5 Steps to a 5 AP Calculus AB & BC, 2012-2013 Edition (2011)
STEP 1. Set Up Your Study Plan
Chapter 2. How to Plan Your Time
IN THIS CHAPTER
Summary: The right preparation plan for you depends on your study habits and the amount of time you have before the test.
Key Idea
Choose the study plan that is right for you.
2.1 Three Approaches to Preparing for the AP Calculus Exam
Overview of the Three Plans
No one knows your study habits, likes, and dislikes better than you. So, you are the only one who can decide which approach you want and/or need to adopt to prepare for the Advanced Placement Calculus exam. Look at the brief profiles below. These may help you to place yourself in a particular prep mode.
You are a full-year prep student (Approach A) if:
1. You are the kind of person who likes to plan for everything far in advance … and I mean far …;
2. You arrive at the airport 2 hours before your flight because, “you never know when these planes might leave early …”;
3. You like detailed planning and everything in its place;
4. You feel you must be thoroughly prepared;
5. You hate surprises.
You are a one-semester prep student (Approach B) if:
1. You get to the airport 1 hour before your flight is scheduled to leave;
2. You are willing to plan ahead to feel comfortable in stressful situations, but are okay with skipping some details;
3. You feel more comfortable when you know what to expect, but a surprise or two is cool;
4. You’re always on time for appointments.
You are a 6-week prep student (Approach C) if:
1. You get to the airport just as your plane is announcing its final boarding;
2. You work best under pressure and tight deadlines;
3. You feel very confident with the skills and background you’ve learned in your AP Calculus class;
4. You decided late in the year to take the exam;
5. You like surprises;
6. You feel okay if you arrive 10–15 minutes late for an appointment.
2.2 Calendar for Each Plan
A Calendar for Approach A:
A Year-Long Preparation for the AP Calculus Exam
Although its primary purpose is to prepare you for the AP Calculus Exam you will take in May, this book can enrich your study of calculus, your analytical skills, and your problem solving techniques.
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER (Check off the activities as you complete them.)
__________ Determine into which student mode you would place yourself.
__________ Carefully read Steps 1 and 2.
__________ Get on the Web and take a look at the AP website(s).
__________ Skim the Comprehensive Review section. (These areas will be part of your year-long preparation.)
__________ Buy a few highlighters.
__________ Flip through the entire book. Break the book in. Write in it. Toss it around a little bit … Highlight it.
__________ Get a clear picture of what your own school’s AP Calculus curriculum is.
__________ Begin to use the book as a resource to supplement the classroom learning.
__________ Read and study Chapter 5—Limits and Continuity.
__________ Read and study Chapter 6—Differentiation.
__________ Read and study Chapter 7—Graphs of Functions and Derivatives.
NOVEMBER (The first 10 weeks have elapsed.)
__________ Read and study Chapter 8—Applications of Derivatives.
__________ Read and study Chapter 9—More Applications of Derivatives.
DECEMBER
__________ Read and study Chapter 10—Integration.
__________ Review Chapters 5–7.
JANUARY (20 weeks have now elapsed.)
__________ Read and study Chapter 11—Definite Integrals.
__________ Review Chapters 8–10.
FEBRUARY
__________ Read and study Chapter 12—Areas and Volumes.
__________ Read and study Chapter 13—More Applications of Definite Integrals.
__________ Take the Diagnostic Test.
__________ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
__________ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
MARCH (30 weeks have now elapsed.)
__________ Read and study Chapter 14—Series (if you plan to take the BC exam)
__________ Review Chapters 11–13.
APRIL
__________ Take Practice Exam 1 in first week of April.
__________ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
__________ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
__________ Review Chapters 5–14.
MAY–First Two Weeks (THIS IS IT!)
__________ Take Practice Exam 2.
__________ Score yourself.
__________ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
__________ Get a good night’s sleep the night before the exam. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.
A Calendar for Approach B:
A Semester-Long Preparation for the AP Calculus Exam
Working under the assumption that you’ve completed one semester of calculus studies, the following calendar will use those skills you’ve been practicing to prepare you for the May exam.
JANUARY
__________ Carefully read Steps 1 and 2.
__________ Read and study Chapter 5—Limits and Continuity.
__________ Read and study Chapter 6—Differentiation.
__________ Read and study Chapter 7—Graphs of Functions and Derivatives.
__________ Read and Study Chapter 8—Applications of Derivatives.
FEBRUARY
__________ Read and study Chapter 9—More Applications of Derivatives.
__________ Read and study Chapter 10—Integration.
__________ Read and study Chapter 11—Definite Integrals.
__________ Take the Diagnostic Test.
__________ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
__________ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
__________ Review Chapters 5–8.
MARCH (10 weeks to go.)
__________ Read and study Chapter 12—Areas and Volumes.
__________ Read and study Chapter 13—More Applications of Definite Integrals.
__________ Read and study Chapter 14—Series (if you plan to take the BC exam) Review Chapters 9–11.
APRIL
__________ Take Practice Exam 1 in first week of April.
__________ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
__________ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
__________ Review Chapters 5–14.
MAY First Two Weeks (THIS IS IT!)
__________ Take Practice Exam 2.
__________ Score yourself.
__________ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
__________ Get a good night’s sleep the night before the exam. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.
A Calendar for Approach C:
A Six-Week Preparation for the AP Calculus Exam
At this point, we are going to assume that you have been building your calculus knowledge base for more than six months. You will, therefore, use this book primarily as a specific guide to the AP Calculus Exam.
Given the time constraints, now it is not the time to try to expand your AP Calculus curriculum. Rather, it is the time to limit and refine what you already do know.
APRIL 1st–15th
__________ Skim Steps 1 and 2.
__________ Skim Chapters 5–9.
__________ Carefully go over the “Rapid Review” sections of Chapters 5–9.
__________ Take the Diagnostic Test.
__________ Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.
__________ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
APRIL 16th–May 1st
__________ Skim Chapters 10–14.
__________ Carefully go over the “Rapid Review” sections of Chapters 10–14.
__________ Complete Practice Exam 1.
__________ Score yourself and analyze your errors.
__________ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
MAY–First Two Weeks (THIS IS IT!)
__________ Complete Practice Exam 2.
__________ Score yourself and analyze your errors.
__________ Study appropriate chapters to correct weaknesses.
__________ Get a good night’s sleep. Fall asleep knowing you are well prepared.
Summary of the Three Study Plans
