AP Calculus AB A is an Advanced Placement course in Calculus that parallels most university Calculus 1 courses. Section A focusses on differentiation, while section B focusses on integration. PreCalculus, or it's equivalent (Math IV) is expected. Topics include: Prerequisites for Calculus, Limits and Continuity, Derivatives, More Derivatives, and Applications of Derivatives.
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What is an AP Course?
AP courses (Advanced Placement) are high school courses in which you may also earn college credit. To earn college credit, an AP test is taken near the end of the school year, usually mid-May. Taking the test is not required in order to get high school credit for the class, but is required if college credit is desired. The test is scored out of 5 points possible, with 5 being the highest, and 0 the lowest. Most colleges award credit for a score of 4. Some award credit for a score of 3. For this reason, preparing for the AP test is one of the main areas of focus in this course.
Since the test is mid-May, and includes learning objectives found anywhere in the year-long course, we do operate on a somewhat accelerated schedule. Even though our semester ends January 14, we really need to finish the first semester of the course before Christmas break, mid-December. This is two weeks early. The second semester, then, needs to be completed by early May, giving some time to take practice tests and prepare for the AP exam.
Since the test is mid-May, and includes learning objectives found anywhere in the year-long course, we do operate on a somewhat accelerated schedule. Even though our semester ends January 14, we really need to finish the first semester of the course before Christmas break, mid-December. This is two weeks early. The second semester, then, needs to be completed by early May, giving some time to take practice tests and prepare for the AP exam.
Assessments
Your grade in this course is determined by Tests (40% of the total grade), Quizzes (22%), Portfolios (10%), Quick Checks (5%), Discussions (6%), Final Exam (10%), Practice for AP Exam (2%).
TestsUnit 1 is an introduction to the course. So the first unit with a summative test is Unit 2, Each Unit thereafter has a summative unit test, through Unit 7 (Unit 5 is excluded, as it is a mid-semester check, which is a practice AP test). Unit 8 is set aside for the Final Exam. Each exam is designed to mirror the two types of questions on the AP test, multiple choice and essay.
The way in which you answer the essay questions is important. Make sure to use proper mathematical notation and vocabulary. Make sure to explain or demonstrate each step. Remember, this is a math course, and not a language arts course. So a book is not expected or desired, but concise, thorough, mathematical notation is. As the primary purpose of this course is preparation for the AP test, it is important to not consider any test fully complete until each missed question is understood. For this reason, I'd like to meet you in LiveLesson after you submit each unit test to go over each missed question, ensuring the solution for each is fully understood. Submitting your notes for these sessions will also earn back half the missed points. PortfoliosThere are two portfolios in this course. Portfolios are extended assignments that are done on paper, or in a document that is then submitted in a drop-box. Though worth only 10% of your grade, there are only two. So each makes up 5% of the final grade. Consult the Portfolios link at the top of this page for any special instructions, help, videos and other resources.
DiscussionsThere are two discussion board assessments this semester. These typically require three posts, an initial thread you create to address the discussion board prompt, a reply to another person's thread according to the directions in the discussion prompt, and a reply to another student's reply to your thread. As this is a small class, I will be participating in these discussions.
As you can see from the above, completing a discussion assessment doesn't happen in just one go. It takes giving time for replies to be made so that you may reply to the reply. This is the nature of discussions. I will endeavor to make sure replies are made in a timely fashion. If it is taking a while, don't hesitate to Webmail me. |
QuizzesEach of the units 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 have a mid-unit quiz. As with the tests, the questions are designed to mirror AP test questions and will be both multiple choice and essay. As with the tests, make sure to use concise, thorough, mathematical notation when answering essay questions. As with the tests, I would like to meet you in LiveLesson to go over all missed questions. And, as with tests, you may submit your notes from these sessions for half the missed points back.
Quick ChecksEach lesson ends with a Quick Check, Quiz or Test. Quick Checks are designed to measure comprehension of the current lesson. As with Quizzes and Tests, questions are modelled after the AP test and may be multiple choice or essay. Going over missed questions for the Quick Checks in LiveLesson with me is not required, but may be done. It is important, however, to pay close attention to the questions you missed, as they indicate likely misunderstandings that really need to be cleared up before the next quiz, test or the final exam, and, certainly, the AP test.
Final ExamThe final exam for this course is cumulative, meaning it covers objectives from the entire semester. Question types include multiple choice and essay, and, as with the unit tests, are modelled after AP exam questions. Again, make sure to use concise, thorough mathematical notation when answering essay questions. As with unit tests, if there is time, I would like to meet you in LiveLesson to review all missed questions. Again, notes from this session may be submitted for half the missed points back.
PracticeBefore each unit test is a Practice test. These are designed to be just like the unit test. They do not impact your grade. However, they do reveal areas in which you need to work. Make sure to go back through the appropriate lesson for each missed question, to shore up your understanding of the missed objective. If you wish, I'd be happy to go over missed questions with you in LiveLesson, before you take the actual unit test that follows.
Practice for AP ExamUnit 5 consists of a Practice AP Exam. This is designed to mimic even more closely than the unit test, or the final exam, the AP Exam, in look and feel, as well as question types. These are actual AP Exam questions that have been asked in the past.
The intent is to treat this like the actual AP Exam. So, note the instructions. The AP Exam is timed. You should complete this practice under the same time constraints as the actual AP Exam. This will give you a feel for how you might do. After completing the Practice AP Exam, I'd like to meet you in LiveLesson to go over any questions missed, to clear up any misconceptions. |
The College Board has very specific requirements about what calculators are allowed when taking the AP Exam. Computers and devices with computer-like keyboards, tablets, smart phones, and such, are not allowed on the AP Exam. Only graphing, scientific, or four function calculators are allowed. I highly recommend procuring a graphing calculator. Many of the instructions in the course are geared particularly toward the TI-84. A TI-83, Casio, HP or other calculator will work well, but the steps and instructions will be different.
I highly recommend you take this entire course using the calculator you plan to use on the AP Exam. You really don't want to be learning or figuring out a new calculator while taking the AP Exam. Speed and efficiency are critical, as the exam is timed.
I highly recommend you take this entire course using the calculator you plan to use on the AP Exam. You really don't want to be learning or figuring out a new calculator while taking the AP Exam. Speed and efficiency are critical, as the exam is timed.
The AP Test
The AP Exam consists of two sections, I and II. Each section is 50% of the total score. Both have a Part A and Part B. Calculators are not allowed on Section I Part 1 and Section II Part B. Section I is multiple choice. Section I, Part A has 30 questions, and is timed at 60 minutes, giving an average of two minutes per question. Part B is 15 questions, and has a time limit of 45 minutes, or three minutes per question. Section II is Free Response (essay). Part A has 2 questions and 30 minutes are allowed, for 15 minutes average per question. Part B is 4 questions and 60 minutes are allowed, for 15 minutes per question. More information may be found at:
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-calculus-ab/exam
https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-calculus-ab/exam
College Board Account
Taking the AP Exam requires a College Board account. The College Board is the same organization that produces and manages the PSAT and SAT exams. Registration for these exams, as well as for any AP course may be done online at collegeboard.org.
Please, please, please, visit the College Board and create an account with them if you have not done so already. Additionally, make sure to register with APCentral on the College Board Website. Indicate you are taking AP Calculus AB and that I am your teacher. This gives you access to their online AP course, helps, test questions, and enables me to see any activity you are doing in the AP Calculus AB course there.
Please, please, please, visit the College Board and create an account with them if you have not done so already. Additionally, make sure to register with APCentral on the College Board Website. Indicate you are taking AP Calculus AB and that I am your teacher. This gives you access to their online AP course, helps, test questions, and enables me to see any activity you are doing in the AP Calculus AB course there.