Advanced Placement
The Complete Guide to AP Calculus AB Exam [Updated for 2025]
Written by Apoorvaa Agarwal
Updated on: 13 Aug 2024
Content
- The AP Calculus AB course is organized into 4 topics: Limits and Derivatives, Applications of Differentiation, Integration, and Applications of Integration.
- The AP Calculus AB exam is divided into two sections: multiple-choice (45 questions, 1 hour 45 minutes) and free-response (6 questions, 90 minutes).
- The mean score for the AP Calculus AB exam in 2021 was 2.91 out of 5. This is slightly lower than the mean score for AP Calculus BC in 2021, but it is still higher than the mean score for all AP subjects in 2021.
- The pass rate of the AP Calculus AB Exam for 2021 was 55.7%. This is slightly lower than the pass rate for AP Calculus BC in 2021, but it is still higher than the pass rate for AP overall.
With AP Calculus AB, some majors that you could choose from include mathematics, engineering, and economics. Some career pathways you could pursue include mathematician, engineer, economist, and data scientist.
The AP Calculus AB exam is known for its rigorous content.
The pass rate for the AP Calculus AB exam was 55% and the mean score for the same in 2022 was 2.91 out of 5. The subject was given a difficulty rating of 5.5 out of 10 by class alumnae on a reddit survey.
This comprehensive guide is designed to provide you with the tools, strategies, and practice materials necessary to navigate through the AP Calculus AB exam confidently.
What is the AP Calculus AB exam?
AP Calculus AB is an introductory-level calculus course that prepares students for further study in mathematics, science, engineering, and other quantitative fields.
The exam is designed to give students a chance to showcase their proficiency in calculus and earn college credit or advanced placement in related courses.
AP Calculus AB exam format
| Section A | No. of questions | Types of questions | Time allocated | Calculator usage policy | Exam weightage |
| Multiple-choice questions | Part A: 30 questions | Questions include algebraic, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, and general types of functions. | 60 mins | No calculator permitted | 33.30% |
| Multiple-choice questions | Part B: 15 questions | Questions include analytical, graphical, tabular, and verbal types of representations. | 45 mins | Calculator allowed | 16.70% |
| TOTAL | 45 questions | 105 mins | 50% |
| Section B | No. of questions | Types of questions | Time allocated | Calculator usage policy | Exam weightage |
| Free response questions | Part A: 2 questions | Questions include various types of functions and function representations and a roughly equal mix of procedural and conceptual tasks. | 30 mins | Calculator allowed | 16.70% |
| Free response questions | Part B: 4 questions | Questions include at least 2 questions that incorporate a real-world context or scenario into the question. | 60 mins | No calculator permitted | 33.30% |
| TOTAL | 6 questions | 90 mins | 50% |
How long is the AP Calculus AB exam?
The AP Calculus AB Exam lasts for a total of 3 hours and 15 minutes and is split into two sections: multiple-choice and free-response.
The multiple-choice section, which is worth 50% of the total score, lasts for 1 hour and 45 minutes and includes 45 questions.
The free-response section also makes up 50% of the total score and lasts for 1 hour and 30 minutes, consisting of 6 questions.
There is a 10-minute break provided after the multiple-choice section for students to use the restroom, eat a snack, or take a break before starting the free-response section.
Topic for AP Calculus AB exam review
The AP Calculus AB exam consists of several critical units, each with a specific weightage assigned to them.
| Units Covered | Exam Weightage (MCQ) |
| Unit 1: Limits and Continuity | 10-12% |
| Unit 2: Differentiation: Definition and Fundamental Properties | 10-12% |
| Unit 3: Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions | 09-13% |
| Unit 4: Contextual Application of Differentiation | 10-15% |
| Unit 5: Analytical Application of Differentiation | 15-18% |
| Unit 6: Integration and Accumulation of change | 17-20% |
| Unit 7: Differential Equations | 06-12% |
| Unit 8: Application of Integrals | 10-15% |
What’s the 2025 AP Calculus AB exam date and time?
The 2025 AP Calculus AB Exam will take place on May 12th, 2025, which is a Monday, at 8:00 A.M. local time.
How can Wiingy help with AP Calculus AB exam prep?
In 2022, only 20.4% of the 268,852 students who took the AP AP Calculus AB exam scored a 5. While 3 is considered the unofficial passing rate, most elite universities, such as Harvard or Princeton, offer AP credit only if you score 5 or higher.
Getting a 5 is possible if you have the right support in your high school, but that’s rarely the case.
Here at Wiingy, we work with vetted AP Calculus AB tutors with demonstrated expertise and experience in helping students score a 5 on AP exams.
Unlike tutor marketplaces, every Wiingy tutor is screened individually and undergoes a comprehensive assessment.
Less than 3% of applicants are selected to become tutors on Wiingy’s platform, ensuring tutors are highly qualified and experienced in teaching AP courses.
Our tutors will work with you 1-on-1 to master the content and skills you need to succeed.
Experienced tutors can provide you with curriculum-specific guides and practice questions and familiarize you with the exam format to help you ace the test.
We know that sometimes you don’t want to pay for private tutoring because it is too expensive. It’s common to see tutoring costs between $100 to $150 per hour.
Wiingy’s rates are affordable, starting from just $28 per hour, much lower than the average AP tutoring offered by other platforms.
One more advantage of studying with us is that we don’t require you to sign up for any packages or yearly subscriptions. You can sign up for as little as one lesson and add more lessons as per your requirements.
While we try to match you with the perfect tutor as per your needs, we know that sometimes even the best tutors might not be the right fit for you.
That’s why we offer you the Perfect Match Guarantee, which means that if you are not satisfied with your tutor for any reason, you can request a free replacement at any time.
Connect with expert AP Calculus AB Tutors on Wiingy today and achieve your goal of scoring a 5 on your AP Test!
Find an expert 1-on-1 online AP Calculus AB tutor from Wiingy and give your exam prep a boost!
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How many questions are on the AP Calculus AB exam?
The AP Calculus AB exam has 51 questions in total. The exam is divided into two sections: Section I contains 45 multiple-choice questions, and Section II contains 6 free-response questions. The entire exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long.
Can I self-study AP Calculus AB?
If you are confident about it then yes it is possible to self-study for the AP Calculus AB exam.
However, it is important to note that the course covers a lot of material and requires a strong foundation in algebra and precalculus.
Therefore, self-studying for the exam may require a significant amount of time and effort.
How long is the AP Calculus AB exam?
The AP Calculus AB exam is approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes long.
The exam is divided into two sections: Section I contains 45 multiple-choice questions that must be answered within 1 hour and 45 minutes, while Section II contains 6 free-response questions that must be completed in the remaining 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Should I take AP Calc AB or BC?
The decision to take AP Calculus AB or BC depends on your math background, future academic plans, and personal goals. AP Calculus AB covers the basics of calculus, including limits, derivatives, integrals, and applications of calculus.
AP Calculus BC builds on these concepts, adding topics such as sequences and series, parametric equations, and polar coordinates.
Which is more difficult, AP Calculus AB or BC?
AP Calculus BC is generally considered to be more difficult than AP Calculus AB because it covers more advanced topics such as infinite series, parametric equations, and polar functions.
AP Calculus AB is a bit more straightforward and focuses on basic concepts such as limits, derivatives, and integrals.
However, this does not mean that AP Calculus AB is easy. It is still a challenging course that requires a strong foundation in algebra and trigonometry.
What is AP Calculus AB equivalent to and who can take it?
AP Calculus AB course is equivalent to a first-semester college calculus course, and students who take the AP Calculus AB exam and score well may receive college credit or advanced placement in calculus courses.
AP Calculus AB is typically taken by high school students who have completed precalculus or an equivalent course and are interested in pursuing a STEM-related major or career.
While there are no specific prerequisites for the course, students should have a solid foundation in algebra, geometry, and trigonometry.
It’s also important to note that the course requires a significant amount of time and effort, so students should be prepared to dedicate themselves to the material.
Recommended reads
References
- https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-calculus-ab/exam
- https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/ap-calculus-ab-exam
- https://www.bestcolleges.com/resources/ap-calculus-ab/
- https://collegeprep.uworld.com/ap-calculus-ab/exam-information/
- https://reports.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/2021-ap-student-score-distributions_1.pdf
- https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-score-distributions-by-subject-2022.pdf
Written by
Apoorvaa AgarwalReviewed by
Priyanshi AgrawalShare article on
