One-on-one AP Pre-Calculus Tutoring
On this page, you'll find some brief info about the new AP Pre-Calculus course and about our expert pre-calculus tutor, Blake Jensen - including his rates and teaching background.
Quick Look at the New AP Precalculus Course
The College Board will introduce the new AP Precalculus course in the 2023-2024 school year. Designed to provide a solid foundation for college-level mathematics and science courses, the course offers rich learning experiences, including modeling real-world data, exploring multiple representations, mastering symbolic manipulation, and understanding dynamic change.
Course Units and Exam Weighting
AP Precalculus consists of four units, each focusing on different types of functions. The weightage of these units in the multiple-choice section of the AP exam is as follows:
- Unit 1: Polynomial and Rational Functions – 30%–40%
- Unit 2: Exponential and Logarithmic Functions – 27%–40%
- Unit 3: Trigonometric and Polar Functions – 30%–35%
- Unit 4: Functions Involving Parameters, Vectors, and Matrices- not tested
Please note that only Units 1 to 3 are tested on the AP Precalculus Exam.
Who Should Take the Course?
The AP Precalculus course is ideal for any student who has completed Geometry and Algebra 2, or Integrated Math 3. It offers valuable preparation for both STEM and non-STEM majors.
Teacher and Student Support
The College Board provides robust support for teachers and students, including access to the AP Classroom, a free digital instructional resource with instructional videos, formative assessments, and personalized feedback reports. Teachers can also benefit from professional learning experiences like the AP Summer Institute (APSI) for AP Precalculus.
Looking for an AP Pre-Calc tutor? As always, the most important question for you to ask is this:
"Who, exactly, will be the person teaching my kid?"
One-on-one tutoring, with us, is completely customized to your learning style, personality, and needs. We have extensive experience working with students with learning disabilities.
Talking through the nuances of practice questions not only allows us to explain, in detail, the strategies that work, but that conversation also allows us to see what a student is thinking, ask the right questions to test understanding, and adjust our instruction minute-by-minute.
"What are the benefits of private tutoring?"
- Instruction tailored to your child's learning style, motivation level, and personality
- The opportunity to talk through the nuances of questions with someone with several years of experience with the test
- Homework adjusted to your specific needs
- Accountability and encouragement :)
Private tutoring is simply the most effective and efficient way to raise scores.
Look for each tutor's location and pricing in their bio.
Blake Jensen
Blake: I’m a native San Diegan, father, and an aficionado of basketball, vintage video games, pitchy karaoke, and lecturing my son on how much better Star Wars was "back in the day." I played college basketball at St. Mary’s College and Whittier College, where I earned my B.A. in Psychology in 2002.
Having been a full-time test prep coach for over 14 years, I have seen just about every type of student and tutoring situation. This allows me to give my students exactly what they need to reach their goals.
My years of experience have also led me to coach my students a little differently than most. A lot of test prep revolves around how to answer a question. While that is a necessary component, identifying what is needed to answer a question is at least as important. I show my students how to look at the test the way I do, to the patterns and tendencies of the tests to make them faster and more accurate.
Blake has been either teaching precalculus classes or tutoring precalculus students for over 14 years. He has been reviewing all of College Board's released materials on the course and is excited to work with students to help them succeed in the course and on the AP test.
AP Pre-Calculus tutoring with Blake is $200 / hour (or $180 / hour for 10 or more hours).
He meets clients in his Del Mar Heights office, or online via Zoom.
Testimonial: "Blake's help was absolutely indispensable in preparing me for the AP Calc BC test. I started working with Blake around two weeks before the AP test and he was able to help me so much in that really short timespan. He sent me practice tests to gauge my weaknesses and found specific problem sets to help me work on those areas. We would go over any questions I had during our meetings, and his explanations helped me understand each problem conceptually as well as how to solve the problem. Apart from the actual math, going over the AP scoring guides with him was also really helpful. He taught me strategies to break down complex FRQs into managable steps. I learned what work College Board wanted to see so I wouldn't lose points on questions I knew how to answer. On the actual AP test, I felt confident I was getting at least partial credit on all the FRQs because of this preparation. Blake is also really responsive over text and email, and always had an answer to any math or AP test-related questions. Even before the test, meeting with him helped me feel prepared and less anxious, which was really important in making sure I didn't panic during the actual test. I don't think I would have done nearly as well on the test without his help, I highly recommend Blake's tutoring services to any prospective student!" - Audrey Tsai