The AP Calculus AB Exam

How to Survive and Thrive

Reviewing for the Exam

• Know the format• Know your calculator• Review old questions• Study what you don’t

know• Write new questions• Manage time leading

up to exam day

The format

• Section I-A– 28 MC, 55 minutes– No calculator

• Section I-B– 17 MC, 50 minutes

• Section II-A– 3 FR, 45 minutes

• Section II-B– 3 FR, 45 minutes– No calculator

Your calculator

• Common tasks:– Graph functions in windows– Solve equations– Find values of derivatives– Find values of integrals

• Radian mode• Answers may be left

unsimplified, e.g. 2• Programs

Types of MC

• Computation• Set up but not solve• Choose the

true/false statement• I, II, III

Tips for MC

• Choices may give a hint

• Penalty of -1/4, so don’t guess

• Time is limited

Types of FR

• Computation• Show work; indicate

methods• “Justify your

answer”; “Show the analysis that leads to your conclusion”

Tips for FR

• Don’t write essays– Show the work that you do– You may use common terms

(e.g. “The First Derivative Test”) without actually stating the test conditions.

• Don’t explain how to do a problem you can’t do– Explanations without work

receive no credit

Tips for FR

• Avoid decimal answers if possible– Don’t take a chance on

pushing the wrong button– If you must use a decimal,

don’t round off early

• Use standard notation, not calculator notation

Tips for FR

• Answers without work lose credit– Don’t do work on a

calculator unless indicating what you are doing, e.g.

• Show the complete setup even if you’re using the calculator– Except the 4 common tasks

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Tips for FR

• Put things where they’re used– Calculations that were put

unnecessarily in part (a) but are needed in part (b) must be put in part (b) in order to get credit

• Mistakes should be crossed out– If not, it may lower score

Tips for FR

• Are the problem parts independent?– Independent? Read and try

all the parts. If you can’t do part (a), you may be able to do part (b), and perhaps it will give you a hint for (a)

– Dependent? Work from part to part even if you’re not sure where it’s heading. In fact, make up an answer to carry to the next part if you get stuck.

Tips for FR

• Common mistakes– Missing integration limits– Not considering endpoints or

considering points outside an interval

– Giving only one coordinate when both are required; giving both when one is required, e.g. “value of a function”

– Not answering the question– Ignoring units of measure

Tips for FR

– Examining a general equation with specific values instead

– Fitting a specific equation to a graph or table; any questions about it can and should be answered without using an equation

– Using a calculator feature without showing the work or justification