AP Precalculus explained

Advanced Placement (AP) Precalculus (also known as AP Precalc) is an Advanced Placement precalculus course and examination, offered by the College Board, in development since 2021^[1] and announced in May 2022.^[2] The course debuted in the fall of 2023, with the first exam session taking place in May 2024. The course and examination are designed to teach and assess precalculus concepts, as a foundation for a wide variety of STEM fields and careers, and are not solely designed as preparation for future mathematics courses such as AP Calculus AB/BC.

Purpose

According to the College Board,

Topic outline

Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions (6–6.5 weeks)

!#!Topic Title!Instructional Periods
1.1	Change in Tandem	2
1.2	Rates of Change	2
1.3	Rates of Change in Linear and Quadratic Functions	2
1.4	Polynomial Functions and Rates of Change	2
1.5	Polynomial Functions and Complex Zeros	2
1.6	Polynomial Functions and End Behavior	1
1.7	Rational Functions and End Behavior	2
1.8	Rational Functions and Zeros	1
1.9	Rational Functions and Vertical Asymptotes	1
1.10	Rational Functions and Holes	1
1.11	Equivalent Representations of Polynomial and Rational Expressions	2
1.12	Transformations of Functions	2
1.13	Function Model Selection and Assumption Articulation	2
1.14	Function Model Construction and Application	2

Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions (6–6.5 weeks)

!#!Topic Title!Instructional Periods
2.1	Change in Arithmetic and Geometric Sequences	2
2.2	Change in Linear and Exponential Functions	2
2.3	Exponential Functions	1
2.4	Exponential Function Manipulation	2
2.5	Exponential Function Context and Data Modeling	2
2.6	Competing Function Model Validation	2
2.7	Composition of Functions	2
2.8	Inverse Functions	2
2.9	Logarithmic Expressions	1
2.10	Inverses of Exponential Functions	2
2.11	Logarithmic Functions	1
2.12	Logarithmic Function Manipulation	2
2.13	Exponential and Logarithmic Equations and Inequalities	3
2.14	Logarithmic Function Context and Data Modeling	2
2.15	Semi-log Plots	2

Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions (7–7.5 weeks)

!#!Topic Title!Instructional Periods
3.1	Periodic Phenomena	2
3.2	Sine, Cosine, and Tangent	2
3.3	Sine and Cosine Function Values	2
3.4	Sine and Cosine Function Graphs	2
3.5	Sinusoidal Functions	2
3.6	Sinusoidal Function Transformations	2
3.7	Sinusoidal Function Context and Data Modeling	2
3.8	The Tangent Function	2
3.9	Inverse Trigonometric Functions	2
3.10	Trigonometric Equations and Inequalities	3
3.11	The Secant, Cosecant, and Cotangent Functions	2
3.12	Equivalent Representations of Trigonometric Functions	2
3.13	Trigonometry and Polar Coordinates	2
3.14	Polar Function Graphs	2
3.15	Rates of Change in Polar Functions	2

Unit 4: Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices (7–7.5 weeks)

!#!Topic Title!Instructional Periods
4.1	Parametric Functions	2
4.2	Parametric Functions Modeling Planar Motion	2
4.3	Parametric Functions and Rates of Change	2
4.4	Parametrically Defined Circles and Lines	2
4.5	Implicitly Defined Functions	2
4.6	Conic Sections	3
4.7	Parametrization of Implicitly Defined Functions	2
4.8	Vectors	3
4.9	Vector-Valued Functions	1
4.10	Matrices	2
4.11	The Inverse and Determinant of a Matrix	2
4.12	Linear Transformations and Matrices	1
4.13	Matrices as Functions	3
4.14	Matrices Modeling Contexts	3

Note that Unit 4 will not be tested on the AP exam.

Exam

The exam is composed of 2 sections, each with 2 different types of questions.

Section I consists of 40 multiple choice questions. 28 do not allow the use of a calculator, while the last 12 do allow a calculator. The non-calculator section is worth 43.75% of the exam score, while the calculator section is worth 18.75%.

Section II of the Exam includes 4 free response questions, with 2 not allowing a calculator and 2 allowing use of a calculator. Section II is worth 37.5% of the exam score, with the non-calculator and calculator sections weighed equally.^[3]

AP Precalculus exams will be scored on the standard 1–5 AP scale, with 5 signifying that the student is "extremely well qualified" for equivalent college credit and 1 signifying "no recommendation."

Score distribution

Score	2024^[4]
5	25%
4	24%
3	26%
2	15%
1	10%
% of scores 3 or higher	75%
Mean	3.39
Standard deviation	1.28
Number of students	152,000

Notes and References

Web site: MAA Blog: Thoughts on AP Precalculus . 2022-05-26 . MATH VALUES . en-US.
Web site: New AP Precalculus Course Will Expand Access to STEM Majors and Careers – Newsroom . 2022-05-26 . newsroom.collegeboard.org . en.
Web site: AP Precalculus Course Framework – AP Central | College Board .
Web site: Total Registration . 2024-06-27 . AP Exam Score Distributions . 2024-06-27 . Total Registration.