Published November 1, 2026.
AP Precalculus is Tuesday, May 11, 2027, in Session 1. College Board updated the question counts and timing for this administration: 42 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 45 minutes, then 4 free-response questions in 1 hour 10 minutes. Multiple choice is 62.5% of the score and free response is 37.5%. In May 2025, 80.8% of 253,596 students scored 3 or higher. The mean was 3.55. A 5 was 28.1%, and a 1 was 8.0%.
Two details catch families off guard. Only three of the four units are on the exam, and most of the score comes from parts where no calculator is allowed.
The May 2027 format
| Part | Questions and time | Calculator | Share of score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice, Part A | 29 questions, 65 minutes | Not allowed | 43.75% |
| Multiple choice, Part B | 13 questions, 40 minutes | Graphing calculator required | 18.75% |
| Free response, Part A | 2 questions, 35 minutes. Function concepts, and modeling a non-periodic context. | Graphing calculator required | 18.75% |
| Free response, Part B | 2 questions, 35 minutes. Modeling a periodic context, and symbolic manipulations. | Not allowed | 18.75% |
Add the two no-calculator parts and they come to 62.5% of the score. A student who graphs everything in class should practice without it well before May. The Desmos calculator in Bluebook appears only in the calculator-required parts, so it is not a backup for the other two.
Pacing changes between the parts as well. Part A of multiple choice allows a little over 2 minutes a question. Part B allows about 3 minutes, because those questions are built for the calculator.
Unit weights
| Unit | Multiple-choice weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Polynomial and Rational Functions | 30-40% |
| 2. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions | 25-40% |
| 3. Trigonometric and Polar Functions | 30-35% |
| 4. Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices | Not assessed on the AP Exam |
The three tested units are close in weight, so a student cannot skip one and make it up elsewhere. Unit 4 is different. College Board describes it as additional topics a school might include for state or local requirements, so whether it gets taught is the school’s call. It is worth asking the teacher, because the vectors and matrices in that unit come back for a student headed into physics or linear algebra.
College Board recommends algebra and geometry first, with comfort factoring quadratic trinomials and working with linear functions, and some familiarity with exponential and piecewise-defined functions. The course sits ahead of AP Calculus AB for most students. For the bigger schedule question, see how many AP classes to take.
Score distributions
| Year | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 or higher | Students | Mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 29% | 29% | 24% | 11% | 7% | 82% | Not yet listed | Not yet listed |
| 2025 | 28.1% | 25.8% | 26.8% | 11.2% | 8.0% | 80.8% | 253,596 | 3.55 |
| 2024 | 25.9% | 23.9% | 25.9% | 14.6% | 9.8% | 75.6% | 184,394 | 3.42 |
The exam grew by more than 69,000 students in a year, and the share at 3 or higher still went up, from 75.6% to 80.8%. The 2026 row sits at 82%. When four in five students reach a 3, a 4 or 5 says more about readiness for calculus. Credit is in the AP Credit Policy Search.
The free college admissions data tool lists acceptance rates and score ranges from each Common Data Set. No sign-in. The first section of CollegePrep Foundations is free.
Questions families ask
When is the 2027 AP Precalculus exam?
Tuesday, May 11, 2027, in Session 1, the same session as AP Japanese Language and Culture. For most schools, including those in the lower 48, Hawaii, and Washington, D.C., Session 1 starts at 8 a.m. local time.
What changed for May 2027?
College Board updated the question counts and the section timing. Course content did not change. The exam page now lists 42 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 45 minutes and 4 free-response questions in 1 hour 10 minutes.
Is Unit 4 on the AP Precalculus exam?
No. Units 1, 2, and 3 are on the exam. Unit 4 covers functions involving parameters, vectors, and matrices. College Board describes it as additional topics a school might include for state or local requirements.
Which parts allow a calculator?
A graphing calculator is required on Part B of the multiple-choice section and Part A of the free-response section. No calculator is allowed on the other two parts. The Desmos calculator in Bluebook appears only in the calculator-required parts.
What percent of students scored a 3 or higher?
On the May 2025 exam, 80.8% of 253,596 students scored 3 or higher. The mean was 3.55. A 5 was 28.1%, and a 1 was 8.0%. College Board’s 2026 table, still missing a test-taker count, shows 82% at 3 or higher.
Does a 3 earn college credit?
Only if that college’s policy says so. Check the AP Credit Policy Search for each college on the list.
Sources
- AP Precalculus exam page, for the May 11, 2027 date, section timing, and calculator parts.
- AP Precalculus course page, for the units, unit weights, and the note on Unit 4.
- AP Precalculus student page, for recommended prerequisites.
- AP Precalculus score distributions, for 2024, 2025, and the partial 2026 row.
- AP Exams calculator policy, for the graphing calculator rule and Desmos in Bluebook.
- 2027 AP Exam dates, for the Session 1 slot and start time.
Where to go next
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