Mathematics has always been viewed as a formidable foe by the students. Be it the complex pairing and functions of numbers or the work associated with understanding how to solve sums of a brand new concept, Mathematics can give anyone nightmares.
AP Calculus is no exception. It is one of the toughest concepts of math and is definitely challenging to absorb at first, but with time and practice, solving these sums is going to become second nature to you. Here’s a detailed guide to help you get over your fears and ace your AP Calculus AB exams.
Among the several different subjects, calculus is one of the most popularly taken exams.
The college board and university professors developed this course with the aim of helping high school students interested in mathematics attain university-level knowledge and conceptual understanding of advanced calculus.
This will help them not only in securing the college of their dreams but also in creating an avenue for them to explore higher research into mathematical domains emerging today.
Why Calculus?
- Calculus is one of the most important subjects today. It is used in several fields such as,
- One of the most widely known uses of calculus is simply finding maxima and minima (i.e. The most efficient solutions for given equations) thereby helping stores, countries, and customers find the most efficient ways to handle goods and goods trading.
- Another aspect that you will commonly witness is its application in statistics where it is used to predict future data based on past data.
- -With technological advancement, calculus has found its usage in creating virtual 3D environments, simulations, machine learning algorithms, predictive analytics along several lesser-known fields.
So, if you want to be a part of the leaps of growth that today’s world is going to go through in the technological field, calculus is a subject you cannot miss.
Source: Harvard Math
What is the AP exam? How is it formatted?
The AP exams or the Advanced Placement exams are conducted by The College Board. They are standardized exams with an aim to test a student’s -proficiency in the subjects taught in the AP course.
The AP exams are offline, year-end exams that mostly consist of Multiple-Choice questions, or in the case of courses like design and language, submissions may be done through portfolios or oral means. The second half of the exam consists of free-response questions.
AP exams are 2-3 hours long, the exam provides sufficient time for the students to articulate their knowledge onto the paper and solve sums in the given timeline.
What is the Syllabus of the AP Calculus AB exam?
The AP Calculus AB examination consists of eight units. They are::
- Limits and continuity: This chapter accounts for about 10 % – 12 % of the total score and revolves around calculating the point of approach of a given function ( Limits ) and whether it has a continuous or discontinuous domain ( Continuity ).
- Differentiation: Definition and Fundamental Properties: This chapter accounts for around 10 % – 12 % of the total marks and revolves around the fundamental principles behind calculus as defined by Newton. It also consists of the theory behind the concept of differentiation.
- Differentiation: Composite, Implicit, and Inverse Functions: Accounting for about 9 % – 13 % of the score, this chapter focuses on several functions and how differentiation can be applied to them.
- Contextual Applications of Differentiation: Marked for 10 % to 15 % of the total score, the applications of differentiation covers several topics and cases ranging from maximization and minimization to calculating gradients in various contexts.
- Analytical Applications of Differentiation: Accounting for over 15 % to 18 % of the total marks, this concept is valued second highest among all the units for the exam and discusses the analytical concepts under differentiation.
- Integration and Accumulation of Change: Ranging from 17 % to 20 % of the total marks, the highest valued concept for the test is integration which deals with finding the area under given curves and has significant application in graphics and physics among other things.
- Differential Equations: This chapter accounts for 6 % to 12 % of the total mark count and deals with solving various kinds of differential equations. Although it has the least amount of weightage in terms of mark value, it is still an important concept.
- Applications of Integration: Accounting for 10 % – 15 % of the total marks, the various applications of integration carry a great significance throughout mathematics, whether it be for calculating areas or volumes or in statistics and deep learning.
Source: CollegeBoard
How is the AB Exam Structured?
The calculus AB examination just like any other AP examination consists of two parts:
Section 1:
The first section is again divided into two parts: Part A consists of 30 multiple choice questions and a calculator is prohibited in this section. It lasts for 60 minutes.
Part B consists of 15 questions that can be solved with the help of a calculator. This section lasts for 45 minutes.
Section 2:
The second section consists of two parts as well.
Part A is a free-response section consisting of two questions and calculator usage is allowed. It lasts for 30 minutes.
Part B on the other hand is a 60-minute section of four questions that must be solved without the aid of a calculator.
Preparation Tips:
If you are preparing for AP Calculus Exam, keep these few tips in mind, they might come in handy on the exam day:
- Maintain a steady balance between work and play
- Study in chunks
- Remember to take breaks
- Create a time table
- Practice sums
- Don’t stress right before the exam
- Hire a tutor to help you with the preparation
A clear understanding of the format, topics, units, and tips of AP Calculus Exam AB is a must to conquer this mammoth of a subject. We hope this write-up has provided you with all the information you need to ace your AP exam and earn college credit. Remember, there is no shortcut to scoring well in the AP exams, you will have to work hard.
