Know Thy Exam!
Sarah Stecher
One of the best ways we can prepare our students for the AP Calculus Exam is by letting them know what to expect on test day. Familiarity with the structure and breakdown of the exam can help students allocate their time efficiently, employ test-taking strategies to maximize their score, and reduce test anxiety.
This video is part of the official Math Medic AP Calculus Review Course. To receive access to more videos, practice problems, and full length practice exams, get a quote.
Download the handout for students to complete while watching the video.
Students should be prepared to complete multiple choice and free response questions with and without a calculator. The breakdown is as follows:
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Multiple Choice
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Non-calculator — 30 question — 60 minutes
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Calculator — 15 questions — 45 minutes
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Non-calculator — 30 question — 60 minutes
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Calculator — 15 questions — 45 minutes
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Free Response
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Calculator — 2 questions — 30 minutes
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Non-calculator — 4 questions — 60 minutes
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Calculator — 2 questions — 30 minutes
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Non-calculator — 4 questions — 60 minutes
The questions students will see often include real-world contexts, multiple representations (numerical, analytical, graphical, verbal), and connect ideas from multiple units. The AP Calculus Exam tests students’ ability to think conceptually and flexibly about the big ideas of Calculus, apply appropriate procedures efficiently, and communicate their ideas.
About the Author
Sarah Stecher
Sarah is our “content creator” in every sense of the term. In addition to designing lessons, Sarah writes blog posts, develops resources, and leads Math Medic workshops for schools and districts. She’s also our go-to for AP Calc and Precalc questions from teachers, since that’s what she was teaching before she joined the team. Along with Lindsey and Luke, Sarah was a high school teacher who taught 150+ students every year at East Kentwood High School.