Today, I’m going to talk about AP Calculus! It has a reputation as one of the hardest AP courses, not without desert; it is heavy with concepts and requires a high degree of proficiency in all the math that comes before it. It is also enormously useful for a variety of fields, from architecture to medicine, and can be a lot of fun to do! Some tips:
Most AP Calc courses come after a substantial list of prerequisites: Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry, Trigonometry, and whatever your school calls the mish-mash of topics falling under pre-calculus. It is imperative to be comfortable with these when you start; calculus uses all of them.
Know. The. Trigonometric. Circle. Know it like the back of your hand (if you are someone who studies each detail of your hand carefully like the weirdo who came up with this saying)
Make sure you know the trigonometric identities too, back and forth.
You will need the formulas from Geometry. These aren’t as hairy as the trigonometric ones imo, but still good to know so you don’t have to relearn them later.
Make sure you are comfortable with algebraically changing expressions from one form to another. Factoring and reducing expressions will be super important.
If you have a hard time with any of these, it’s ok; you can review them! If you find that you have forgotten anything you need during your course, see if you can find some excercises in it online or in a book, and do a few so that you are comfortable with it.
AP Calc involves some proofs, but most of the course is about learning how to do specific types of operations. The best way to prepare is to just do the problems you are assigned for homework, then do more as time passes or if you have a hard time with a particular one.
Memorize formulas as they are introduced. Review them often. Do problems with them.
If you do not understand a concept:
Try to break down why. Do you understand part of it? Write down what you know. See what it is that is stopping you.
Try drawing a picture. Label it. See if you can relate your problem to the visual geometry.
Try working a problem. See where you stop understanding it. Ask yourself why you are doing each step. See if you can explain to yourself.
Look at a worked problem. Explain each step to yourself. See where you stop understanding.
If there a proof involved? Work through the proof, making sure you understand each step. This can give you a solid foundation.
Go to your teacher or a friend with specific questions.
The FRQs and MCQs from previous tests are a goldmine. Do every one you can get your hands on. For FRQs, compare your answers to the model answers given on the College Board website. Mark everything you do wrong. Try to remember it and do it right next time you do a similar problem.
FRQs are great because they tend to incorporate multiple concepts, giving you practice, and they also follow similar patterns. Getting used to those patterns is really helpful.
Do some full practice tests. Time yourself. Note the concepts you get wrong and review them. Ask someone about things that give you trouble.
Make sure you know all your formulas well.
Make sure you can do everything you will need to with your calculator.
Part of the test is no-calculator. Make sure you can do the sort of problems which appear there without your calculator.
0/10 do not recommend late night cramming the night or two before the test.
Change your calculator’s batteries. Just so you’re certain it won’t die on you.
Have something to drink on you.
On the MCQs, skip problems you can’t do quickly and come back to them. I recommend:
Doing all the easy problems first. The ones that you get instantly. Just read the rest.
Come back and do the ones you need some time for. Ignore any if you have no idea how start or take a lot of time.
Come back for these on the third pass.
They’re all worth the same amount, so don’t worry about specific ones; just get as many as you can right.
Show. You. Work. On the FRQs. Write down everything you can.
If you don’t know how to do the first part of a problem, but the second part relies on it, just pick a number you think is reasonable for the answer to the first part, and use it. You can still get credit for the second part if you use that number correctly.
Don’t stress out too much. Even if you feel terribly, it is quite possible that you did will.
For illustration, I took BC, and I literally cried after the test, because I thought I did terribly. I got a five. The percentage you need to get right to do well is low, and how you feel does not predict how you do.
Take a bit of time for yourself afterwards. It’s going to be May. The weather will be beautiful. Breathe it in. :)
