The semester is coming closer to an end and I’m really, really struggling in AP Calculus. The past two tests I got failing grades on and now I’m really stressed out- I’ve been putting in effort to do better in the class, but some how I can’t seem to do better?? I’ve got to change my approach or how I’m studying. Something I’m doing isn’t right.
Anyway, I have a C (79%) overall now, my second quarter dropped to a 72% and mid year report goes out on February 1st(end of our first semester) and I cannot have it show a C.
I’ve got full tuition scholarships from some universities and I’m afraid I am going to lose them now. Also will they rescind my acceptance if they see the C? Will this look bad especially to some of my reach schools-obviously it will, but how much is this going to kill me? Is there a big difference between a B- and B for schools? Maybe I can push it to a B- before semester ends?
I’m going to try and actively speak to my math teacher about doing something to boost my grade- I also want to learn what it is that I’m having trouble with. I don’t know what to suggest. I really don’t want to ask for another quiz, because I can’t seem to get consistent scores on tests??
The highest grade I’ve gotten on any test is a 90 and that was only once. My grade has slowly been decreasing as time passed. The rest of my classmates are also struggling severely and my teacher tries to help us with homework points but it barely changes my grade much- I’m lucky if it moves it a percentage point. (He puts in one 10 pt assignment and homework is weighted minimally- I think around 10%? Can’t say for sure. Tests are the bulk of my grade and the only thing usually each marking period.
I’m sorry you are struggling in AP Calc. I’m in it right now too, and it is a very difficult course.
Whether your acceptances will be rescinded, none of us can say. You have to contact the individual college and ask what their individual policies are. And yes, it will hurt you with your reach schools- bringing it into the B range will help.
Can you speak to your teacher? How many tests are left? Can you do extra credit? Have you thought about getting a tutor? That really helped me (I brought my grade up from a B- to a B). How about asking friends in college who took the course last year?
Have you looked at other materials that cover the specific types of problems you are studying? Maybe the Khan academy videos on those specific types of problems could help you. Also try a tutor.
get the book “Calculus Problem Solver” which has thousands of worked problems. For each chapter you are covering in class, open to the chapter(s) in the Problem Solver with similar problems. Cover up the answer, try to solve it, check your answer. Repeat until you are getting them right, then you’ll do the same on the test.
Going out on a limb here, a lot of students do their homework by flipping back in the chapter to a similar problem and then (with the method in their short-term memory) they can solve the homework problem. They do this problem after problem, but nothing is really forming lasting memories or understanding. On the test they can’t recall how to solve them. For a while cramming works; when the material isn’t too complicated a few read-thru’s suffice. But as the semester goes along the difficulty increases and without investing the time to really learn the material they struggle.
And on the subject of time, it is common for good students in college to spend 6-10 hours each week outside of class for each math/science class. This is time reading the text, doing the homework, and doing extra problems on their own to cement their understanding. I’m going to guess that you’re time spent on this class is less…
I agree that you should talk to your math teacher. But instead of asking about how you can bump up your grade I think the meeting would be better received if you start off by asking him how you can improve your understanding and performance in the class. Let him know you are working hard but struggling. Ask if you can meet regularly? Ask if the teacher can give you extra problems (preferably with solutions) you can work on? You can certainly ask if there is anything you can do to keep your grades in the B range for college admissions, but that should be secondary.
If possible consider getting a tutor, looking at online resources (ex. Khan academy as noted above). It is a tough course, but do whatever you can to keep your grade where it needs to be.
@yonceonhismouth I don’t think we will have any more tests this marking period and my teacher has a policy of not giving extra credit. You must do well on tests, but enough of us are doing badly in the class that he’s trying to help us since I’m pretty sure our class average is terrible.
@mikemac A lot of you keep suggesting a tutor- yes that probably would help…I actually kinda do have a tutor…except it’s my dad? He has an engineering background so he just looks over text book and goes over stuff, except for some reason, I apparently don’t understand the material on the test based on my score…In the beginning, (first marking period), I couldn’t get a grade over 90(I mostly got low Bs)- I was almost solving every problem in the textbook- we received the answers for all textbook questions. I skipped proof problems and challenge ones since my teacher never covers them or puts them on the test.
What I’ve noticed is that I keep getting tripped up on multiple choice questions or the deeper insight problems. At first, I tried to follow Spivak’s book for Calculus, but it’s beyond my level and understanding so… I’ve tried to account for the issue by doing practice ap multiple choice problems, but still I’m making mistakes here and there despite my efforts to be careful.
@CheddarcheeseMN I think that maybe seeing more example problems and different types of problems might help- maybe a third person’s words might better click with me? I’ll start trying the stuff you have all mentioned- Khan Academy might help.
@happy1 My main focus is not to boost my grade, but to actually learn the material and have my grades reflect that…so I will tell him that I want to improve and understand where it is that I am going wrong. Also, I will ask what I should be doing to fix it too. But, I also do want to suggest something to boost the grade up- maybe a take home assignment since most of my class is in need of some assignment to raise our grades…I need to pull up this marking period’s grade up so that I at least get a B- for first semester…the ideal goal would be to bring up my current quarter to 80%…so that I have a chance of obtaining an A- at the end of the year. I’m trying hard to maintain at least an A- in all of my courses this year. But, I don’t think that goal is doable. I just really don’t want a C going out on mid year report.
first, if you get the Calculus book I mentioned you can take it to your teacher and ask her/him to mark questions that you think would be good to practice.
The 2nd is to look for another explanation of the material. Sometimes hearing it a different way helps. Khan Academy is a good suggestion, you can find others on the web. One resource I’ve heard recommended is the course by the Teaching Company. http://www.thegreatcourses.com/courses/understanding-calculus-problems-solutions-and-tips.html They periodically put every course on sale, but its not on sale now. Way too expensive to buy, but your library may have a copy or you can ask them to add it to their collection (and then borrow it)
@muffinlord1 I’m terrible sorry to hear your struggles in AP Calculus. I haven’t gotten to Calculus yet, but I’ve had plenty of math troubles throughout my education. My advice is to first ask your teacher about what mistakes you made, and maybe you could set up some tutoring with him/her before or after school every week. Another suggestion I have is mentioned by @CheddarcheeseMN , go onto Khan Academy. I use that resource almost daily for practice, and it does help a lot. Also go over your notes, and find some practice problems from your textbook or online. Just keep studying. It will be a difficult journey, however in the end you’ll succeed. Good luck, and I wish you the best in Calculus (and all of your other subjects!) :-bd