AP PreCalculus: What You Need to Know About This Advanced Placement Class
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AP PreCalculus Announcement & Its Impact
In response to the increasing demand for stronger STEM preparation, College Board introduced AP PreCalculus in the 2023-24 academic year. This new Advanced Placement class is designed to bridge the gap between Algebra 2 and AP Calculus, helping students strengthen their mathematical foundation before advancing to college-level STEM courses.
According to College Board’s official announcement, AP PreCalculus is intended to expand access to STEM careers, providing students with the skills needed for fields like engineering, computer science, and data analytics. The course emphasizes functions, modeling, and rates of change, making it an excellent preparatory class for AP Calculus AB and BC.
But how difficult is AP PreCalculus compared to other AP math courses? And should you take it? Let’s break it down.
How Hard is AP PreCalculus? Understanding AP Course Rankings
Many students wonder where AP PreCalculus fits in terms of difficulty compared to other AP math courses. While all Advanced Placement classes are challenging, some are significantly harder than others.
Here’s a general AP course difficulty ranking, based on workload, complexity, and student success rates:
Easiest Advanced Placement Courses
- AP Calculus AB & BC – Covers fundamental calculus concepts. While BC includes additional content, many students find it manageable with a solid math background. (5-Score Rate: 40%)
- AP Psychology – Heavy on memorization but relatively straightforward with basic psychological concepts and theories. (5-Score Rate: 18%)
- AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism – Requires an understanding of calculus, but the concepts are more formulaic and structured. (5-Score Rate: 23%-27%)
Moderate Difficulty AP Courses
- AP Computer Science Principles – Introduces basic programming and computing concepts; less coding-intensive than AP Computer Science A. (5-Score Rate: 11%)
- AP Human Geography – Focuses on spatial concepts and human-environment interactions, with a strong emphasis on maps and case studies. (5-Score Rate: 8%-9%)
- AP World History: Modern – Broad content covering global civilizations, requiring strong reading comprehension. (5-Score Rate: 12%)
- AP U.S. Government & Politics – Covers American political structures and policies, requiring some memorization and critical analysis. (5-Score Rate: 12%-13%)
- AP Physics 1 & 2 – Conceptually challenging but involves more algebra-based physics rather than calculus. (5-Score Rate: 6%-12%)
Difficult AP Courses
- AP Statistics – Focuses on data interpretation and probability, requiring strong analytical skills. (5-Score Rate: 14%-16%)
- AP Chemistry – Requires understanding chemical reactions, balancing equations, and applying lab concepts. (5-Score Rate: 10%-15%)
- AP Biology – Demands extensive memorization of biological processes and lab applications. (5-Score Rate: 16%)
- AP U.S. History – Heavy reading and critical analysis of American historical events, requiring strong essay-writing skills. (5-Score Rate: 10%-11%)
Most Rigorous AP Courses
- AP Environmental Science – Requires understanding of scientific concepts, sustainability, and human impact on the environment. (5-Score Rate: 8%-9%)
- AP Microeconomics & Macroeconomics – Focuses on economic principles, supply and demand, and global market trends. (5-Score Rate: 16%-17%)
- AP European History – Covers European historical developments with an emphasis on analysis and essay writing. (5-Score Rate: 9%-11%)
- AP English Language & Composition – Involves rhetorical analysis and argumentative writing, demanding strong reading and comprehension skills. (5-Score Rate: 10%)
- AP English Literature & Composition – Requires deep literary analysis and critical essay writing. (5-Score Rate: 8%-14%)
- AP Art History – Covers art movements, historical context, and visual analysis, requiring strong memorization skills. (5-Score Rate: 11%-15%)
Where Does AP PreCalculus Fit?
AP PreCalculus is considered a moderate AP class, falling between Algebra 2 and AP Calculus AB in difficulty. It is ideal for students who:
✔ Want a strong foundation before taking AP Calculus
✔ Need to reinforce advanced functions, rates of change, and modeling
✔ Are pursuing STEM fields but need additional math preparation
Why Take AP PreCalculus Over Regular PreCalc?
Students often ask whether AP PreCalculus is worth taking over a regular PreCalculus course. Here’s why the AP version may be a better choice:
✅ College Credit Potential – Unlike regular PreCalc, AP PreCalculus may earn students college credit, depending on the university.
✅ Better STEM Preparation – The curriculum is designed for students planning to take AP Calculus, ensuring they master the skills needed for higher-level math.
✅ Stronger College Applications – Since AP courses hold more weight than standard high school courses, taking an Advanced Placement class like AP PreCalculus demonstrates academic rigor.
✅ Aligned with SAT & ACT Math – Many SAT and ACT math questions involve advanced functions, modeling, and rates of change, all of which are covered in AP PreCalc.
Get Ahead with AP PreCalculus This Summer
Taking AP PreCalculus during the school year can be challenging, especially for students balancing multiple AP courses and extracurricular activities. A great way to lighten your academic load while strengthening your math foundation is by enrolling in a Summer AP Course.
Students can complete a full semester of AP PreCalculus in just a few weeks, allowing them to master the material at an accelerated pace. The summer format offers:
✅ Small class sizes with personalized support
✅ Expert instructors with proven success in AP Math
✅ Interactive, structured curriculum designed for digital SAT & ACT prep
AP PreCalculus Summer Course Dates
📅 First Semester: June 10 – June 24, 2025
📅 Second Semester: July 8 – August 9, 2025
Other AP Summer Courses Dates
In addition to AP PreCalculus, IvyMax partners with Franklin Academy, a private high school offering 27+ AP and Honors courses to help students excel academically. Below is a selection of AP courses available this summer:
| Advanced Placement Course | Class Schedule 2025 Summer |
|---|---|
| AP Calculus AB | 6/10-6/24/2025 & 7/8-8/9/2025 |
| AP Calculus BC | 6/10-6/24/2025 & 7/8-8/9/2025 |
| AP Computer Science A | 6/10-6/24/2025 & 7/8-8/9/2025 |
| AP Computer Science P | 6/10-6/24/2025 & 7/8-8/9/2025 |
| AP Statistics | 6/10-6/24/2025 & 7/8-8/9/2025 |
| AP Physics 1 | 6/10-6/24/2025 & 7/8-8/9/2025 |
| AP Physics 2 | 6/11-6/25/2025 & 7/9-8/10/2025 |
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | 6/11-6/25/2025 & 7/9-7/13/2025 |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 6/11-6/25/2025 & 7/9-7/13/2025 |
| AP Chemistry | 6/11-6/25/2025 & 7/9-8/10/2025 |
| AP Biology | 6/10-6/24/2025 & 7/8-8/9/2025 |
| AP Research | 6/11-6/25/2025 & 7/9-7/13/2025 |
| AP Seminar | 6/11-6/25/2025 & 7/9-7/13/2025 |
| AP Microeconomics | 6/10-6/24/2025 & 7/8-7/12/2025 |
| AP Macroeconomics | 6/11-6/25/2025 & 7/9-7/13/2025 |
| AP Environmental Science | 6/10-6/24/2025 & 7/8-8/9/2025 |
| AP Human Geography | 6/11-6/25/2025 & 7/9-8/10/2025 |
| AP English Literature & Comp | 6/11-6/25/2025 & 7/9-8/10/2025 |
| AP United States History | 6/11-6/25/2025 & 7/9-8/10/2025 |
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