Course Guide
AP Calculus AB vs BC
Same calculus foundations, two very different depths. Here's exactly how the two College Board courses compare — content, exam, credit, and who each one is for.
The one-line difference
BC = everything in AB, plus more. BC includes all eight AB units and adds two more (Units 9 & 10) plus extra techniques inside shared units.
College credit
AB is equivalent to one semester of college calculus (Calculus I). BC is equivalent to a full year (Calculus I & II) — many colleges grant more credit for BC.
Pace
Both run a full school year, but BC moves roughly 30–40% faster to fit the extra units. Same depth on shared topics — just more of them on BC.
What both courses share
AB and BC cover the same core calculus — the first eight units. The AB portion of the BC exam is identical to the AB exam's material.
- Limits and continuity
- Derivatives: definition, rules, implicit and inverse
- Applications of differentiation: motion, optimization, analysis
- Integration and accumulation of change
- Differential equations: slope fields, separation of variables
- Applications of integration: area, volume, average value
BC-only content (not on the AB exam)
- Integration by parts (6.11)
- Linear partial fractions (6.12)
- Improper integrals (6.13)
- Euler's method for differential equations (7.5)
- Logistic growth models (7.9)
- Arc length of a smooth planar curve (8.13)
- Unit 9: Parametric equations, polar coordinates, and vector-valued functions
- Unit 10: Infinite sequences and series — convergence tests, Taylor & Maclaurin series, error bounds
Unit-by-unit exam weighting
Official College Board weightings — Units 9 and 10 exist only in BC.
| Unit | AB Weight | BC Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Limits and Continuity | 10–12% | 4–7% |
| 2. Differentiation: Definition and Basic Rules | 10–12% | 4–7% |
| 3. Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, Inverse | 9–13% | 4–7% |
| 4. Contextual Applications of Differentiation | 10–15% | 6–9% |
| 5. Analytical Applications of Differentiation | 15–18% | 8–11% |
| 6. Integration and Accumulation of Change | 17–20% | 17–20% |
| 7. Differential Equations | 6–12% | 6–12% |
| 8. Applications of Integration | 10–15% | 10–15% |
| 9. Parametric, Polar & Vector-Valued Functions | — | 11–12% |
| 10. Infinite Sequences and Series | — | 17–18% |
Weights shown are the College Board's published exam weighting ranges per unit.
Which one should you take?
Choose AB if…
- • You want calculus at a steadier, one-semester-equivalent pace
- • You finished precalculus recently or want more time on fundamentals
- • You're balancing a heavy course load with other APs
- • Your target colleges accept Calculus I credit from AB
Choose BC if…
- • You have strong Algebra II / precalculus skills and want a challenge
- • You're aiming for a STEM major — engineering, math, physics, CS
- • You want a full year of college calculus credit in one course
- • You can commit to a faster pace across all ten units
Good to know: BC students receive an AB subscore on their exam, so even if the BC-only material is tough, colleges can still see your AB-level calculus result. Either way, 1:1 tutoring keeps you on pace — 10 sessions × 1 hour each, built around your school's calendar and the May exam.