What is covered
All eight AB units: limits and continuity, definition of the derivative, composite and implicit differentiation, contextual and analytical applications of derivatives, integration and accumulation, differential equations, applications of integration, with FRQ and calculator practice.
AB or BC
AB equals one college semester; BC equals two. Students whose school path has just reached Precalculus, or who are short on time, take AB; students with a strong base aiming for a 5 or finishing calculus early take AP Calculus BC. Prerequisite: AP Precalculus.
Formats
6 to 8 student seminars with homework, 32 weeks, no spring break, ending before the AP exam; also 1-on-1, online or in person.
How to start
Start with a placement assessment. We use it to set the level and class, then confirm the year plan with the family. For schedules, tuition, and bundle offers, request the 2026-27 program guide through the form below.
Want to talk to a course advisor now?
Contact a course advisorHow the exam is built
Sections drawn to their share of the score; the wider the block, the more practice it deserves.
| Section | Questions | Time | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section I: Multiple choice (29 no calculator + 13 calculator) | 42 | 1 hr 40 min | 50% |
| Section II: Free response (2 calculator + 4 no calculator) | 6 | 1 hr 30 min | 50% |
Units and exam weighting
Each ruler segment equals the unit’s midpoint exam weight. The yellow unit carries the most points and gets the most class time.
- 1Limits and Continuity10–15%
- 2Differentiation: Definition and Fundamental Properties10–15%
- 3Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions5–10%
- 4Contextual Applications of Differentiation10–15%
- 5Analytical Applications of Differentiation15–20%
- 6Integration and Accumulation of Change15–20%
- 7Differential Equations5–10%
- 8Applications of Integration10–15%
Global score distribution 2026
Out of every 100 test takers.
At Irvine public high schools
Whether each school offers it, which grades can enroll, the gate, and last year’s results. Updates with the school guides.
Irvine High School
Open to 11-12PrerequisitesCompletion of Math IV or Enhanced Math III. Students may not enroll in AP Calculus AB after dropping AP Calculus BC during the same school year.
Full school guide →Northwood High School
Not offered · self-study exam possiblePortola High School
Open to 11-12PrerequisitesFrom AP Precalc: 2 of 3 (85% EOC, teacher rec, C or better both sems); from CP Precalc: teacher rec if not A both sems
Full school guide →University High School
Open to 10-12Prerequisites≥ C- in AP Precalculus (both semesters) or ≥ B- in Pre-Calculus (both semesters)
Full school guide →Woodbridge High School
Open to 11-12Prerequisites2 of 3: C or better in all marking periods of AP Pre-Calculus; >=80% on EOC; teacher appraisal. OR C or better in all marking periods of Pre-Calculus
Full school guide →IUSD course-selection rules
Which grade can take this AP at each school, what the prerequisites are, and how weighted GPA is calculated. Confirm with the school's current course catalog before choosing.
- Irvine High School: Grade 9 may take AP World History, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A. AP Precalculus and AP Art History open in grade 10. AP Physics 1 is taken in grade 11 and the remaining AP science courses in grade 12; AP Psychology and AP Macroeconomics require enrollment in grade 11 or 12.
- Northwood High School: No AP courses are offered in grade 9. Grade 10 is limited to four: AP Art History, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Music Theory, and AP Precalculus, assigned as seats allow. The remaining AP courses are concentrated in grades 11 and 12, and most require a current teacher's signed recommendation on the course request form.
- Portola High School: Grade 10 has a single AP option, AP Human Geography, which the school calls the "grade 10 choice." The large majority of AP courses are for grades 11 and 12. AP Precalculus, AP Statistics, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Computer Science A open from grade 10 subject to math prerequisites. Restricted to grade 12 are AP Physics C, AP English Language, AP United States Government together with Honors Political Economy, AP 3-D Design, and Honors Engineering Design and Development. Grade 9 students may not sit an AP exam at the school unless they have taken the course or the Irvine Unified School District GATE office approves it on the basis of existing preparation.
- University High School: No AP courses are offered in grade 9. From grade 10, students may take AP Precalculus, AP Computer Science Principles, AP Statistics, and AP Cybersecurity. AP United States History is offered in grade 10 on the condition that the student earned Honors Distinction in both semesters of World History. Most AP courses are concentrated in grades 11 and 12.
- Woodbridge High School: Grade 9 may take one AP course, AP Human Geography, the only AP course open to grade 9 at any of the five comprehensive high schools in the Irvine Unified School District. Grade 10 may take AP World History, AP English Language, AP Precalculus, and AP Computer Science Principles. From grade 11, AP United States History, AP Physics 1, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental Science, AP Calculus AB and BC, and AP Statistics open. AP Physics 2, AP Physics C, AP United States Government, and AP Macroeconomics are taken in grade 12.
Frequently Asked Questions
AB or BC, which should my child take?
Take AB if the school path has just reached AP Precalculus or the schedule is tight; take AP Calculus BC if the math base is strong or the goal is to finish calculus early. AB equals one college semester of calculus and BC equals two.
What grade should Irvine students take AB?
AB is open to grades 10 through 12. The prerequisite is AP Precalculus or equivalent work with functions and trigonometry. Students on an accelerated math track often take AB in grade 10; students following the standard school sequence usually take it in grade 11 or 12. Grade eligibility at each school appears in the Irvine public high schools section above.
How is the AB exam structured?
The exam runs 3 hours 10 minutes. Multiple choice has 42 questions worth 50 percent, 29 without a calculator and 13 with one. Free response has 6 questions worth 50 percent, 2 with a calculator and 4 without. The course drills calculator and no-calculator work separately.
How hard is a 5 for Irvine public high school students?
Harder than most families expect. In 2026, 65 percent scored 3 or higher and 20 percent scored 5 worldwide. School-level pass rates in Irvine appear in the section above. Lost points cluster in analytical applications of derivatives and in integration and accumulation of change, which together carry 30 to 40 percent of the exam.
Can Irvine students sit the exam if their school does not offer the course?
Yes. The College Board does not require a matching school course, though the family must arrange a seat at a school or test center in advance; whether each school offers it is covered in the section above. EDUBUS teaches AP Calculus AB in 6 to 8 student seminars over 32 weeks, ending before the exam, and also 1-on-1.
