<p>This thread is for anyone who is taking AP Calculus AB and/or BC for the 2013-2014 school year. I just thought that this thread would be useful for giving advice/homework help and sharing methods for preparing for the AP exam.</p>
<p>I’m taking this class this year as well. Hopefully more people will participate! I’m kind of nervous about this class.</p>
<p>I skipped pre-cal via a summer test so, I’m taking AB/self studying BC this year. Hoping for a 5 on the AP test!</p>
<p>Ugh, the only thing I understood in pre-calc was trig. Hope this helps me in AP calc. Pretty nervous <.<</p>
<p>I’m taking calc BC and I took AB last year… unfortunately I forgot a lot… but I’m here(:</p>
<p>Hey guys! I took the AP Calc exam this year so if you have any questions i’d be glad to answer them.</p>
<p>I took the AB class my school offered and self-studied BC and got a 5.</p>
<p>I’m taking calculus AB and BC this year and I think that this is a great idea :)</p>
<p>^^Did it last year. Loved it, especially since I didn’t have to do any homework for AB unless I wanted to, except for problem of weeks that we did. :)</p>
<p>AP Calculus will be the death of me…</p>
<p>Lol @TheWish. Same here!
I took my first quiz yesterday and got a D. I felt prepared and I studied, but when I got the quiz, there were things on there that we did not go over. 
Someone please tell me this class will get easier!</p>
<p>The class will get easier, don’t worry. It’ll take a while, but you’ll improve, you just need to work a bit harder and always ask questions. Don’t let your teacher ask all the questions.</p>
<p>What’s the difference between AB and BC? If you self study, do you need different books for them?</p>
<p>@nomatterwhat
Read the AP course description from College Board here:
<a href=“Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board”>Supporting Students from Day One to Exam Day – AP Central | College Board;
<p>The course description contains topic outlines for AB and BC. Since AB is a subset of BC, there aren’t different books for them.</p>
<p>I’m trying to figure out if self-studying BC would be worth it. I’m not the greatest at math (I failed a good number of precalc quizzes/tests), but I already know a chunk about derivatives and a bit about integrals from summer study (and I also like calc, unlike precalc).</p>
<p>To those who self-studied BC: did you have a set study schedule for your BC material, or did you just cram right before the exam? Was it extremely difficult, or was it just a little bit extra on top of what you were doing in class? Etc…</p>
<p>I took my first test this week on the basics regarding derivatives, and definite integrals, pulled off an 85%. Pretty happy about it! How intense does the course get?</p>
<p>awesome(: not too bad… obviously it’s all centered on derivatives and integrals, but the problems just get harder and on the AP test you get short respone questions where you have to figure out what to do.</p>
<p>Calc BC doesn’t really get “serious” until you get to series and sequences.</p>
<p>I’m taking AB this year. It’s the only AP Math class in our school and only seniors take it. I have solid Algebra understanding but I really suck at Trigonometry. How much would this affect me ? ? =(</p>
<p>I took AB last year (got a 5) unlike most people on here it seems math comes very natural to me, and I like math … I rarely opened the book (except for when we did Volumes those are killer!) but if anyone wants to know what the AB test is like
If your teacher is anything like mine was, the exam is like 10x easier than the class nd most of the exam dealt with derivatives, and the fundamental theorem of calc … And in the free response I also remember some separation of variables integration
For those of you who are new to calculus and are taking AB I understand you have no clue what I’m saying with “derivatives and volumes and seperation of variables integration” just try and remember those words cause those are important for the exam
And also let me point out that
Algebra and trigonometry are both very important for calculus but what I noticed is that for the trig it’s different, with trig all you do is derive nd integrate there is not much identities (although some but not hard complicated ones, I’m talking about the exam) so if you did horrible in trig don’t worry !! It’s completely different than before
Although the algebra that’s a different story it’s very important but let me also say if you did horrible in algebra STILL don’t worry because now your applying the algebra to calculus which may sound complicated but it’s not most of the algebra is like “oh ok now set the derivative equal to zero” “ok manipulate this variable so u can plug it into here” so again not complicated …
Please (as my teacher says but I completely agree) but please don’t think that since now your in calculus it must be hard, IT’S NOT!! it really isn’t just breath in and out and calm down
I personally found calculus to be the easiest out of algebra and trig
I’m really sorry for making this such a long post ! I hope I helped someone :)</p>
<p>I’m taking AP Calc AB this year and I actually really like it! I like it sooo much more than my Analysis (Pre-Calc) class that I took last year. My teacher is great and has a 98% pass rate for the AP exam with most people getting a 4 or 5.</p>