the five core models appear across Units 3 to 6.
  • Write one free-response answer a week; they are a third of the score.
  • Redo the plan when a unit moves from shaky to solid.

Try 2 questions

Question 1
An economy is in a recessionary gap. The government increases its purchases, and at the same time the central bank lowers its policy interest rate. In the short run, what is the combined effect on real output and on the interest rate?
Question 2
To fight a recession, the Federal Reserve lowers US interest rates, while interest rates abroad are unchanged. Other things equal, what happens to the dollar?

Next step

College Board's AP Macroeconomics course page, with the unit weights

Questions people ask

Which AP Macroeconomics unit is weighted most?

Unit 5, Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies, at 20–30% of the multiple-choice section, then Unit 3 at 17–27% and Unit 4 at 18–23%.

How long should I study for AP Macroeconomics?

It depends on how much of the course you know. The planner turns your weekly hours into hours per unit; most students do best with steady weekly practice rather than a final cram.

When should I start studying for the 2027 AP Macroeconomics exam?

Now is best: steady weekly study through the school year leaves the final weeks for full practice exams before May 7, 2027.