AB calc self studying, enough time?

Test Preparation AP Mathematics & Computer Science
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<p>Hey guys, I JUST YESTERDAY decided to take the AP calc AB exam in may. My school offers no AP courses, just a standard calc class so I am self-studying for this one.
Below is what my current calc class has taught me:</p>

<p>Limits,</p>

<p>how to differentiate powers products quotients composite functions trig functions inverse trig functions logarithmic functions exponents</p>

<p>Integration up to u-substitution.</p>

<p>I'm concerned that my class did not teach any proofs, or provide an explanation of what I am doing conceptually, just how to execute it. I have a Tomas Calculus text-book and 3 weeks free from spring break. My thought is if I cover 50 pages in the text book a day, starting from integration I may be prepared to score a 5 on the AP test.</p>

<p>Do you guys think it is possible for me to prepare for the AP calc AB exam in may w/ this plan? Should I take a few practice tests before I take the exam? What other resources should I use? I know MIT has a bunch of free calc lectures online, should I use those as well?</p>

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<p>I may not be the best person to answer this, but I’ll do what I can.</p>

<p>If you work hard and are interested enough in math to work that hard (since as you probably know, a lot of times one little thing wrong will make your whole answer wrong, which can be EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING), I think it’s plausible. If “up to U-Substitution” is the same from what I covered in my Calc I class, then you’ve still got some ways to go… There’s integration of all the things you know how to differentiate (which is just a lot of u-substitution with a few rules to remember), then a ton of random area problems, and um… probably something else I can’t remember at the moment.</p>

<p>But from the AP questions my class has gone over, you definitely need to know concepts-- how things work, and why they work, so you can manipulate those really cheeky multiple choice questions into giving you the correct answer. Because of this, I STRONGLY suggest you look into an AP study book, because even if you know Calculus… it’s sometimes quite different than AP Test Calculus (like with all subjects, naturally). Remember that CollegeBoard has to approve of every high school AP teacher’s curriculum to ensure that they are teaching the material on the test the way the test treats it, rather than the subject in general.</p>

<p>Anywho, DEFINITELY OH MY GOD YES take practice tests. Maybe that’s the SAT crying out in me, but it helps so much. And when you do, make sure it’s true to testing conditions: do it in a quiet place and time yourself, making it alarm when there’s 20 minutes remaining, then 10, or how ever many you want. If you get a AP studybook, there’s probably practice tests in there. Otherwise, CollegeBoard’s AP Calc site has practice tests/tests from previous years.</p>

<p>I haven’t seen MIT’s lectures, but considering they’re from MIT, I wonder if they are… too intense for Calc AB. =P You can check them out, though. But when I miss class or need practice on some concept, I found [Just</a> Math Tutoring](<a href=“http://justmathtutoring.com/]Just”>http://justmathtutoring.com/) through youtube, and most of it is exactly the same to what I’m learning in class. I used to use [Khan</a> Academy](<a href=“http://www.khanacademy.org/]Khan”>http://www.khanacademy.org/) , but their Calculus library is really cluttered, so it’s a little harder to sift through everything to find what you need. Otherwise, I’m sure if you needed extra help understanding something, you could ask your math teacher. They usually know more than what time lets them teach, but I would be careful to just see them every once in a while to clarify things. On second thought, they may be a little rusty if they haven’t done it in a while…</p>

<p>Well. That’s it from me. =P Good luck!</p>

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<p>Thanks a lot for your response. I’ll definitely get a book to help me study . I’ve been reading a lot from my textbook and I am definitely starting to understand what limits, derivatives and integrals actually are. Obviously I have a lot of work to do but I’m going to need to learn all of this eventually anyway…might as well do it now. Thanks again</p>

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<p>Have you worked with applied calculus, like optima, related rates, easy differential equations, and volumes of revolutions? If you haven’t, they’re really not that difficult (you’re not learning new techniques, just using the ones you already know), but it takes practice, especially with word problems.</p>

<p>I think you can definitely do it. If you didn’t know already, there’s an outline of everything you need to know on College Board’s website: [AP:</a> Calculus AB](<a href=“AP Calculus AB – AP Students | College Board”>AP Calculus AB – AP Students | College Board)</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

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<p>OMG I’m so glad I found you! I am in the same situation as you, but I’m going to be taking the course through cty. You’re ahead of me and I know I’m going to have to work really hard. Currently, I just finished learning how to take derivatives of exponential functions. Logs are up next. But I’m not too worried because I have heard that Princeton Review is GOD for this exam :)</p>

<p>P.S. Math has always been easy for me so that is another reason why I’m not worried.</p>