What is covered
All eight AB units plus the two BC-only units: parametric equations, polar coordinates, and vector-valued functions; infinite sequences and series including Taylor expansions. These two units carry 10–20% of the exam each and get the most class time. The exam also reports an AB subscore.
Summer pre-study
A three-week summer AP Calculus BC pre-study for grades 10–11, 8 to 10 students, in person or online: see AP summer pre-study.
AB or BC
Strong math students aiming for a 5 or finishing calculus early take BC; others may start with AP Calculus AB. 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 Continuity5–10%
- 2Differentiation: Definition and Fundamental Properties5–10%
- 3Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions5–10%
- 4Contextual Applications of Differentiation5–10%
- 5Analytical Applications of Differentiation10–15%
- 6Integration and Accumulation of Change15–20%
- 7Differential Equations5–10%
- 8Applications of Integration5–10%
- 9Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates, and Vector-Valued Functions10–15%
- 10Infinite Sequences and Series15–20%
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 12PrerequisitesStudents may not enroll in AP Calculus AB after dropping AP Calculus BC during the same school year.
Full school guide →Portola High School
Open to 11-12PrerequisitesFrom AP Precalc: 2 of 3 (85% EOC, teacher rec, B or better both sems); from AP Calc AB: teacher rec + B or better both sems
Full school guide →University High School
Open to 10-12Prerequisites≥ B in AP Precalculus (both semesters) or ≥ A in Pre-Calculus (both semesters) with completion of summer assignment; teacher recommendation
Full school guide →Woodbridge High School
Open to 11-12Prerequisites2 of 3: B or better in all marking periods of AP Pre-Calculus; >=80% EOC; teacher appraisal. OR A 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.
- 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
What does BC add over AB?
BC covers all eight AB units and adds two: parametric equations, polar coordinates, and vector-valued functions; and infinite sequences and series, including Taylor expansions. Together these two units carry roughly 25 to 35 percent of the exam and receive the most class time.
Do Irvine students choose BC because it is easier to score a 5?
No. In 2026, 46 percent of BC test takers scored 5 and 82 percent scored 3 or higher, against 20 percent and 65 percent on AP Calculus AB. The gap reflects who self-selects into BC; course-selection thresholds at Irvine schools appear in the IUSD course-selection rules section above. BC still covers two college semesters of calculus in one year.
Does a BC student also need to sit the AB exam?
No. The BC score report includes an AB subscore reflecting performance on AB-range content, and some universities grant calculus credit on that subscore. Credit policies vary, so confirm with each university. Students prepare for one exam rather than two, and the subscore is produced automatically from the same paper.
Can Irvine students get a head start on BC over the summer?
Yes. EDUBUS runs a three-week AP summer pre-study for grades 10 and 11 in 8 to 10 student groups, in person or online. It covers the opening units so the fall course does not start cold, but it does not replace the full-year course.
What background do Irvine students need before BC?
AP Precalculus or equivalent fluency with functions, trigonometry, and algebraic manipulation. BC moves quickly through limits and derivatives, so students whose foundation is uneven are usually better served by starting with AP Calculus AB.
