Advanced Placement

The Complete Guide to AP Calculus AB Exam [Updated for 2025]

Q: 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.

Written by Apoorvaa Agarwal

Updated on: 13 Aug 2024

Content

1. AP Overview 2. AP Courses 3. AP Exams 4. AP Scores 5. AP Credits 6. AP Credit Policy 7. AP Biology Credit Policy 8. AP Biology Exam 9. AP Biology Practice Tests 10. AP Calculus AB Credit Policy 11. AP Calculus AB Exam 12. AP Calculus AB Formula Sheet 13. AP Calculus AB Practice Tests 14. AP Calculus BC Credit Policy 15. AP Calculus BC Exam 16. AP Calculus BC Formula Sheet 17. AP Calculus BC Practice Tests 18. AP Chemistry Credit Policy 19. AP Chemistry Exam 20. AP Chemistry Formula Sheet 21. AP Chemistry Practice Tests 22. AP Computer Science A Credit Policy 23. AP Computer Science A Practice Tests 24. AP Computer Science Principles Practice Tests 25. AP Computer Science A Exam 26. AP Computer Science Principles Credit Policy 27. AP Computer Science Principles Exam 28. AP English Language 29. AP English Literature 30. AP Human Geography Exam 31. AP Macroeconomics Practice Tests 32. AP Microeconomics Practice Tests 33. AP Physics 1 Credit Policy 34. AP Physics 1 Exam 35. AP Physics 2 Exam 36. AP Physics 1 Formula Sheet 37. AP Physics 1 Practice Tests 38. AP Physics 2 Credit Policy 39. AP Physics 2 Formula Sheet 40. AP Physics 2 Practice Tests 41. AP Physics C E&M Formula Sheet 42. AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism Exam 43. AP Physics C Mechanics Exam 44. AP Physics C Mechanics Practice Tests 45. AP Physics C Electricity and Magnetism Practice Tests 46. AP Physics C Mechanics Formula Sheet 47. AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism Credit Policy 48. AP Physics C: Mechanics Credit Policy 49. AP Psychology Exam 50. AP Statistics Exam 51. AP Statistics Practice Tests 52. AP Statistics Credit Policy 53. AP Statistics Formula Sheet 54. AP US History Practice Tests 55. AP Spanish Language 56. AP Enviornmental Science 57. AP World History Modern 58. AP US Government and Politics 59. AP US History Exam 60. AP European History Exam 61. AP Comparitive Government and Politics 62. AP Microeconomics 63. AP Macroeceonomics 64. AP PreCalculus 65. AP Course Placement 66. AP Score Report 67. AP Sending Scores 68. AP Pass Score 69. AP Exam Dates 70. AP Exam Fee 71. AP Free Response Questions 72. AP Document Based Questions 73. AP Multiple Choice Questions 74. AP Performance Task 75. AP Study Guides 76. AP Review Books 77. AP Course Syllabus 78. AP Course Audit 79. College Board 80. AP Course Ledger 81. AP Exam Fee Reductions 82. AP Pass Rate 83. AP Score Distribution 84. AP Practice Tests 85. AP Worksheets 86. AP Formula Sheets 87. AP Perfect Score 88. AP Daily Videos 89. AP Classroom 90. AP Central 91. Pre AP 92. AP Alumni Network 93. AP Capstone 94. AP Classroom Resources 95. AP Self Study Exams 96. AP Course Grades Vs AP Scores 97. AP Exam Calculator Policy 98. AP Scholar Award 99. AP Course And Exam Description 100. AP Classes 101. AP TextBooks 102. Benefits Of AP 103. AP Results 104. Dual Credits 105. Pre AP To AP Course Map 106. Digital AP Exams 107. AP Course Pairs 108. AP Lab Manuals 109. AP Daily Instructors 110. Best Sites for AP Physics Tutoring 111. Online Tutoring Can Help You With AP Physics Test Prep 112. Average Cost Of AP Physics Tutoring 113. Finding An AP Physics Tutor 114. Finding An AP Chemistry Tutor 115. Online Tutoring Can Help You With AP Chemistry Test Prep 116. Cost Of AP Chemistry Tutoring

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 A

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%

Section B

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%

Topics covered in the AP Calculus AB exam

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.

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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.

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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.

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