AP Calculus AB and BC · Exam guide
AP Calculus AB and BC Multiple-Choice Guide: 45 Questions in Two Parts
The multiple-choice section is half of the AP Calculus AB and BC score. It has two parts with different rules, and the pacing is different for each. This guide shows the format, a plan for each part, and a worked example of the elimination habit that saves time.
The format
| Part | Questions | Time | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 30 | 60 minutes | None |
| B | 15 | 45 minutes | Graphing calculator required |
The two parts together are 45 questions in 105 minutes and count for 50 percent of the exam score. There is no penalty for a wrong answer, so answer every question.
Pacing
- Part A gives two minutes per question. Do the questions in order, and mark one you are unsure of rather than spending four minutes on it.
- Part B has three minutes per question, but they are harder and often built on a graph or a table. Give yourself the time to read them carefully.
- On either part, a question that takes more than three minutes is probably set up wrong. Reread it and look for a simpler route.
When to use the calculator in Part B
- To evaluate a definite integral or a derivative at a point that has no clean antiderivative.
- To find where two graphs cross, or where a function is zero.
- To check a graph's behavior, not to avoid setting up the problem.
Even in Part B, a quick algebra step is often faster than a calculator. A question that looks heavy may have a one-line answer from the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus.
A worked example of elimination
If \(f(x) = \displaystyle\int_1^{x} (t^2 + 3)\,dt\), what is \(f'(2)\)?
Options: A. 3, B. 4, C. 7, D. 10.
By the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, \(f'(x) = x^2 + 3\), so \(f'(2) = 4 + 3 = 7\). Answer C. The wrong options show the usual slips: A keeps only the constant, B drops the constant (it is \(2^2\)), and D comes from evaluating the integrand at the wrong point.
Question types to expect
| Type | What to do |
|---|---|
| Limits and continuity | Try substituting first. If you get 0 over 0, factor or use a known limit. |
| Derivative rules | Write the rule you are using (chain, product, quotient) before you compute. |
| Graph of f', or a table | Read what the graph says: sign of f' gives increasing or decreasing, and slope of f' gives concavity. |
| Integrals and the Fundamental Theorem | Notice when the upper limit is a variable. That signals the first part of the theorem. |
| Differential equations | Check whether the question wants a slope, a solution, or a slope field match. |
Common mistakes
- Using the calculator on a Part A question, where none is allowed, or forgetting to set it to radian mode on a Part B question.
- Choosing the answer that matches an early algebra step and skipping the last step of the problem.
- Leaving a question blank. A guess costs nothing.
- Getting the units or the sign wrong in a rate question.
Frequently asked questions
Do wrong answers lose points?
No. Answer every question.
Is the calculator allowed in all of the multiple-choice section?
No. Part A has no calculator, and Part B requires a graphing calculator.
Which angle mode should my calculator be in?
Radians, unless a question says degrees.
Are AB and BC multiple-choice sections the same format?
Yes, with the same 45 questions in two parts, though BC includes BC-only topics such as series.
Where can I find the official format?
Exam formats change a little from year to year, so check the current course and exam description on the College Board site before test day.
Keep practicing
Every lesson in the AP Calculus courses ends with practice problems and an Exam focus box that shows how the topic is tested, and every unit has a 10-problem practice set with worked answers. These free lessons also build the skills the free-response section tests:
See the AP Calculus AB and BC course Free lessons and lesson list See the AP Calculus BC course
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- AP Calculus Related Rates and Optimization: A Setup Routine That Earns the Points
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