UniGeniusAP Precalculus

AP Precalculus

The AP Precalculus exam in 2027

2 hours 55 minutes in two sections. Section I is 42 multiple-choice questions: 29 in 65 minutes with no calculator, then 13 in 40 minutes with a graphing calculator. Section II is 4 free-response questions: two with a calculator in 35 minutes, then two without in 35 minutes. Only Units 1 to 3 are tested.

Section I, Part A29 multiple-choice questions, 65 minutes, no calculator, 43.75%
Section I, Part B13 multiple-choice questions, 40 minutes, graphing calculator required, 18.75%
Section II4 free-response questions, 70 minutes (two parts of 35), 37.5%
DateTuesday, May 11, 2027, Session 1

What changed for May 2027

  • Part A of the multiple choice now has 29 questions in 65 minutes (it was 28 in 80), and Part B has 13 questions (it was 12).
  • Each part of the free response now has 35 minutes (it was 30), and Question 2 was restructured.
  • The course content did not change. Practice books that say 40 multiple-choice questions describe the old exam.

The four free-response questions

  • Question 1, Function Concepts (calculator): composition, inverses, zeros, asymptotes, end behavior and choosing a function type, with no context.
  • Question 2, Modeling a Non-Periodic Context (calculator): build a model from a system of equations, an average rate of change with units, and a conclusion about the model's limits.
  • Question 3, Modeling a Periodic Context (no calculator): five points and the midline of a sinusoid, its constants, and its behavior and concavity on an interval.
  • Question 4, Symbolic Manipulations (no calculator): rewrite exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric expressions and solve equations exactly.
  • Each is worth 6 points, two in each of parts A, B and C.

The three units and their weights

  • Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions, 30–40% of the multiple choice
  • Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, 25–40%
  • Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions, 30–35%
  • Unit 4 (parameters, vectors and matrices) is not assessed on the exam.

How it is given

It is a hybrid digital exam: you read every question in the Bluebook app and answer the multiple choice there, and you write free-response answers by hand in a paper booklet. Set your calculator to radian mode.

Try 2 questions

Question 1
The graph of the function ff is shown for  . What are all intervals on which ff is increasing and the graph of ff is concave down?
Question 2
The graph of the sinusoidal function ff is shown for  . Which of the following could be an expression for f(θ)f(\theta)?

Next step

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College Board's AP Precalculus exam page

Questions people ask

How long is the AP Precalculus exam?

2 hours 55 minutes: Section I is 1 hour 45 minutes (65 minutes for Part A and 40 for Part B) and Section II is 70 minutes (35 for each part).

When is the AP Precalculus exam in 2027?

Tuesday, May 11, 2027, in Session 1. Your AP coordinator confirms the exact time and place.

How many questions are on the AP Precalculus exam?

46: 42 multiple-choice questions in Section I and 4 free-response questions in Section II.

Is Unit 4 on the AP Precalculus exam?

No. Units 1 to 3 are assessed; Unit 4, on parameters, vectors and matrices, is taught at a school's choice and is not on the exam.