<p>What is the best way to study AP Calc AB? Friend's daughter, enrolled in AP Calc AB, she is also in swim team at her school so the afternoons when she might need help in the subject she is in practice. Friend did not graduate college so she has no clue how to help her D. Any suggestions? Forgot add she is not a terribly math person, says she is reasonably good, so she needs some advice from ground up. I'm not sure if this info is posted somewhere but if it is, please guide. Thanks.</p>
<p>uhh go to her math teacher for tutoring? if schedule is in conflict arrange for a different time…</p>
<p>As a current Calculus BC/AP (and former Calculus AB/AP student), here is my advice:</p>
<p>Tell her to study the calculus concepts, know what it means, and apply it. Know the formulas, conceptual topics (there’s the “big 5” conceptual topics she needs to know), every exception to a formula/concept/etc - just everything that AP expects from an AP Calculus AB student. </p>
<p>(Also, she needs to be acquainted with the graphing calculator well, as the AP test will require the use of it during Section II of the MC and Section I of the FRQ. But that can be dealt with later)</p>
<p>But most of all, this is what bites most people (this still even happens to me at times, I have to admit): Know your algebra from top to bottom. While Calculus is an entirely new math discipline, getting down the calculus concepts will only bring you half way. The other half is knowing algebra very well (and I mean Algebra I/II, Geometry, Trigonometry). Every problem she will do will involve some form of algebra, and its very critical that her algebra skills are up to par. Otherwise, it could be a struggle.</p>
<p>Additional practice problems also helps in sharpening both the calculus and algebra skills. I strongly recommend this.</p>
<p>Of course, she can hire a private tutor or go to a group tutor class if she needs additional help. Good luck.</p>
<p>I think the vast majority of WillDaSnail’s advice is spot on, especially his comment about mastery of previous courses (especially Algebra I/II).</p>
<p>There are two things that I would like to add to the advice above as an AP Calculus instructor:</p>
<p>(1) When it comes to tutors, that should absolutely positively be the last resort. Most of my calculus students who end up resorting to tutors struggle horribly in the classes that follow, simply because it becomes more and more impossible to find tutors in subsequent courses. The tutors for calculus in my area tend to be outrageously expensive (the cheapest I heard about runs $80/hr, and the most expensive runs $125/hr). Which leads me to my second addition:</p>
<p>(2) I think the best thing that your friend’s daughter can do is work to form a study group with two to three other people in her class. Ability is only peripherally important in the formation of a study group, but she needs to pick people who have similar schedules. Other members of the swim team might very well be ideal if they are friends of hers.</p>
<p>Simply put, study groups are the way to survive higher-level math courses in college, and those who practiced that skill in high school were clearly ahead of the curve of those who hadn’t formed one until college when I got there. If she can start this this year, I highly recommend it.</p>