# AP Precalculus: The New AP Exam — What to Expect in 2026
AP Precalculus is one of the newest AP exams, first administered in May 2024. Early data suggests a 5-rate around 7-10% — lower than most math APs because students who would score 5 on Precalc are often already in Calculus.
Exam Structure
3 hours: Part A has 28 MCQs without calculator (80 min), Part B has 12 MCQs with calculator (40 min) and 4 FRQs (60 min). Note: the FRQ section uses a graphing calculator.
The 4 Units
**Unit 1 — Polynomial and Rational Functions (30-40%)**: Polynomial end behavior, zeros and multiplicity, rational functions (holes vs. vertical asymptotes), polynomial long division, Remainder Theorem. The most heavily weighted unit.
**Unit 2 — Exponential and Logarithmic Functions (27-40%)**: Exponential growth/decay, log properties, solving exponential equations, semi-log plots, composition of exponential and log functions.
**Unit 3 — Trigonometric and Polar Functions (30-35%)**: Unit circle, trig identities, sinusoidal modeling, inverse trig functions, polar coordinates, polar graphs.
**Unit 4 — Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices (only on FRQs)**: Parametric functions, vectors in 2D, matrix operations. This unit is NOT tested on MCQs — it only appears on FRQs and is considered a "stretch" unit.
Key Strategy: Function Analysis
Every question on AP Precalculus is fundamentally about function behavior. For every function type, you should be able to describe:
The Modeling Emphasis
AP Precalculus emphasizes mathematical modeling more than a traditional precalculus course. You'll be given real-world data and asked to determine whether a polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, or sinusoidal model is most appropriate. The key indicator:
**Drill**: Given the data points (0, 3), (1, 6), (2, 12), (3, 24) — identify the function type, write the equation, and predict the value at x = 5. Then explain why a polynomial model would be inappropriate for this data.
Take the free AP Precalculus diagnostic at quantumlearningmachines.com/free-diagnostic?exam=ap-precalc — 15 minutes, no signup.