types of calculus questions found on the ap calculus exam

what types of calculus questions show up on the ap calculus ab and bc tests? in this article we’ll discuss the ap question format and see a few examples of actual test questions.

what is the format of the test?

both the calculus ab and calculus bc exams have the same basic format.

there are two main section, multiple choice (mc) and free response (fr).

within each section there is a part that requires a calculator and a part in which calculators are not permitted.

section / part	type of questions	number of questions	time limit	calculator permitted?
ia	multiple choice	30	60 minutes	no
ib	multiple choice	15	45 minutes	yes
iia	free response	2	30 minutes	yes
iib	free response	4	60 minutes	no

example: multiple choice

a typical mc question states a problem and shows four answer choices below it. here’s an example.

if f(x) is the function given by f(x) = e^3x + 1, at what value of x is the slope of the tangent line to f(x) equal to 2?

(a) -0.135

(b) 0.231

(c) -0.366

(d) 0.693

your calculus knowledge tells you that the derivative measures the slope of a curve. so just find the derivative of f, set it equal to the give slope 2, and solve for x.

example: free response

the fr questions are more substantial. for one thing, each fr question has three to five parts. you may skip parts if you have to, however the later parts often depend on the results from previous parts, so tread carefully!

here’s an example.

oil is draining at the rate of 12π ft³/sec from the vertex at the bottom of a conical tank. the diameter of the tank at its base is 36 ft and its height is 48 ft.

(a) find an expression for the volume of water (in ft³) in the tank in terms of its radius at the surface of the oil.

(b) at what rate (in ft/sec) is the radius of the oil in the tank decreasing when the radius is 8 feet?

(c) how fast (in ft/sec) is the height of the oil in the tank dropping at the instant that the radius is 8 feet?

keep in mind, you must show your work to receive credit for the fr questions.

where can i find out more?

for more information about the multiple choice questions, check out: ap calculus: tips to answering multiple choice questions

for more tips on free response section, check out the following helpful resource. understanding ap calculus free response questions