AP Precalculus exam 2027: format, units and what changed
AP Precalculus keeps the same course in 2026-27, but the May 2027 exam has more multiple-choice questions and new timings. Here are the units, the new format and how to prepare.
On this page
The four units
| Unit | Topics | On the AP exam? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Polynomial and Rational Functions | Rates of change, polynomial and rational functions, transformations, function models | Yes |
| 2. Exponential and Logarithmic Functions | Sequences, exponential and logarithmic functions, inverses, composition, semi-log plots | Yes |
| 3. Trigonometric and Polar Functions | Sine, cosine and tangent as functions, sinusoidal models, inverse trig, polar coordinates and graphs | Yes |
| 4. Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors and Matrices | Parametric functions, vectors, matrices as transformations | No, taught in class only |
Only Units 1 to 3 are tested on the AP exam. Unit 4 is part of the course, and your school may teach it after the exam.
The May 2027 exam at a glance
| Section | Questions | Time | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| I, Part A: multiple choice | 29 | 65 minutes | Not allowed |
| I, Part B: multiple choice | 13 | 40 minutes | Graphing calculator required |
| II, Part A: free response | 2 | 35 minutes | Graphing calculator required |
| II, Part B: free response | 2 | 35 minutes | Not allowed |
Multiple choice is 62.5% of the score and free response 37.5%. The exam is on Tuesday 11 May 2027 (morning session), in the hybrid digital format: multiple choice in Bluebook, with free-response answers handwritten.
What changed from the 2025 and 2026 exams
| 2025 and 2026 | From May 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-choice questions | 40 (28 + 12) | 42 (29 + 13) |
| Multiple-choice time | 2 hours | 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Free-response time | 1 hour (30 + 30 minutes) | 1 hour 10 minutes (35 + 35 minutes) |
The four free-response questions keep their types: function concepts, modelling a non-periodic context, modelling a periodic context, and symbolic manipulations. Each is worth 6 points.
How to prepare
- Secure the function toolkit: transformations, composition and inverses, and rates of change, which run through all three tested units.
- Practise modelling. Two of the four free-response questions ask you to build and use a model from a context.
- Work without a calculator. Over two thirds of the multiple-choice questions and the symbolic manipulation question are calculator-free.
- Use the real papers. Every released free-response question since the first exam in 2024 is on our AP Precalculus past papers page.
Common mistakes
- Revising Unit 4 for the exam: it is not tested.
- Reaching for the calculator by habit: most of the exam is calculator-free.
- Giving a model without explaining why it fits the context.
Frequently asked questions
Is AP Precalculus changing for 2026-27?
The course content has not changed. The May 2027 exam has 42 multiple-choice questions instead of 40, and new section timings.
Which units are on the AP Precalculus exam?
Units 1 to 3: polynomial and rational functions, exponential and logarithmic functions, and trigonometric and polar functions. Unit 4 is not tested.
How are the free-response questions scored?
Each of the four questions is worth 6 points, so the section is out of 24.
Key takeaways
- Units 1 to 3 are tested; Unit 4 is not.
- 42 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 45 minutes, then 4 free-response questions in 1 hour 10 minutes.
- Exam: Tuesday 11 May 2027, morning.
Source: College Board, AP Central exam pages and the Clarifications and Exam Updates for 2026-27, checked 20 October 2026.