AP Precalculus study planner for May 2027
Units are not worth the same. Polynomial and Rational Functions is 30–40% of the multiple choice and Trigonometric and Polar Functions 30–35%, while Exponential and Logarithmic Functions is 25–40%. Tell the planner how sure you are of each unit and it spends your hours where the points are.
29 weeks to the exam on May 11, 2027
Start with Unit 1
Polynomial and Rational Functions: 37.8 of your 116 hours. It carries 30–40% of the multiple choice, about 15 of the 42 questions.
| Unit | Hours | About this many questions |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions | 37.8 | 15 of 42 |
| Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions | 35.1 | 14 of 42 |
| Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions | 35.1 | 14 of 42 |
Week by week
- Week 1 · Oct 16Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Week 2 · Oct 23Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Week 3 · Oct 30Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Week 4 · Nov 6Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Week 5 · Nov 13Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Week 6 · Nov 20Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Week 7 · Nov 27Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Week 8 · Dec 4Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Week 9 · Dec 11Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions
- Week 10 · Dec 18Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions, Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Week 11 · Dec 25Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Week 12 · Jan 1Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Week 13 · Jan 8Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Week 14 · Jan 15Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Week 15 · Jan 22Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Week 16 · Jan 29Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Week 17 · Feb 5Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Week 18 · Feb 12Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
- Week 19 · Feb 19Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions
- Week 20 · Feb 26Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions
- Week 21 · Mar 5Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions
- Week 22 · Mar 12Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions
- Week 23 · Mar 19Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions
- Week 24 · Mar 26Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions
- Week 25 · Apr 2Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions
- Week 26 · Apr 9Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions
- Week 27 · Apr 16Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions
- Week 28 · Apr 23Timed practice exam, then review every miss
- Week 29 · Apr 30Timed practice exam, then review every miss
| Exam | Tuesday, May 11, 2027 |
|---|---|
| Heaviest unit | Unit 1, Polynomial and Rational Functions: 30–40% |
| Next | Unit 3, Trigonometric and Polar Functions: 30–35% |
| Last weeks | Kept for timed practice exams |
How the plan is made
- Each unit starts from the middle of its published multiple-choice 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.
- Do some practice without a calculator every week: 29 of the 42 multiple-choice questions allow none.
- Write one free-response answer a week, with a reason for every answer; they are 37.5% of the score.
- Redo the plan when a unit moves from shaky to solid.
Try 2 questions
| −1 | 4 |
|---|---|
| 0 | 2 |
| 2 | −1 |
| 3 | 5 |
| 5 | 0 |
Next step
College Board's AP Precalculus course page, with the unit weights
Questions people ask
Which AP Precalculus unit is weighted most?
Unit 1, Polynomial and Rational Functions, at 30–40% of the multiple choice, then Unit 3 at 30–35% and Unit 2 at 25–40%.
How long should I study for AP Precalculus?
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 Precalculus exam?
Now is best: steady weekly study through the school year leaves the final weeks for full practice exams before May 11, 2027.