Things You Need to Know Cold for the AP Calc Exam
Sarah Stecher
One thing we love about the AP Calc exam is that it challenges students to have deep, conceptual understanding that allows them to flexibly apply what they know to familiar and unfamiliar problems. Because this takes a lot of working memory, we need to find ways to decrease the cognitive load in other areas so students can focus their attention on those more challenging questions. How do we do this? By making sure they have the basics down pat! This means being very familiar with all derivative and integral rules, as well as important area, volume, and average value formulas.
Here we present a list of things your students should know like the back of their hand.
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.
Flashcards are a great way for students to practice these when they’re studying on their own, but we also enjoy coming up with fun, interactive ways to reinforce these skills during class. To review derivative and antiderivative rules, we like to play “I Have, Who Has?“.
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.