Last Updated: January 9, 2025
The AP Precalculus exam consists of two sections: multiple choice and free response questions. The exam is scored on a scale of 1 - 5, with a 5 being the highest possible score.
The scores in this calculator are estimates based on previous scoring curves. The actual scoring curve may vary year to year.
Instructions
Enter your scores for each section using the sliders below to calculate your estimated AP score.
Section 1: Multiple Choice (Total)
FRQ 1: Function Concepts (Calculator)
FRQ 2: Non-Periodic Modeling (Calculator)
FRQ 3: Periodic Modeling (No Calculator)
FRQ 4: Symbolic Manipulations (No Calculator)
PREDICTED AP® SCORE
0 | Score range: 1 - 5
SECTION SCORES
Multiple Choice Score
0 / 63
Free Response Score
0 / 37
Combined Composite Score
0 / 100
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The AP Precalculus exam consists of two main sections:
| Section | Question Type | Time | Questions | Exam Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 1A | Multiple Choice (No Calculator) | 80 minutes | 28 questions | 43.75% |
| Section 1B | Multiple Choice (Calculator) | 40 minutes | 12 questions | 18.75% |
| Section 2A | Free Response (Calculator) | 30 minutes | 2 questions | 18.75% |
| Section 2B | Free Response (No Calculator) | 30 minutes | 2 questions | 18.75% |
Total exam time: 3 hours
Section 1: Multiple Choice (62.5% of exam score)
Part A: 28 questions without calculator (80 minutes)
Part B: 12 questions requiring graphing calculator (40 minutes)
Tests understanding of precalculus concepts, methods, and applications
Section 2: Free Response (37.5% of exam score)
Part A (Calculator required):
Question 1: Function Concepts
Question 2: Modeling a Non-Periodic Context
Part B (No calculator):
Question 3: Modeling a Periodic Context
Question 4: Symbolic Manipulations
The AP Precalculus exam uses a weighted scoring system. The multiple-choice sections account for 62.5% of your score (43.75% for Part A and 18.75% for Part B), and the free-response sections make up the remaining 37.5% (18.75% each for Parts A and B).
Your raw scores from each section are converted into a composite score out of 100, which is then converted to the final AP score of 1-5. The distribution of scores from the most recent exam was:
| AP Precalculus Score | Percentage of Students |
|---|---|
| 5 | 25.9% |
| 4 | 23.9% |
| 3 | 25.9% |
| 2 | 14.6% |
| 1 | 9.8% |
A score of 3 or higher is generally considered passing, though many top colleges only award credit for scores of 4 or 5. For college admissions purposes, a 4 or 5 is considered a strong score.
To earn a high score (4 or 5), students typically need to demonstrate:
Strong understanding of functions and their properties
Ability to model both periodic and non-periodic contexts
Skills in symbolic manipulation and algebraic reasoning
Clear mathematical communication
Effective use of graphing calculator when permitted
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