Qtr 1 Study Guide - AP Calculus BC

The exam begins at 10:15 Friday October 11, 2024.

The pacing is the same as the AP exam, but in a different order and slightly less than half as long (the actual AP exam is 3 hours 15 minutes):
NO calculator Part A (Must be turned in before Calculators):

Calculator Part B:

There are 19 Multiple choice (about a 1/3 are TI-84 ok) worth 3 points each (2 for the work, 1 for the answer), 14 points of No calculator Free Response questions and 5 points of a TI-84 Free Response questions.

The Actual AP Exam is on Monday May 8, 2023 at 8:00 AM. That exam starts with a Multiple Choice Section (105 minutes) and ends with a Free Response Section (90 minutes). In the multiple choice section, a calculator is not permitted on the first 30 questions (60 minutes, 2 minutes each), but required on the last 15 questions (45 minutes, three minutes each). The Free response section starts with the 2 calculator required questions(30 minutes, 15 minutes each), and ends with 4 questions that are to be answered with a calculator (60 minutes, also 15 minutes each).

  1. Unless otherwise specified, answers (numeric or algebraic) need not be simplified. (Usually 5/10 or √12 is ok, but transcendental functions are not algebraic. If it is a transcendental function don't leave it as cos π/2; instead write 0. Instead of ln 1, write 0. Instead of e0, write 1, etc. ).
  2. If you use decimal approximations in calculations, your work will be scored on accuracy. Unless otherwise specified, your final answers should be accurate to three places after the decimal point.
  3. Unless otherwise specified, the domain of a function f is assumed to be the set of all real numbers x for which f (x) is a real number.
  4. The inverse of a trigonometric function f may be indicated using the inverse function notation f -1 or with the prefix "arc" (e.g., sin-1 x = arcsin x ).
  5. Show all of your work. Clearly label any functions, graphs, tables, or other objects that you use. Your work will be scored on the correctness and completeness of your methods as well as your answers. Answers without supporting work will usually not receive credit. Justifications require that you give mathematical (noncalculator) reasons.
The College Board (that administers the AP exams) has this helpful passage about what should be included in a free response question:
Students are expected to show enough of their work for Readers to follow their line of reasoning. To obtain full credit for the solution to a free-response problem, students must communicate their methods and conclusions clearly. Answers should show enough work so that the reasoning process can be followed throughout the solution. This is particularly important for assessing partial credit. Students may also be asked to use complete sentences to explain their methods or the reasonableness of their answers, or to interpret their results.

For results obtained using the calculator capabilities of plotting, finding zeros, finding the numerical derivative or integral, students are required to write the setup (e.g., the equation being solved, or the derivative or definite integral being evaluated) that leads to the solution, along with the result produced by the calculator.

For example, if the student is asked to find the area of a region, the student is expected to show a definite integral (i.e., the setup) and the answer. The student need not compute the antiderivative; the calculator may be used to calculate the value of the definite integral without further explanation.

For solutions obtained using the calculator capabilities, students must also show the mathematical steps that lead to the answer; a calculator result is not sufficient. For example, if the student is asked to find a relative minimum value of a function, the student is expected to use calculus and show the mathematical steps that lead to the answer. It is not sufficient to graph the function or use a built-in minimum finder.

When a student is asked to justify an answer, the justification must include mathematical reasons, not merely calculator results. Functions, graphs, tables, or other objects that are used in a justification should be clearly identified.

 

Here is a check list of the topics from the first quarter (followed by the year and question number that it appeared as a Free Response question on the AP Exam):

Helpful Links

  1. First Page of the BC Qtr 1 Exam
  2. DeltaMath Has Practice Problems with solutions and video links
  3. Fr. Chris's Podcast has 3 Chapter 8 videos and other videos explaining the difficult Homework Problems on topics like Surface Area, arc length, and antiderivatives in general.
  4. Mr O'Connor's videos Which explain many examples with geometer's sketchpad.
  5. BC Calculus: "Stuff you MUST Know Cold" version 1
  6. BC Calculus: "Stuff you MUST Know Cold" version 2
  7. Stuff to know cold-fill in the blank version
  8. The Packet that summarizes everything you need for the AB course
  9. Example Multiple choice and Free response questions are in the AP Course Description (for AB Questions from Qtr 1 topics you should be able to answer MCQ 2,3,5 on page 48f as well as FRQ 2 parts (a) and (b) on page 68)
  10. Khan Academy's AP Calculus AB (Where you need to get at least 80% Mastery in "Get Ready for AP Calculus" by December 16)
  11. Khan Academy's AP Calculus BC Web site
  12. Khan Academy's AP Calculus BC
  13. myAP.collegeboard.org AP Classroom (See Qtr 1 MC Questions Assignment)
  14. bluebook.collegeboard.org Download the Bluebook App to simulate the MCQ portion of the A P Calculus BC Exam in 2025. (FRQ's are still on paper in 2025) As of September 27, 2024 there is no sample AP Calculus (or AP Computer Science A) questions. These have been promised, but no date was given when to expect these to be available.
  15. Past Exam Questions from the College Board.
  16. Past Exam Answers from Mr Calculus.
  17. Past Exam Answers from Skylit.com.
  18. Exam Information from the College Board
  19. AP Exam Info
  20. Example Multiple choice and Free response questions are in the AP Course Description (p 45 for AB Questions, page 75 for BC questions--for Qtr 1 you should be able to answer and AB question and MCQ 2,3,5 and FRQ 2)
  21. MC questions from 1969-1998
  22. MC Questions from 2003
  23. 2008 Complete Exam
  24. Video Links from the homework page
  25. Worksheet links from the homework page
  26. Worksheets from the class Google classroom page.

It would be good to go over old quizzes, homework and tests; review what you did well, and learn from any mistakes.

 

Bring a calculator, a number 2 pencil and good eraser as all scantron responses are graded according to what the machine interprets (this is to prepare you to the cruel reality of how it is with AP Exams and other standardized tests)

The exam is worth 20%, and will be curved.

Remember to a good night's rest, and eat a healthy breakfast!

Good Luck!