AP Precalculus is the newest AP math course to be introduced with the first test happening in 2024. With this test being so new, there are many questions people have about it and many people wondering if they should take the exam. Here are 4 things you should know about the AP Precalculus Exam.
An Overview of the Exam
The AP Precalculus course is composed of four units – 1) Polynomial and Rational Functions 2) Exponential and Logarithmic Functions 3) Trigonometric and Polar Functions 4) Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices – where students learn about classes of functions and expand that knowledge to model real life situations.
Interestingly enough, unit 4 is not actually covered on the AP Precalculus exam, making the test more accessible to many students who are in standard precalculus classes. You may ask, “why isn’t unit 4 on the exam?” The answer is that it allows more flexibility for teachers who need to meet local or state curriculum requirements for any class that is called “Precalculus”.
As with all other AP exams, AP Precalculus is graded on a scale between 1-5 where the score can be used as a recommendation to colleges and universities that a student may enroll in. With three years of the AP Precalculus Exam done and graded, we can look at stats for the exam. In 2024 (the exam’s first year), 75.6% of students got a 3 or greater on the exam; in 2025, 81% of the students got a 3 or greater on the exam; and in 2026, 82% of the students got a 3 or greater on the exam.. These are great stats, especially when compared to other exams, which usually have between 60-75% of students receiving a score of 3 or greater.
Who Should Take the AP Precalculus Exam?
Oftentimes the question that comes up when talking about the AP Precalculus exam is “who is and who should take this exam?” The answer varies depending on the student’s academic goals, but here are a few groups of students that may consider taking the exam.
- Juniors and Seniors looking to add an AP test to their transcript to help stand out in their college applications. Students are often looking for ways to stand out in their college applications to give them the leg up in a competitive selection process. While academics are not the whole picture in a college application, they are not completely ignored. Colleges are often looking for students who took on challenging courses and are motivated to work at a college level academically. Since AP courses and exams are meant to work at a college level, this is a great way for students to show their academic rigor.
- Students who want to academically challenge themselves. Applying to colleges is not always a driving factor for a student’s course selection. Many times, students choose courses that will give them a rewarding challenge and experience. These are the types of students that would greatly benefit from taking the AP Precalculus course and exam. In this way, they can get the knowledge they would get from a standard Precalculus class with extra material and rigor involved.
- Students who are looking to have college credit before they even begin college. When asked, many students will remark on how great it was to be able to receive college credit before even starting their first year of college. There are many benefits to starting with credits under your belt. One such benefit is that course selection is often sorted by the number of credits students at the school have – therefore, students with more credits get an earlier choice for better courses. Another benefit is that it clears up students’ schedules later on to take interesting classes in their field of interest or even in a new field that they can grow their interest in.
The AJ Way
Here at AJ, we have been preparing students for the AP Precalculus exam since it was rolled out! Our staff and unique 1:1 approach are designed to prepare all students to succeed on this exam.
