AP Precalculus, the right way into calculus.
AP Precalculus is newer than most AP courses, and its exam focuses on modeling and reading functions in many forms. Strong precalculus is the single best predictor of doing well in calculus.
- Course
- AP Precalculus
- Usually
- Grades 10 to 12
- Before it
- Algebra 2 and Geometry
- Exam
- May, hybrid digital
What AP Precalculus tutoring looks like with us
AP Precalculus launched in 2023 to 2024. It treats functions as tools for modeling real data and asks students to move between graphs, tables, equations, and verbal descriptions. Some review material does not fit this style well yet.
Your tutor follows your class and builds the function sense that calculus depends on: rates of change, transformations, inverse functions, and the unit circle. Unit 4 is not on the exam, but many schools teach it, so we cover it when your class does.
The 4 units of AP Precalculus
| Unit | Topics | Exam weight |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Polynomial and Rational FunctionsRates of change, polynomial behavior, zeros, rational functions, asymptotes, transformations, modeling | 30 to 40% |
| 02 | Exponential and Logarithmic FunctionsArithmetic and geometric sequences, exponential models, logarithms, inverses, semi log plots | 27 to 40% |
| 03 | Trigonometric and Polar FunctionsUnit circle, sine and cosine models, tangent, inverse trig, identities, polar graphs | 30 to 35% |
| 04 | Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and MatricesParametric functions, vectors, matrices as transformations | Not on exam |
Unit names and exam weights from the current College Board Course and Exam Description.
How the AP Precalculus exam is built
| Section | Questions | Time | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section I, Part A | 28 multiple choice, no calculator | 80 min | 62.5% for all of Section I |
| Section I, Part B | 12 multiple choice, calculator | 40 min | |
| Section II, Part A | 2 free response, calculator | 30 min | 37.5% for all of Section II |
| Section II, Part B | 2 free response, no calculator | 30 min |
Hybrid digital, with free response handwritten. A graphing calculator is required for the calculator parts.
Where students lose points in AP Precalculus
Rates of change language
The exam asks whether a function is increasing at an increasing rate. We make this language concrete with tables and graphs.
Logarithms
Log rules are memorized and then misused. We show why they work, which makes them much harder to forget.
Trig without a calculator
The unit circle must be automatic. We use short daily drills, not cramming.
Modeling questions
Free response asks you to build and interpret a model. We practice explaining what a parameter means in context.
What a typical session looks like
- First 5 min
Check in on class: what was taught this week, what is due, and when the next test is.
- Main block
Work through the topic that matters most right now, using your actual homework or class problems.
- Practice
Exam style questions on the same topic, scored the way AP readers score them.
- Last 5 min
A short plan for the week, and the topic for this week's worksheet.
- After
Our support team sends the worksheet, marks it, and returns a written score report and a retest on the weak spots. Parents get a copy.
AP Precalculus tutoring FAQ
Is AP Precalculus harder than Honors Precalculus?
Do colleges give credit for AP Precalculus?
Is Unit 4 tested?
How much does AP Precalculus tutoring cost?
Get help with AP Precalculus this week.
Tell us where things stand in AP Precalculus: current grade, next test, anything your teacher has said. We pair you with a tutor who knows this course and set up a free 30 minute trial session.
- A tutor who knows your exact course
- Sessions follow your teacher's syllabus and test dates
- Online, so any time zone in the US works
- Weekly worksheets, written score reports, and retests, all included
- A support team tracking progress and keeping parents updated