How to Prepare for the AP Calculus and AP Statistics Exams
The 2021 AP exams are right around the corner. After a year’s worth of learning and absorbing complex topics, it’s time to start preparing for the big exam. The math AP exams cover a vast amount of material, so you might be wondering: where the heck do I start?!
Make a list of what you don’t know confidently. A good place to start when it comes to studying for an AP math exam is to look over the material you’ve covered in your AP class over the past school year. Make a list of topics you had a difficult time with (a low quiz score is a good indication here!) or simply feel you need more review on than others.
Create a study schedule. Once you know which topics to focus on, make a study plan for how to work through the material in time for your AP math test. Start with the earlier material and work your way through. Optimally, this study plan should be spread out over a 1-2 month period before the exam, so you don’t end up cramming right before the test.
Memorize key equations. There are a lot of equations you’ll need to know for both the AP Calculus exams and the AP Statistics exam. The AP Statistics exam will provide you with an equation sheet to reference during the exam; however, the AP Calculus exams will not. For AP Statistics, memorizing important equations will save you time on the exam, as you won’t need to reference the equation sheet as often. For the AP Calculus exams, it will be necessary to memorize as many key equations as you can. (Pro tip: Try creating your own equation sheet to use while you study! The act of writing them out and applying them will help you to remember them.)
Practice, practice, practice. While it will be helpful to know key equations, it will be just as important to know how to apply them! This skill comes from review and deliberate practice. Work through sample problems from your textbook, past homework assignments, quizzes and tests. You can also work through prior-year AP free response questions for AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, and AP Statistics released by the College Board. To gain experience with full-length practice tests, you might also find it helpful to invest in a third-party AP prep book designed around your particular class. You can also sign up for a North Avenue proctored assessment.
Get comfortable with your calculator. For the AP Statistics exam, you will be expected to bring a graphing calculator with statistical capabilities to use throughout the test. For the AP Calculus AB and BC exams, graphing calculators are required for certain questions. So, for all of the AP math exams it will be important to have a reliable graphing calculator that you know your way around and feel confident using to solve complex problems. Practice solving questions that require specific calculator functionality to get used to performing the necessary operations ahead of time – this will be especially valuable for students whose teachers frequently administer no-calculator quizzes and tests.
With a planned study schedule full of practice and review, you should be ready to ace your math AP tests. However, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the content, or would like a little extra support while studying, contact us about one-on-one tutoring to help you achieve your goals.