At a glance
- 2027 exam
- Monday, May 10, 2027, morning session
- Length
- 3 hours 10 minutes
- Format
- 42 multiple choice + 6 free response
- Scores
- 1 to 5, plus a Calculus AB subscore
- Fee outside US/Canada
- $129 per exam (2026-27)
AP Calculus BC exam format (from May 2027)
Like AB, the BC exam has fewer multiple-choice questions and new timing from May 2027. The content is unchanged.
| Section | Questions | Time | Calculator | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section I, Part A: multiple choice | 29 | 62 minutes | Not allowed | 50% (Section I) |
| Section I, Part B: multiple choice | 13 | 38 minutes | Graphing calculator required | |
| Section II, Part A: free response | 2 | 30 minutes | Graphing calculator required | 50% (Section II) |
| Section II, Part B: free response | 4 | 60 minutes | Not allowed |
Source: AP Central, AP Calculus BC exam page, checked 6 October 2026.
The ten BC units and their multiple-choice weighting
| Unit | Multiple-choice weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Limits and Continuity | 5 to 10% |
| 2. Differentiation: Definition and Fundamental Properties | 5 to 10% |
| 3. Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions | 5 to 10% |
| 4. Contextual Applications of Differentiation | 5 to 10% |
| 5. Analytical Applications of Differentiation | 10 to 15% |
| 6. Integration and Accumulation of Change | 15 to 20% |
| 7. Differential Equations | 5 to 10% |
| 8. Applications of Integration | 5 to 10% |
| 9. Parametric Equations, Polar Coordinates, and Vector-Valued Functions | 10 to 15% |
| 10. Infinite Sequences and Series | 15 to 20% |
Unit 10 alone carries as much weight as integration, and it is usually taught last, close to the exam.
What makes BC hard
The pace. Many schools teach BC as a single year, so the AB content is covered faster than in an AB class, and series arrives in the spring with little time to settle. Series is also unlike the rest of the course: instead of computing, students choose a convergence test, check its conditions, and write a short argument. Readers expect the conditions to be stated. Saying 'by the ratio test, the series converges' without showing the limit is less than 1 earns little.
Taylor and Maclaurin polynomials, the Lagrange error bound and the alternating series error bound appear on almost every exam, often as a full free-response question. Students who memorized the formulas without understanding what an error bound is lose points when the question is worded slightly differently from the textbook.
Parametric and polar questions punish weak trig. Finding where a polar curve r = 2 + 2cos(theta) crosses itself, or setting up the area between two polar curves, depends on solving trig equations quickly and choosing the right limits of integration. Errors in the limits are the most common mistake here.
The AB topics still dominate the exam, which is why the AB subscore exists. A BC student weak on related rates or accumulation functions will struggle regardless of how well they know series.
How one-to-one BC lessons help
A tutor who teaches AP Calculus BC keeps two tracks running: the current unit at school pace, and steady practice on AB-level free-response questions so those skills stay sharp. When series arrives, lessons slow it down, building a decision chart for convergence tests together on the whiteboard and practicing written justifications until they are automatic.
In the final eight weeks, lessons become timed released free-response questions scored against College Board scoring guidelines, plus multiple-choice sets at the new pace. Your child leaves each lesson with a short list of question types to practice before the next one.
When to start
Ideally in the fall, because the AB material moves quickly in a BC class and early gaps compound. A second good entry point is January, before series begins. Students who took AB last year and are now in BC usually only need help with Units 9 and 10, plus a refresh of integration techniques such as integration by parts and partial fractions, which are BC-only.
Common questions
When is the AP Calculus BC exam in 2027?
Monday, May 10, 2027, in the morning session, at the same time as Calculus AB. Confirm the local start time with your school's AP coordinator.
What is the AB subscore?
Every BC exam reports a Calculus AB subscore from 1 to 5, based on the part of the exam covering AB topics, about 60% of it. College Board recommends colleges treat it like an AP Calculus AB score.
Should my child take BC without taking AB first?
Many schools allow it for students with strong precalculus. The deciding factor is algebra and trig fluency, since BC moves fast. A few diagnostic lessons can give an honest read.
Is a calculator allowed on the BC exam?
Only in Section I Part B and Section II Part A, where a graphing calculator is required. The rest of the exam, about two-thirds of the time, is calculator-free.
How much do AP Calculus BC lessons cost with LiveTutor?
$15 a lesson, the same rate for every subject, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons a week billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.