How should you study for the AP Calculus exam? In this article, I’ll give you a few AP Calculus AB Exam study tips and point out a few resources that might help you achieve a 5 on the exam!
AP Calculus AB Exam Study Tips
This short list of tips may help you out on the test. Some of these are general test-taking strategies, while others are specific to the AP Calculus AB exam.
1. Know What’s on the Exam
It’s essential to know what topics will be covered on the AP Calculus AB exam if you expect to do well. Basically, the material falls into three Big Ideas:
- Limits (including continuity, asymptotes, etc.)
- Derivatives (including applications)
- Integrals (including applications)
For a detailed list of topics, check out: What Topics are on the AP Calculus AB Exam?.
2. Know the Format of the Exam
The AP Calculus exam is a standardized test that takes 3 hours and 15 minutes total.
The test is divided into two sections, multiple choice and free response. In turn, each section is divided into two parts, calculator and no-calculator.
For more information about the format, including the number of problems and timing, see
What is the Format of the AP Calculus AB Test?.
3. Familiarize Yourself with your Calculator
The worst thing you could do to yourself is to run out and buy the most expensive calculator on the market, only to let it sit on your desk during the test because you don’t know how to use it.
Instead, find a good graphing calculator early in the Fall. Then learn how to use all of its main features. Eventually, you might learn the more advanced functions such as numerical integration or symbolic derivatives.
Check out the following link for more calculator tips: Calculator Strategies for the AP Calculus Exam.
4. Set up (and Follow!) a Study Plan
Preparing for the AP calculus AB exam requires weeks and months of work. Cramming the night before simply doesn’t help.
Plan on purchasing an AP study guide (or two), and work out 3-5 practice tests. The more practice you do, the better your performance will be on the actual test!
I recommend a 3-Month AP Calculus Exam Study Guide.
However, if it’s already late March and you haven’t even starting prepping, maybe this 1-Month AP Calculus Exam Study Guide will work for you.
5. Get a Tutor
Many students excel independently. But others benefit from some quality one-on-one time with an expert.
If you find that there are some topics that you just can’t understand, no matter how often you read the textbook or ask your teacher, then maybe contacting a tutor would help.
Be warned though: private tutoring usually does not come cheap! A qualified tutor may charge anywhere from $30-$100 per hour, or even more in high-cost areas.
Summary
Ultimately, your score on the AP exam is your responsibility. But following these AP Calculus AB exam study tips may give you the edge you need for success.
- Know What’s on the Exam
- Know the Format of the Exam
- Familiarize Yourself with your Calculator
- Set up (and Follow!) a Study Plan
- Get a Tutor
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