AP AB/BC Calculus Honors & AP Informational Night Overview Current Calculus teachers: J Mika: jjmika@fcps.edu: T Glynn : TEGlynn@fcps.edu J Andraos: jeandraos@fcps.edu Current Math Department Chair: J Mika jjmika@fcps.edu Textbook Will be new next year: Currently the book is the Stewart: 4th edition of Single Variable Calculus Course Description AP Calculus is a college level Calculus course that covers limits , differential and integral calculus. The course focuses on applications and conceptual understanding of the material. The BC Course covers several additional topics which include but are not limited to infinite integrals, sequence and series, and Taylor Series Thinking Skills This course integrates many of the math concepts learned in all of the previous courses and expects students to be able to recognize all problems in a variety of various contexts. All concepts learned should be understood in each of the following context. Once a skill is learned, a student will commonly see the question poised in a variety of ways. Primarily but not limited to the various presentation modes listed below. 1 Solving problems presented in the form of word problem applications 2 Solving problems presented in the form of Equations 3 Solving problems presented in the form of tables 4 Solving problems represented in the form of a graph. AP Exam At the end of the AP Calculus Course all students will take the AP Calculus Exam which is taken by all AP Calculus across the country and the globe. The exam is made up of the elements listed below: Question Type Multiple-Choice Non-Calculator Multiple-Choice Calculator Free Response Calculator Number of Questions 28 questions Timing 55 Minutes 17 questions 50 minutes 2 questions Free Response No Calculator 4 question 30 minutes with a Calculator. You can continue to work on these problems during the next part, but you will not have access to a calculator An additional 60 minutes to work on any of the 6 free response questions. All AP Exams are scored on a 5 point scale. These scores are used to assess student success in the course but are NOT tied to student course letter grades. Students take the AP Exam in early to mid-May and receive their scores from College Board in July. Students taking the BC course will get 2 scores. One score is a BC score and a very high grade to lead to receiving 8 college credits in many institutions. They will also get an AB sub-score that is the equivalent of taking the AB exam alone. A high score on the AB exam can lead to receiving 4 college credits in many colleges and universities. Student Expectations Much will be expected of students in AP Calculus. This course is equivalent to one or two semesters of calculus offered to college engineers or math majors. Unlike any other class students have taken thus far, this course demands a great deal of independent learning and considerable critical thinking skills. Student expectations include the following: Tests will include timed and untimed. The final exam will be timed. Textbook readings are a necessary part of the course (and the textbook is college-level) Consistent attendance is absolutely necessary. Students who are frequently absent will fall behind very easily as the class operates at a rapid pace. Students will need to develop and hone quality note-taking, organizational, and study skills. Students will have significant homework every night. Although the amount of time it takes varies from student to student, typically this is around 1 to 2 hours of homework between each class meeting. In many cases, this is an average and homework will be given with a due date that is as much as 1 – 2 weeks in the future. This also demands that student to work responsibly and pace their homework. Students who put it off to the last minute will often struggle in the class. The intent of homework is for students to learn the material. Homework is practice. Most students will initially struggle with the adjustment to a college-level course, but will improve rapidly as the year continues Students must be able to work independently, but ask for help when needed A key element of academic success is approaching the work with a positive attitude and actively participating in class. The student’s grade will be primarily determined by their test grades!