MathematicsA college precalculus course, or college algebra with trigonometry

AP Precalculus

Functions, trigonometry, and modeling that build the foundation for AP Calculus and college STEM courses.

AP Precalculus prepares students for calculus and other college-level mathematics by exploring polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, and polar functions. Students learn to model real-world scenarios, reason about rates of change, and represent functions graphically, numerically, analytically, and verbally.

$65
Single 90-minute lesson
$49.50
Lowest rate per lesson
50 lessons
Full syllabus, 75 hours
Prices and optionsRequest a tutor
Course Introduction

Why AP Precalculus Matters

A qualifying score on the AP Precalculus Exam can earn college credit or placement. Each college sets its own policy, so check the score your colleges ask for.

Direct on-ramp to AP Calculus AB/BC and college STEM
Builds fluency with functions and modeling
Strengthens algebra and trigonometry foundations
Increasingly accepted for college math credit
College Equivalent

Precalculus

Required/Recommended for Majors
EngineeringComputer ScienceEconomicsMathematicsPhysical SciencesBusinessData Science
Exam Format
Multiple Choice42 questions (about 63%)
Free Response4 questions (about 37%)

Scored 1–5. In Bluebook, fully digital or hybrid (handwritten free responses).

AP Precalculus course units

The units of the College Board course. Lessons follow them in the order your class takes them.

Unit 130-40% of multiple-choice score
Polynomial and Rational Functions
End behaviorZeros and multiplicityRational functions and asymptotesModeling with polynomials
Unit 225-40% of multiple-choice score
Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
Geometric sequencesExponential modelsLogarithmic functionsSemi-log plots
Unit 330-35% of multiple-choice score
Trigonometric and Polar Functions
Unit circleSinusoidal modelingTrig identitiesPolar coordinates and graphs
Unit 4Not assessed on exam (instructional)
Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices
Parametric functionsVectorsMatrices and transformations

How lessons approach Precalc

Understanding the concepts, and answering the exam's questions the way they are scored.

Conceptual Understanding
Building deep knowledge that lasts
  • Connect graphical, numerical, analytical, and verbal representations
  • Understand function families and their transformations
  • Build intuition for rates of change before calculus
  • Use modeling to anchor abstract concepts
Exam-Specific Strategies
Techniques that maximize your score
  • Practice both calculator and non-calculator sections
  • Master function notation and domain/range analysis
  • Learn to justify reasoning in free-response answers
  • Drill trigonometric identities and the unit circle

Past papers and practice exams

Practice exams in the current exam format are reviewed afterwards, and the errors set the work for the next lessons.

Past papers

Practice exams and sample questions modeled on the College Board AP Precalculus format.

  • Full-length exams matching the AP Precalculus format
  • Calculator and non-calculator sections included
  • Scoring with detailed explanations
  • Error analysis identifying concept gaps
  • Progress tracking across all units

How a practice exam is used

  1. 1
    Sit a full practice exam
    Timed, section by section
  2. 2
    Review the errors
    With your tutor, by unit and question type
  3. 3
    Targeted practice
    On the units and question types that cost points
  4. 4
    Repeat
    Before the exam

AP Precalculus: lessons, prices and how to start

One-to-one lessons are 90 minutes, live online. Prices are set per program, so they are the same for every AP subject.

AP Precalculus one-to-one tutoring packages
Single lesson$65Per lesson: $65Buy a lesson
10 lessons$630Per lesson: $63Buy package
20 lessons$1,200Per lesson: $60Buy package
Full syllabus · 50 lessonsLowest rate75 hours · or 2 payments of $1,350 ($2,700 in all)$2,475Per lesson: $49.50Buy packageor pay in 2

Group options

All 2026–27 AP groups are full. The AP group course is $1,755 or 3 payments of $585, 75 hours of teaching in 50 lessons, in classes of at most 6. Three or more students who come together can ask for a private group.

Ask about a private group

How do you start?

Request a free consultation: it is a conversation about your goals and timeline, not a lesson or a test. There is no separate diagnostic test for AP, because no single test stands in for a school syllabus. The first lesson does the assessment: your tutor works through your recent marked work and past-paper questions from your own specification, and reads where you stand. It is a normal paid lesson, not a free trial, and it teaches as it assesses.

Request a free consultation

Refunds

Not satisfied after your first private lesson? Full (100%) refund. Not satisfied after the first week of your group course? Full (100%) refund. No score is guaranteed. Full terms.

Every AP priceAll AP subjects

AP Precalculus — Frequently Asked Questions

How is the AP Precalculus exam structured?
The AP Precalculus exam has 42 multiple-choice questions in 1 hour 45 minutes, worth about 63% of the score, and 4 free-response questions in 1 hour 10 minutes, worth about 37%. Knowing the split matters because the two halves reward different preparation — the multiple-choice section rewards coverage, the free-response section rewards being able to set out a method.
What college credit does AP Precalculus carry?
A college precalculus course, or college algebra with trigonometry. Credit policies are set by each university rather than by the College Board, so confirm the score your target schools require before choosing which exams to sit.
What does AP Precalculus cover?
The course is organized into 4 units: Polynomial and Rational Functions, Exponential and Logarithmic Functions, Trigonometric and Polar Functions and Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices. Our tutoring follows the same order, so what you cover with a tutor lines up with what your class is doing.
What college course is AP Precalculus equivalent to?
Precalculus. That is the level the exam is written to, which is why a strong AP score is treated as evidence you can handle first-year university work in the subject.
Which majors is AP Precalculus useful for?
It is most relevant to Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics and 3 more. It is worth taking if it is either required for your intended major or the strongest subject you can show, since a high score in a demanding subject carries more weight than a safe pass in an easy one.