# AP exam formats, dates and unit weights: for 2027

Source: https://tutix.ai/guides/ap-exam-formats-and-unit-weights  
Updated: 2026-10-21

**The short answer.** In May 2027, AP Calculus AB and BC have 42 multiple-choice questions in 100 minutes and 6 free-response questions in 90 minutes. Precalculus has 42 multiple choice in 105 minutes and 4 free response in 70 minutes. Statistics is now five units and fully digital, with 42 multiple choice and four 10-point free-response questions. Biology, Chemistry and Human Geography keep their formats.

- The 2027 AP window is May 3 to 7 and May 10 to 14
- Calculus and Precalculus: new multiple-choice lengths and timings
- Statistics: five units, 42 MC, four 10-point FRQs, fully digital
- Unit weights are shares of the multiple-choice section

## The 2027 formats at a glance

| Course | Multiple choice | Free response | Calculator | Taken | 2027 date |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Calculus AB | 42 questions, 100 min, 50% | 6 questions, 90 min, 50% | Graphing calculator required for part of each section | MC on a device, free response on paper | Mon May 10, morning |
| Calculus BC | 42 questions, 100 min, 50% | 6 questions, 90 min, 50% | As AB | MC on a device, free response on paper | Mon May 10, morning |
| Precalculus | 42 questions, 105 min, 62.5% | 4 questions of 6 points, 70 min, 37.5% | Graphing calculator required for part of each section | MC on a device, free response on paper | Tue May 11, morning |
| Statistics | 42 questions (4 choices), 90 min, 50% | 4 questions of 10 points, 90 min, 50% | Graphing calculator with statistical capabilities expected; formulas and tables provided | Fully digital | Tue May 11, afternoon |
| Biology | 60 questions, 90 min, 50% | 6 questions (two of 9 points, four of 4), 90 min, 50% | Four-function, scientific or graphing calculator allowed | MC on a device, free response on paper | Mon May 3, afternoon |
| Chemistry | 60 questions, 90 min, 50% | 7 questions (three of 10 points, four of 4), 105 min, 50% | Scientific or graphing calculator recommended; periodic table and formula sheet provided | MC on a device, free response on paper | Thu May 6, afternoon |
| Human Geography | 60 questions, 60 min, 50% | 3 questions of 7 points, 75 min, 50% | No calculator rule printed | Fully digital | Mon May 3, morning |

## What changed for 2027

- Calculus AB and BC. The multiple-choice section went from 45 questions in 105 minutes to 42 in 100 minutes.
- Precalculus. Multiple choice went from 40 questions in 120 minutes to 42 in 105, and free response from two 30-minute parts to two 35-minute parts (four questions, 70 minutes).
- Statistics. The course went from nine units to five. The exam went from 40 multiple-choice questions with five answer choices and six free-response questions worth four points each to 42 questions with four choices and four free-response questions worth ten points each, and it is taken fully on a device.
- Biology, Chemistry and Human Geography. No format change is stated for 2027.

## How the units are weighted

The College Board publishes each unit's share of the multiple-choice section as a range. The ranges are targets, so they overlap and add up to more than 100%.

### Calculus AB

- 1 Limits and Continuity: 10 to 15%
- 2 Differentiation: Definition and Fundamental Properties: 10 to 15%
- 3 Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions: 5 to 10%
- 4 Contextual Applications of Differentiation: 10 to 15%
- 5 Analytical Applications of Differentiation: 15 to 20%
- 6 Integration and Accumulation of Change: 15 to 20%
- 7 Differential Equations: 5 to 10%
- 8 Applications of Integration: 10 to 15%

### Calculus BC

- Units 1 to 4 and 7 to 8: 5 to 10% each
- 5 Analytical Applications of Differentiation: 10 to 15%
- 6 Integration and Accumulation of Change: 15 to 20%
- 9 Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates, and Vector-Valued Functions: 10 to 15%
- 10 Infinite Sequences and Series: 15 to 20%

### Precalculus

- 1 Polynomial and Rational Functions: 30 to 40%
- 2 Exponential and Logarithmic Functions: 25 to 40%
- 3 Trigonometric and Polar Functions: 30 to 35%
- 4 Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices: not assessed on the exam

### Statistics

- 1 Exploring One-Variable Data and Collecting Data: 20 to 30%
- 2 Probability, Random Variables, and Probability Distributions: 15 to 25%
- 3 Inference for Categorical Data: Proportions: 15 to 25%
- 4 Inference for Quantitative Data: Means: 10 to 20%
- 5 Regression Analysis: 10 to 20%

### Biology

- 1 Chemistry of Life: 8 to 11%
- 2 Cells: 10 to 13%
- 3 Cellular Energetics: 12 to 16%
- 4 Cell Communication and Cell Cycle: 10 to 15%
- 5 Heredity: 8 to 11%
- 6 Gene Expression and Regulation: 12 to 16%
- 7 Natural Selection: 13 to 20%
- 8 Ecology: 10 to 15%

### Chemistry

- 1 Atomic Structure and Properties: 7 to 9%
- 2 Compound Structure and Properties: 7 to 9%
- 3 Properties of Substances and Mixtures: 18 to 22%
- 4 Chemical Reactions: 7 to 9%
- 5 Kinetics: 7 to 9%
- 6 Thermochemistry: 7 to 9%
- 7 Equilibrium: 7 to 9%
- 8 Acids and Bases: 11 to 15%
- 9 Thermodynamics and Electrochemistry: 7 to 9%

### Human Geography

- 1 Thinking Geographically: 8 to 10%
- 2 Population and Migration Patterns and Processes: 12 to 17%
- 3 Cultural Patterns and Processes: 12 to 17%
- 4 Political Patterns and Processes: 12 to 17%
- 5 Agriculture and Rural Land-Use Patterns and Processes: 12 to 17%
- 6 Cities and Urban Land-Use Patterns and Processes: 12 to 17%
- 7 Industrial and Economic Development Patterns and Processes: 12 to 17%

How many hours each ready-made AP program takes, at each level, is on the Programs page.

## How students scored in 2026

| Course | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 or higher | Students in 2025 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Calculus AB | 20% | 28% | 17% | 24% | 11% | 65% | 285,891 |
| Calculus BC | 46% | 22% | 14% | 14% | 4% | 82% | 160,436 |
| Precalculus | 29% | 29% | 24% | 11% | 7% | 82% | 253,596 |
| Statistics | 17% | 23% | 22% | 17% | 21% | 62% | 266,791 |
| Biology | 15% | 25% | 31% | 21% | 8% | 71% | 287,232 |
| Chemistry | 15% | 31% | 30% | 18% | 6% | 75% | 168,833 |
| Human Geography | 19% | 26% | 21% | 24% | 10% | 66% | 282,781 |

AP pass rates by exam shows the share at 3 or higher on every exam since 2021, and why a rate is not a ranking of how hard an exam is.

## What the 1 to 5 scale means

The College Board describes a 5 as extremely well qualified, a 4 as very well qualified, a 3 as qualified, a 2 as possibly qualified and a 1 as no recommendation. Many US colleges grant credit or placement for a 3 or above, but each college makes its own decisions, so check the policies of the colleges you care about.

Every one of these courses is a ready-made program on Tutix: see the programs.

## Questions

**When are the AP exams in 2027?**

The 2027 AP exam window runs from May 3 to May 7 and from May 10 to May 14. Biology and Human Geography are on May 3, Chemistry on May 6, Calculus AB and BC on May 10, and Precalculus and Statistics on May 11.

**How long is the AP Calculus AB exam in 2027?**

The multiple-choice section is 42 questions in 100 minutes and the free-response section is 6 questions in 90 minutes, each worth half of the score.

**How many units are in AP Statistics now?**

Five. The College Board consolidated the course from nine units to five for the 2026 to 2027 school year.

**What do the unit weightings mean?**

They are the share of the multiple-choice section each unit is expected to account for, given as ranges that overlap.

**Which AP exams are fully digital?**

Of the six exams on this page, AP Statistics and AP Human Geography are taken fully on a device in 2027. The other four use a device for the multiple-choice section and paper for free response.

## Sources

- College Board: [AP exam dates](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/exam-administration-ordering-scores/exam-dates) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- College Board: [AP Calculus AB and BC exam](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-calculus-ab/exam) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- College Board: [AP Calculus AB and BC: course and exam description clarifications and corrections](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-calculus-ab-bc-course-and-exam-description-clarifications.pdf) (May 2026)
- College Board: [AP Precalculus exam](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-precalculus/exam) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- College Board: [AP Statistics exam](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-statistics/exam) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- College Board: [AP Statistics: future revisions](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-statistics/future-revisions) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- College Board: [AP Biology exam](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-biology/exam) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- College Board: [AP Chemistry exam](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-chemistry/exam) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- College Board: [AP Human Geography exam](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-human-geography/exam) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- College Board: [AP score distributions, 2026](https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/score-distributions) (2026 results)
- College Board: [The AP score scale](https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/about-ap-scores/ap-score-scale-table) (accessed October 21, 2026)
- College Board: [Getting credit and placement](https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/getting-credit-placement) (accessed October 21, 2026)

_AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse, this site._