AP Precalculus exam-day guide
AP Precalculus · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo ID
Bring a current, government-issued photo ID. Acceptable forms and exact name-matching rules vary by testing site; confirm with the provider.
Admission ticket / registration confirmation
Have your exam registration confirmation (printed or accessible on your phone) so staff can locate your registration quickly.
Approved calculator
AP Precalculus allows a graphing calculator on designated sections only; check the current College Board calculator policy for approved models and confirm which sections permit calculator use.
Extra batteries or backup calculator
Bring fresh batteries for your graphing calculator and, if possible, a second approved calculator as a backup.
Pencils and pens
Bring several sharpened No. 2 pencils for multiple-choice bubbling and dark-blue or black pens for free-response writing. Confirm any site-specific supply rules with the provider.
Eraser and pencil sharpener
A soft eraser and a small sharpener help you keep answer sheets clean and legible.
Analog watch (optional)
A simple non-smart watch can help you pace yourself; many sites prohibit smartwatches and phones at your desk. Confirm the site's device policy.
Water and a light snack
Bring water and a snack for the break if your site permits food and drink outside the testing room. Confirm with the provider.
Know your timing plan
Review the section structure and time limits in advance so you can allocate time per question and reserve time to check work. Confirm the current format with the provider.
Review calculator and formula expectations
Practice the calculator skills and any reference information the exam provides so you are not learning them on test day. Confirm what reference materials are supplied.
Plan your route and arrival time
Know the test center location, parking, and required arrival time; arrive early to allow for check-in. Confirm reporting time with the provider.
Sleep and logistics
Get normal sleep, eat breakfast, and arrange transportation so you arrive calm and on time.
Plan the day
Complete a timed full-length practice under realistic conditions, then review errors by topic. Rehearse calculator procedures (graphing, tables, intersections, zeros) and confirm your calculator is on the approved list.
Make a one-page summary of key function behaviors (polynomial, rational, exponential, logarithmic, trigonometric, piecewise) and transformations. Practice explaining reasoning in writing, since free-response credit depends on shown work.
Confirm test center location, reporting time, ID requirements, and allowed devices with the provider. Pack your bag with ID, confirmation, calculator, batteries, pencils, pens, and eraser.
Do light review only: skim your summary sheet and a few worked problems. Avoid cramming new topics. Set alarms, charge devices, and lay out clothes and materials.
Eat a normal dinner and go to bed at a reasonable hour. Avoid late-night screen time and last-minute panic review.
Eat breakfast, hydrate, and arrive at the test center with time to spare. Leave phones and smart devices stowed per site rules.
Read directions carefully and note section time limits. Answer easier multiple-choice questions first, flag and return to harder ones, and always eliminate wrong choices before guessing.
On free-response questions, show setup and reasoning, label answers with units where appropriate, and use your calculator to verify graphs and numerical answers. Watch for calculator-permitted versus no-calculator sections.
Use the break to stretch, hydrate, and reset. When time is called, stop writing immediately and follow proctor instructions.
Rules to check
Bring valid photo ID; exact acceptable forms and name-matching requirements vary, so confirm with the provider.
Follow all proctor instructions about starting, stopping, and sealing materials; stop writing immediately when time is called.
Use only approved calculators and only on sections where they are permitted; confirm the current calculator policy with the provider.
Keep phones, smartwatches, and other electronic devices stowed and silenced per site rules; unauthorized devices can lead to score cancellation.
Breaks are scheduled by the proctor; confirm whether food, drink, and leaving the room are allowed during breaks.
Do not communicate with other examinees during testing or discuss exam content afterward in ways prohibited by the provider.
Scoring: multiple-choice and free-response contribute to your score, and free-response credit depends on shown work; confirm the current scoring and weighting details with the provider.
Report any testing irregularity or illness to the proctor immediately and follow the provider's procedures for concerns about your administration.