EXCELLING ON THE AP CALCULUS AB & BC EXAMS About This Book and TestWare®
This book, along with the accompanying CD, provides an accurate and complete representation of the Advanced Placement examinations in Calculus AB and BC. Our practice exams are based on the format of the most recently administered Advanced Placement Calculus AB and BC exam. Each practice exam in this book includes every type of question that you can expect to encounter on the real exam. Following each of our practice exams is an answer key complete with detailed explanations designed to clarify the material for you. By using the subject reviews, completing all the appropriate practice exams for Calculus AB & BC, as necessary, and studying the explanations that follow, you will pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses and, above all, put yourself in the best possible position to score well.
Three practice exams are also included on the enclosed TestWare® CDtwo for the AP Calculus AB exam and one for the AP Calculus BC exam. The software provides timed conditions for instantaneous, accurate scoring, which makes it all the easier to pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. About the Exam
The Advanced Placement Calculus AB & BC examinations are offered each May at participating schools and multi-school centers throughout the world. The Advanced Placement Program is designed to allow high school students to pursue college-level studies while attending high school. In turn, participating colleges and universities in the United States and more than 30 countries around the world, grant credit and/or advanced placement to students who do well on the examinations. Content of the AP Calculus AB & BC Exams
Although the content of the Calculus AB & BC exams changes slightly from year to year, the following outline shows the topics usually found on the exams. Items marked with an asterisk (*) are found only on the BC exam. All other topics are common to both exams.
I. Functions and Relations
Graphical Analysis
Limits
Continuity
Discontinuity
Parametric and Polar*
Vector valued functions*
II. Derivatives
Definition
Derivatives of elementary functions
Chain rule
Implicit differentiation
Mean value theorem
Inverse functions
III. Applications of Derivatives
Curve Analysis
Related Rates
Optimization
LHospitals Rule*
Motion
IV. Integrals
Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
Riemann Sums (right, left, midpoint)/Trapezoidal Rule
Antidifferentiation including u-substitution
Antidifferentiation including partial fractions and by parts*
Improper integrals*
V. Applications of Integrals
Area
Volume
Average value
Arc length*
Motion
VI. Differential Equations
Slope fields
Eulers method*
Separation of variables
VII. Series*
Convergence testing
Radius/interval of convergence
Taylor and Maclaurin series
Lagrange form of the Taylor error bound
VIII. Parametric and Polar*
Curve Analysis
Arc length
Area
Motion How to Use this Book and TestWare®
This book, along with our TestWare® software package of computerized practice exams, affords you the most relevant, targeted prep available for the AP Calculus AB & BC Exams. Our book features a no-nonsense subject review that covers exactly the material you need to master to do well on the AP exam. If its in our review, you need to know it! And its formatted in a way to perfectly complement your calculus textbook.
Here are the working assumptions that informed how our book and software were tailored:
Youve takenor are takinga course in calculus or otherwise have some familiarity with the subject.
You already possess one of those 800-plus page calculus textbooks that cover the subject matter exhaustively.
You need a quick and concise review of the subject matter modeled on the actual AP exams.
If youre getting ready to sit for the AP Calculus AB or BC Exams, you already have a knowledge of basic algebra, geometry, algebra 2, trigonometry, pre-calculus, and calculus.
Furthermore, bear in mind that this is a math test; thus, it is math rules and illustrations that are needed for review. And thats precisely what we give you.
How, then, to put it all together? Read over our course review and our suggestions for test taking. Next, take the first practice exam on CD under the appropriate heading (AB or BC) to audit your strengths and weaknesses; this book combines coverage of Calculus AB and BC, and the tests on CD correspond to our books printed exams for AB Practice Exams 1 and 2 and BC Practice Exam1. We provide distinct practice and review for both exams, with the step-by-step problem-solving attacks you need to ace the exam included in our detailed explanations with each exam answer. Those explanations will equip you with a systematic way of pinpointing your weakest areas so that you can bolster your total performanceand reinforce what youve learned in the classroom!
Be sure to take all the applicable practice tests. To make the best use of your study time, follow our test-specific study schedules, which you will find in the front of the book.
SSD accommodations for students with disabilities
Many students qualify for extra time to take the AP exams, and our TestWare® can be adapted to accommodate your time extension. This allows you to practice under the same extended-time accommodations that you will receive on the actual test day. To customize your TestWare® to suit the most common extensions, visit our website at www.rea.com/ssd.
When should I start studying?
It is never too early to start studying for the AP Calculus AB & BC examinations. The earlier you begin, the more time you will have to sharpen your skills. Do not procrastinate!
About Our Review Section
This book contains an AP Calculus AB & BC course review, which you can use both as a primer and as a quick reference while taking the practice exams. Our course review is meant to complement your AP Calculus AB & BC text-book and is by no means exhaustive. By studying our review along with your text, you will be well prepared for the exam.