day 59 homework ap calculus ab

AP Calculus AB Class Schedule and Homework Assignments

* Lesson recordings are from 2020-21, so they may not completely match the lessons from this year.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, every ap calculus ab practice test available: free and official.

Advanced Placement (AP)

One of the best ways to prepare for the AP Calculus AB exam, as well as stay on top of lessons in class throughout the year, is to take regular practice tests. Taking practice tests lets you estimate how well you'll do on the AP exam, shows you the areas you need to focus your studies on, and helps you become more comfortable with the format of the AP exam.

There are a ton of AB Calc practice tests available; however, not all of them are created equally. Taking a poorly written practice test can give you a false idea of what the real AP exam will be like and cause you to study the wrong things.

You can avoid those problems by reading this guide to AP Calculus AB practice tests. I'll go through every AP Calculus AB practice exam that's available, tell you which are highest quality, and explain how you should use practice tests when preparing for the AP exam as well as throughout the year.

Official AP Calculus AB Practice Tests

Official practice exams (those developed by the College Board) are always the best to use because you can be sure they'll be an accurate representation of the real AP exam. There are three types of official practice resources, and each is explained below.

Complete Practice Tests

The College Board has released two complete exams from prior administrations of the AP Calculus AB exam. The tests are from 1988 and 1998. The 1988 test has an answer key included; however, for some reason, the 1998 exam does not. The College Board provided answers for the free-response questions in a separate document, but there is no official answer key available for the 1998 exam's multiple-choice section. The answer key linked below is unofficial, but no one has publicly disagreed with any of the answers, so it's highly likely that it's correct.

• 1988 AP Calculus AB Released Exam
• Answer Key for 1998 Multiple-Choice Questions
• Answer Key for 1998 Free-Response Questions

Because these exams are from a while back, they both have some format differences compared to the current AP Calculus AB exam. But looking through these old exams can give you a sense of the test format, and you can work some of the questions as practice, too.

The AP Calculus AB exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long and has two sections. Both of these sections are divided into two parts. For reference, here's the current format of the exam:

Multiple-Choice Section

• 45 questions total
• 1 hour 45 minutes total
• Worth 50% of your total exam score
• 30 questions
• 60 minutes long
• No calculator allowed
• 15 questions
• 45 minutes long
• Calculator permitted

Free-Response Section

• Six questions total
• 1 hour 30 minutes total
• Two questions
• 30 minutes long
• Four questions

You can only use a calculator for certain sections of the AP exam.

Both released exams have the same total number of multiple-choice and free-response questions as the current exam. However, the 1998 test does not have separate parts for the free-response section, and students were allowed to use a calculator to answer all six questions.

Neither the multiple-choice nor the free-response sections of the 1988 exam were separated into different parts, and students were allowed to use their calculator for the entire exam. The multiple-choice section was also only 90 minutes long, instead of 105 minutes.

When you take these exams for practice, it's not worth the time and effort needed to try and figure out which questions you wouldn't be allowed to solve with a calculator today. Instead, take the tests with the calculator and timing rules that were in place when the tests were administered.

These variations between current and past exams do mean that these two complete released exams don't give quite as accurate a representation of the current AP exam as the complete released exams for other AP subjects do.

However, they are still very useful because they cover the same content and are worded the same way as the current exam. Towards the end of this guide I'll explain exactly how to use these resources and others.

AP Calculus AB Multiple-Choice Sample Questions

The College Board often reuses multiple-choice questions for multiple exams, so there are typically few official multiple-choice problems available for any AP exam, AP Calculus AB included.

Besides the complete practice tests discussed above, there are no full official multiple-choice sections available, but you can check out these official sample questions for Calculus AB . (The questions start on page 5, and there are Calculus BC questions listed after the AB questions; be sure you're not accidentally looking at those.) This document contains 16 multiple-choice problems, along with answers and the major skills each question tests. There are also two free-response questions.

AP Calculus AB Free-Response Sample Questions

Fortunately, there are more official free-response questions available and, since they are recent, they provide you with a very accurate idea of what to expect on the real exam.

The College Board has released free-response questions from 1998-2021 , along with scoring guidelines for each set of questions. These are a great resource, and you should definitely make use of them during your review.

Khan Academy Resources

Khan Academy has partnered with the College Board to provide study resources for the PSAT, SAT, and some AP exams. This includes study resources for AB Calc.

On Khan Academy's website, there are explanation videos for several dozen previously administered questions, both multiple choice and free response. These videos can be particularly helpful if you've gotten stuck on one of the official practice problems or if you just want to learn step-by-step how to solve a particular problem.

This site has a 50-question multiple-choice test. The questions typically are easier and more basic than those you'd find on the actual AP exam, but if you're just starting your review or want to brush up on the basics, this can be a good resource to use.

On this site there are 50+ quizzes, all multiple choice. It's a pretty standard example what most unofficial, free online practice AP resources are like. The questions are decent (though easier and simpler to work through than actual AP Calc questions), and explanations are pretty barebones. 

High School Test Prep

The ten quizzes and two full-length exams on this site are best for someone earlier on in the course/their AP studying. The quizzes are each about 15 questions long, and immediately after each question, you'll be told if you answered correctly or incorrectly and be given an answer explanation. They're not the greatest match for actual AP Calculus questions, but because the quizzes are organized by category, they can be helpful if you're looking to practice a specific topic.

Analyze Math

This is a 20-question multiple-choice quiz. The questions are a bit overly simplistic, and it's not automatically graded, but if you're just looking for a quick study session, this fits the bill. This resource also has practice questions or both the Calculus AB and BC exams, so you can get in a little additional practice, too.

This is a short quiz, and, unfortunately, it's not very high-quality. The questions are pretty basic and not nearly as complex or as in-depth as the ones you'll find on the AP exam. Additionally, the format of this quiz is very poor, and it can be difficult to read. I wouldn't recommend using this quiz unless you're really desperate for review questions or you need a very basic quiz to get you started with your review.

How to Use These AP Calculus AB Practice Tests

Knowing how to use each of these practice exams and quizzes will make your studying much more effective, as well as prepare you for what the real AP Calculus AB exam will involve. Below is a guide for when and how to use the resources, organized by semester.

First Semester

During your first semester of Calc AB, you don't know enough material for it to be useful to take a complete practice exam. Therefore, you should spend this semester answering quizzes and free-response questions on topics you've already covered. You'll probably want to begin answering practice questions about halfway through the semester.

Free-Response Practice

For free-response questions, use the official released free-response questions in the Official Resources section. Look through them to find questions you can answer based on what you've already learned. It's best if you can take a group of them (up to six) together at a time in order to get the most realistic preparation for the real AP exam.

It also helps to time yourself when answering these questions, particularly as it gets later in the year. On the real AP exam, you'll have about 15 minutes to answer each free-response question, so try to answer practice questions under those same time restrictions.

Multiple-Choice Practice

For multiple-choice practice, take unofficial quizzes that let you choose the subject(s) you want to be tested on. This will allow you to review content you've already learned and not have to answer questions on material you haven't covered yet. The best resources for this are Albert and Varsity Tutors because their quizzes are clearly broken up by specific subject.

Sometimes the numbers can get overwhelming. Don't forget to take a break every now and then.

Second Semester

Second semester is when you can begin to take complete practice exams and continuing to review content you've learned throughout the year.

Step 1: Take and Score Your First Complete Practice Exam

Early on in this semester, when you have covered a majority of the content you need to know for the AP exam, take your first complete practice exam. This test should be taken in one sitting and with official timing rules (see how the AP test is formatted above).

For this first practice test, I recommend using a test out of either the Barron's or Princeton Review's study guide and saving the official practice exams for down the line. After you take this practice test, score the exam to see what you earned on the test.

Step 2: Analyze Your Score Results

After you've figured out your practice exam score, look over each problem you answered incorrectly and try to figure out why you got the question wrong.

As you're doing this, look for patterns in your results. Are you finding that you got a lot of questions on antiderivatives wrong? Did you do well on multiple choice but struggled with free response? Did you get slowed down by questions you couldn't use a calculator to answer?

Figuring out which problems you got wrong and why is the best way to stop repeating your mistakes and begin to make significant improvements. Don't skip this step!

Now is also a good time to set a score goal if you haven't already. The minimum score you should be aiming for is a 3, since this is the lowest passing score. However, if you scored a 3 or higher on this first practice exam, it's a good idea to set your goal score even higher. Getting a 4 or a 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam looks more impressive to colleges, and it can sometimes get you more college credit.

Step 3: Focus Your Studying on Weak Areas

You should now have a good idea of what subject areas or skills you need to work on in order to raise your score. If there are specific content areas you need to work on, review them by going over your notes, reading a review book, and/or answering multiple-choice and free-response questions that focus specifically on those topics.

If you're struggling with your test-taking techniques—like running out of time on the exam or misreading questions— the best way to combat these issues is to answer a lot of practice questions under realistic testing conditions.

Take timed quizzes or time yourself for quizzes that aren't automatically timed. (On the real exam, you'll get about two minutes for multiple-choice questions you can't use a calculator to solve, a little more than three minutes for multiple-choice questions where you can use a calculator, and 15 minutes per free-response question.) Taking multiple practice quizzes and tests will help you become more familiar with the pacing needed for the AP exam.

Step 4: Take and Score Another Practice Exam

After you've identified your weak areas and spent time to improve them, it's time to see how all your hard work paid off.

Take and score another complete practice exam, timed and taken in one sitting. I'd recommend using either an official released practice exam or, if you want more recently-created questions, creating your own practice test by combining a set of unofficial multiple-choice questions (such as the Varsity Tutors or 4Tests exam) with a set of official free-response questions. If you choose the second option, you should have a total of 45 multiple-choice questions for the first part of the exam. As with the first test, this should be taken timed and in one sitting.

When you take this second practice exam, remember that it won't be formatted exactly the same way as the real AP test, where the multiple-choice and free-response sections will both be broken into two parts, only one of which you can use a calculator on.

Step 5: Review Your Results to Determine Your Future Study Plan

Now you're able to see how much you've improved, and in which areas, since you took your first complete practice exam. If you've made improvements and have reached or are close to your target score, you may only need to do some light studying from now until the AP exam.

However, if you haven't made much improvement, or you're still far from your score goal, you'll need to analyze the way you've been reviewing and think of ways to improve. The most common reason for not improving is not actively studying, but only passively leafing through your notes or reviewing missed questions. Even though it may seem to take a while, in the long run, carefully analyzing why you made the mistakes you did and devising ways to improve is really the only significant way to raise your score.

As you're studying, be sure to really understand your mistakes . If you don't understand why you got a question wrong, go back and review that particular skill! Also, when you're reviewing notes, pause every few minutes and mentally go over what you just learned to make sure you're retaining the information.

You can repeat these steps as many times as you need to in order to make improvements and reach your target score.

Studying With AP Calculus AB Practice Exams: Key Tips

It would be difficult to score well on the AP Calculus AB exam without completing any practice exams. Official resources are the best to use, but there are plenty of high-quality unofficial quizzes and tests out there as well.

During your first semester, you should focus on answering free-response and multiple-choice questions on topics you've already covered in class.

During your second semester, follow these steps:

• Take and score your first complete practice exam
• Analyze your score results
• Focus your studying on weak areas
• Take and score another complete practice exam
• Review your results to determine your future study plan

What's Next?

Now that you have your practice tests, do you want to know more about the AP Calculus AB Exam? Our guide explains the complete format of the AP Calculus AB test, the question types you'll see, and how to best prepare for the exam .

How many AP classes should you take? Get your answer based on your interests and your college goals.

Wondering how challenging other AP classes will be? Learn what the easiest AP classes are and what the hardest AP classes are so that you're prepared!

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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AP Calculus AB Practice Exams

We have links to the best online AP Calculus practice exams. These free resources provide thousands of challenging practice questions to work through. Choose from the listing below to get started with your AP Calc AB test prep!

AP Calculus AB Practice Exam

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Are you familiar with the Mean Value Theorem? Can you calculate derivatives? The AP ®  Calculus AB exam tests topics and skills discussed in your AP Calculus AB course. If you score high enough on the exam, your AP Calculus score could earn you college credit!

Check out our AP Calculus AB Guide for the essential information you need for the exam:

• Exam Overview
• AP Calculus AB vs AP Calculus BC
• Sections and Question Types
• How to Prepare

What’s on the AP Calculus AB Exam?

The College Board is very detailed in what they require your AP teacher to cover in his or her AP Calculus AB course. You should be familiar with the following topics:

• Limits and Continuity—Defining limits, estimating limits from graphs and tables, determining limits using algebraic properties and manipulation, applying the Squeeze Theorem, Determining types of discontinuities, understanding asympototes, and the applying Intermediate Value Theorem
• Differentiation: Definition and Basic Rules—Defining average and instantaneous rates of change, defining the derivative of a function, estimating derivatives at a point, connecting differentiability and continuity, applying the Power Rule, the Product Rule, and the Quotient Rule, and determining derivatives of constants, sums, differences, and constant multiples, trigonometric functions, e x , and ln x
• Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions—Applying the Chain Rule, using implicit differentiation, differentiating inverse functions, and calculating higher order derivatives
• Contextual Applications of Differentiation—Interpreting derivatives in context, using rates of change in motion and other context, applying related rates, approximating using linearization, and applying L’Hospital’s Rule
• Analytical Applications of Differentiation—Understanding the Mean Value Theorem, using the Extreme Value Theorem, finding global and local extrema, applying the First Derivative Test and Second Derivative Test, finding intervals of increase and decrease, understanding concavity, sketching graphs, solving optimization problems, and using implicit relations
• Integration and Accumulation of Change—Finding accumulations of change, Reimann sums, and definite integrals, understanding the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, interpreting accumulation functions, finding anti-derivatives and indefinite integrals, and integrating using substitutions, long division, and completing the square
• Differential Equations—Modeling situations with differential equations, verifying solutions for differential equations, sketching slope fields, and using separation of variables
• Applications of Integration—Finding the average value of a function, connecting position, velocity, and acceleration using integrals, applying accumulation functions, finding area between curves of functions, and finding volumes from cross-sections and revolutions

Read More: Review for the exam with our AP Calculus AB Cram Course

AP Calculus AB vs. BC

AP Calculus is divided into two classes: AB and BC. The College Board says Calculus AB is the equivalent of a semester of college calculus and BC is the equivalent of a year of college calculus.  In truth, AB calculus covers closer to three quarters of a year of college calculus. The main difference between the two is that BC Calculus tests some more theoretical aspects of calculus, and it covers a few additional topics. Check out our  line of AP guides   for a comprehensive content review.

AP Calculus AB Sections and Question Types

The AP Calculus AB exam is three hours long and has two sections: a multiple-choice section and and free-response section. Each exam section has a Part A and a Part B.

Multiple-Choice

The multiple-choice questions on the AP Calculus AB exam cover a variety of calculus topic and are discrete, as opposed to appearing in question sets, and will have a similar format that is followed by five answer choices. At times, it may seem that there could be more than one possible correct answer. Answers resulting from common mistakes are often included in the five answer choices to trap you.

Free Response Questions

The FRQ section of the AP Calculus AB exam consists of six questions that require you to write out the solutions and steps by which you solved it. Partial credit is given for various steps in the solution of each problem. You’ll usually be required to sketch a graph in one of the questions.

AP Calculus AB Scores

AP scores are reported from 1 to 5. Colleges are generally looking for a 4 or 5 on the AP Calculus AB exam, but some may grant credit for a 3. Learn more about college AP credit policies . Each test is curved so scores vary from year to year. Here’s how AP Calculus AB students scored on the May 2022 test:

Source: College Board

How can I prepare?

AP classes are great, but for many students they’re not enough! For a thorough review of AP Calculus AB content and strategy, pick the AP prep option that works best for your goals and learning style.

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Ultimate Guide to the AP Calculus AB Exam 2024

What’s covered:, what does the ap calculus ab exam cover, sample ap calculus ab exam questions, ap calculus ab exam score distribution, average score, and passing rate, tips for preparing for the exam, how will your ap scores affect your college chances.

AP Calculus is a popular course for high schoolers, particularly those planning to pursue a college education. Hundreds of thousands of high schoolers each year study to obtain a passing/high score on the AP Calculus AB Exam so that they can “test out” of math distribution requirements in the early university years and save time and money.

In 2022, over 250,000 of the 1.2 million students taking AP exams took the AP Calculus AB exam. This places it among the top 4 most popular AP exams. If you are interested in taking the AP Calculus AB exam, whether you have taken the class or are planning to self-study, read on for a breakdown of the test and advice on how to best prepare for it.

The purpose of the AP Calculus AB exam is to test your knowledge of specific “big concepts” that you have learned either through taking the AP Calculus AB course or through self-study.

The “big concepts” of AB Calculus, as defined by College Board, are:

• Derivatives
• Integrals and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus

With regard to limits, students should be comfortable with computing limits, including one-sided limits, limits at infinity, the limit of a sequence, and infinite limits. The exam will also test each student’s ability to estimate the limit of a function at a point and apply limits to understand the behavior of a function near a point.

With regard to derivatives, students should be comfortable with finding the slope of a tangent line to a graph at a point and using a graph to determine whether a function is increasing or decreasing. Students should also be able to find concavity and find extreme values. Additionally, the exam will require students to solve problems involving rectilinear motion.

Finally, with regard to integrals, students should be able to use various techniques and methods to approximate an integral. Students should also be familiar with area, volume, and motion applications of integrals, as well as with the use of the definite integral as an accumulation function.

How Long Is the AP Calculus AB Exam? What Is the Format?

The AP Calculus AB exam is one of the longest AP exams, clocking in at three hours and 15 minutes. It has two sections. The first section contains 45 multiple choice questions, spans one hour and 45 minutes, and accounts for 50% of your total score. The second section consists of six free response questions, spans one hour and 30 minutes, and accounts for the remaining 50% of your score.

Each section is divided into two parts, Part A and Part B. Students are permitted to use calculators during one part and not allowed to use them during the other.

Can I Use a Calculator?

While taking the AP Calculus AB exam, you may use a scientific calculator on Part B of the multiple choice section and on Part A of the free response section. Your calculator should be able to plot the graph of a function within an arbitrary viewing window, find the zeros of functions, numerically calculate the derivative of a function, and numerically calculate the value of a definite integral. More information and a list of acceptable calculator models can be found in the official Calculator Policy .

Multiple Choice: Section I, Part A

Note: A calculator may not be used on questions on this part of the exam.

(D) nonexistent

Multiple Choice: Section I, Part B

Note: A graphing calculator is required for some questions on this part of the exam.

At what values of x does f have a relative minimum on the interval 0 < x < 3?

(A) 1.094 and 2.608

For -5 < x < 5, on what open intervals is the graph of g concave up?

(A) -5 < x < -1.016 only

(B) -1.016 < x < 5 only

(C) 0.463 < x < 2.100 only

(D) -5 < x < 0.463 and 2.100 < x < 5

Free Response: Section II, Part A

Note: A graphing calculator is required for problems on this part of the exam.

(A) Find the area of S .

(B) A solid is generated when S is revolved about the horizontal line y = 5. Write, but do not evaluate, an expression involving one or more integrals that gives the volume of the solid.

(C) Region R is the base of an art sculpture. At all points in R at a distance x from the y -axis, the height of the sculpture is given by h(x) = 4 – x . Find the volume of the art sculpture.

Free Response: Section II, Part B

Rochelle rode a stationary bicycle. The number of rotations per minute of the wheel of the stationary bicycle at time t minutes during Rochelle’s ride is modeled by a differentiable function r for 0 ≤ t ≤ 9 minutes. Values of r(t) for selected values of t are shown in the table above.

(A) Estimate r’ (4). Show the computations that lead to your answer. Indicate units of measure.

(B) Is there a time t , for 3 ≤ t ≤ 5 at which r(t) is 106 rotations per minute? Justify your answer.

While many exam distributions fall along a bell curve, with the majority of students receiving a score of 3, the AP Calculus AB exam shows a flatter distribution. Simply put, many students do well and many students do poorly. In 2022:

• 20.4% of test-takers received a 5
• 16.1% of test-takers received a 4
• 19.1% of test-takers received a 3
• 22.6% of test-takers received a 2
• 21.7% of test-takers received a 1

This means that 55.6% of students who took the exam received a 3 or higher (typically considered passing).

Note: The credit you will receive for AP exam scores varies widely from school to school. For example, prestigious schools (and even prestigious programs at schools) might accept only a 4 or a 5 to receive course credit. Though a score of 3 is typically considered passing, it’s not always enough. You can use this search tool to see what scores will allow you to receive credit at a specific college or university.

Step 1: Assess Your Skills

Take a practice test to assess your initial knowledge of the material. It’s important to know where you are, so that you know how far you need to go.

Keep in mind that Calculus is an age-old study, so you can use practice tests from before you were even born and you’ll be assessing/learning just the same!

There are a couple of options for taking practice tests:

• Print a practice exam and self-proctor
• Use a diagnostic test offered through a commercial study guide
• Talk to your teacher about proctoring a practice exam after school or over the span of a few lunch periods

The 2012 exam has been openly published by the College Board and might be a good place to start. The College Board also has free response questions from the last few decades published online, though you should note that these are not complete assessments.

Once you have taken your formative assessment, score it to identify the areas you already understand and those in need of improvement.

Note: When grading the free response portion of the exam, make sure you grade yourself based on the rubric! Act like you are an AP scorer, scrutinizing and nitpicking every portion of your answer. The little points add up, and your area of improvement could very well be “needing to show my work.”

Step 2: Study the Material

After taking your assessment, you should be able to identify areas that need improvement. These areas could be related to content—not knowing which technique should be used to approximate which type of integral or not understanding the relationship between concavity and limits on a graph. Alternatively, the areas you struggle with might have more to do with form—like struggling to read graphs or conceptualize tables.

Identify your areas for improvement, write them down, and focus on one area during each study session. Look over your mistakes and put in the work to understand them. Watch videos online about specific concepts, read sections in books about them, and talk to your friends and classmates about them.

Then do it again and again and again until the areas you struggle with become areas you excel in.

Some students choose to use commercial study guides when studying. This can be extremely beneficial, depending on your learning style. That said, if you choose to use a commercial study guide, use it in conjunction with your initial assessment. Study books are divided into sections organized around both big and small concepts. Don’t get stuck reading a guide front to back and don’t waste time on content that you have already mastered!

Lastly, you might consider looking into the free resources that are available online! For decades, AP teachers have been publicly posting complete study guides, review sheets, and test questions. Use these for your benefit.

Step 3: Practice Multiple Choice Questions

Once you feel like you’ve mastered the concepts you initially struggled with, put them into action by answering some multiple choice practice questions.

The College Board provides a set of sample questions with scoring explanations . Additionally, the College Board Course Description includes many practice multiple choice questions along with explanations of their answers. As you go through these, try to keep track of which areas are still tripping you up, and go over those concepts again until you have a better grasp on them. Focus on understanding what each question is asking and keep a running list of any vocabulary that is still unfamiliar to you.

Step 4: Practice Free Response Questions

When you score your own formative assessment, you will notice that every step you take to arrive at a solution to a free response question must be clearly notated for the exam reader. Even if you use your calculator to solve an equation, compute a numerical derivative, or find a definite integral, write the equation, derivative, or integral first. Otherwise, you can lose little points—and little points add up!

The free response portion of the AP Calculus AB exam tests your ability to solve problems using an extended chain of reasoning. In most cases, an answer without supporting work will receive no credit. This means that, as you answer practice free response questions, you are not just practicing getting the right answer, but getting the right answer in the right way!

You can get a better understanding of the free response section’s scoring by reading scoring commentary from the Development Committee and authentic examples of student responses and their scoring explanations from previous exam administrations.

Step 5: Take Another Practice Test

Every couple of weeks, when you are feeling confident or when you just want to see your progress, we recommend that you take another complete practice test. This will allow you to see which areas have improved the most and which areas still need improvement. Taking new practice tests at some interval will serve as a progress report of sorts.

Step 6: Exam Day Specifics

In 2024, the AP Calculus AB Exam will be administered on Monday, May 13 at 8 AM local time. The day before, make sure you have everything you need , and then focus on getting a good night’s sleep. Studies show that being well-rested is far more likely to lead to improved performance than last-minute cramming!

While  AP scores themselves don’t play a major role in the college admissions process , having AP classes on your transcript can be a crucial part of your application, especially at highly selective institutions. College admissions officers want to see that you enjoy challenging yourself intellectually, and that you’re capable of handling college-level coursework, and taking AP classes demonstrates both of those qualities.

The main benefit of scoring high on AP exams comes once you land at your dream school, as high scores can allow you to “test out” of entry-level requirements, often called GE requirements or distribution requirements. This will save you time and money.

If you’re starting to think about what schools you should apply to, we recommend that you use CollegeVine’s free chancing engine . This tool will consider your test scores, GPA, extracurriculars, and more, to calculate your chances of acceptance at various schools and to help you decide where to apply. It can also give you suggestions for how to boost your chances of acceptance—for example, by taking more AP classes in your junior or senior year.

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