<p>This year, I took AP Calculus AB, as a junior. My school doesn't offer any higher-level math classes, and dual enrollment Calculus II isn't really an option my senior year (for numerous reasons). However, I don't really want to take a year off from Calculus, as I fear I'll forget everything and have to repeat Calc I in college. </p>
<p>I did fairly well in AB, I ended the year with an A and I feel I'm right on the 4/5 border for the exam. I expect a 5 as I got ~60% of the FRQ and feel like I did better on MC section but there is still a chance for a 4. </p>
<p>Math is my worst subject so it takes me a while to understand. However, I work really hard and study a lot. I also have a super genius physics teacher that helped me with calc this year and is more than willing to help me learn Calc BC material. However, I will have 4 other AP tests to worry about as well and I think it might too much, plus I've heard the 40% of BC-only material is significantly hard.</p>
<p>Anyways. Given the above information, how difficult would it be for me to self-study Calculus BC? Do you think a 4 or 5 on the exam is attainable? If so, any tips for self-studying and what prep book is best in your opinion (I already have Princeton Review but looking for a 2nd to get more practice)?</p>
<p>I’m really just copying and pasting from a past thread on something similar (with additions at the end). If you have any more questions just ask.</p>
<p>I did self study Calculus BC and it’s fairly easy if you’re doing well in Calculus AB. I’d mainly focus on being confident you can ace the calculus AB test before starting to study calculus BC. Calculus BC does not really have that many more topics to learn and primarily adds polar, parametric, and vector functions (which vector functions are related to parametric) along with series, logistical functions, and just more detail in some things you’ve already done. Just doing a lot of problems and being adapted to them can help in understanding it. Personal recommendation although not necessary is google proofs for a lot of the calculus theorems and most proofs will not involve math above your level which helps in really comprehending what you’re doing when you’re not being taught (and I guess your teacher can help their too). </p>
<p>I’d estimate 40 hours for BC calculus total if you have a strong grounding in AB calculus. And I believe you can make a 4 on the test if you only answer the AB questions right if that’s a confidence booster (although that’d require getting all the AB right but yeah).</p>
<p>I’ve only used Barron’s and it’s pretty comprehensive (I don’t remember anything on the test not in the book). Admittingly I’d recommend reading PR and then doing Barron’s problems if you go that route because of the huge amount of problems it has (and PR’s likely a lighter read).</p>
<p>As for if a 4/5 is attainable I self studied both calc AB and BC over the course of 4 months and feel like I’m at the border for a 4/5 on the Calc BC test. If I hadn’t procrastinated as much and just did a more in some areas I’d feel confident at getting a 5. Mainly I barely did any free response practice and I think that definitely hurt me.</p>
<p>Why in the living hell would anyone self-study anything. Just sign up for classes in the spring, go outside and be a kid during the summer, and then take the aforementioned classes in the fall. Spend the the school year focused and prepared for class and then repeat. Don’t teach yourself an AP class, that’s what your parents pay taxes for your school’s teachers to do goddamnit.</p>