AP Precalculus Course Framework

The AP Precalculus course framework provides a clear and detailed description of what students should know and be able to do to qualify for college credit or placement. The course framework includes two essential components:

Mathematical Practices

The mathematical practices are central to the study and practice of precalculus. Students should develop and apply the described skills on a regular basis over the span of the course. Each of the three mathematical practices for AP Precalculus have associated skills.

• Practice 1: Procedural and Symbolic Fluency
• Practice 2: Multiple Representations
• Practice 3: Communication and Reasoning

Course Content

The course content is organized into units of study that provide a suggested sequence for the course. These units comprise the content and conceptual understandings that colleges and universities typically expect students to master to qualify for college credit and/or placement.

• Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions
• Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions
• Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions
• Unit 4: Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices

Exam Design

See the list of approved graphing calculators for the AP Precalculus Exam.