What advice would you offer next years students to survive AP Calculus?
Actually learn the material rather than try to coast by with others. Care less about the
points and more about knowing the stuff.
"STUDY!!!
Do all of your homework
Pay attention in class, ms martin knows what’s up"
Actually do the work and don't copy it from someone... it will help a lot
Do all of the work and put in the time and effort- it will definitely pay off. If you don't feel like doing this,
drop the course now
Please pay attention. It really does help when you have to remember every last thing said in class in order
to pass the test. Also, don't freak out. Looking back, the class wasn't as horrible as everyone had expected
it to be.
Do you work. You can't survive without trying.
Honestly do the work all year because if you don’t work hard, its just going to hurt you when you have to
take the test
Really, really, really, really pay attention. Everything you learn will be used later in some way, so you
absolutely need to know it. And you really should study, too.
Memorize every rule the day you learn them. There aren't that many, and they are what the whole course
is about.
Do the homework and you will learn the material and keep your grade up.
"DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!
Know the unit circle well. No goofing off in class.
Do all the POW's, POD's and homework that Mrs. Martin assigned, plus do the extra credit. Moreover,
remember learning calc is more important that the grade you get in the class, always do the HW.
If you don't understand something, ASK.
"Study!! Even if you think you understand a concept, it doesn’t hurt to do a few practice problems, even if
you really really really don't want to. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Everything builds on itself so it's
better to catch small problems in the beginning.
You should definitely review unit circle until you have it down pat because it comes into play in a lot of
situations where you wouldn't expect it and understanding the unit circle leads to a better understanding
over all. I would also suggest really taking the summer assignment seriously. Don't wait until the last
second and take advantage of summer meetings because I personally did not and I think I would have
been a lot better off had I done so.
"Hello new AP Calculus students!! Here are some helpful tips for next year:
-your calculator is your FRIEND, use it but also understand how to solve the problem without a calculator
(the ap test does have a no calc part)
-actually do the work throughout the WHOLE year. I know you'll be tempted to become lazy after college
apps but keep up the work. AND DONT CHEAT. trust me, it doesn't help.
-if you have a question, ASK! there is no point in understanding something and just not figuring it out. If
your uncomfortable asking during class, come after school, ms. martin will always help you.
-lastly have fun
-just remember BABY GOT CALC!
P.S. Good Luck Ellen!!"
Practice, Practice, Practice and always review the rules. Keep each topic you learn fresh in your head for
the entire year, including before the final and after the AP test.
"1) Even if it takes more time, try to not use a calculator for a problem, whenever physically possible, at
all costs. You get a lot better at mental math, and at doing problems involving a lot of algebra (this skill
is imperative in physics).
2) If you are having trouble with a type of problem, practice more of them until you understand it. If you
run out of problems and still need more practice, ask Mrs. Martin for more. She has a crazy amount of
resources.
3) This years textbook should be way better than the mine in explaining stuff. If you get stuck on a
problem, look for an example in the text that looks similar.
4) Don't be afraid to email Mrs. Martin. She's a nice person, responds to emails fairly quickly, and won't
destroy you with flame mail. :)"
Don't fall behind!!! Everything in this class works off the previously learned topic. It is very difficult to
catch up so you will constantly be a chapter behind.
Don't procrastinate! If you don't understand something, chances are you'll fall way behind because
everything is connected. Also, look over notes and do problems every night. It WILL help, even if you
think it's torture.
As much as it sucks, doing your homework helps you understand the material.
You have to study. It's not an option. And pay attention in class. Big time.
Make sure you understand the material before you move on to the next topic.
Do the assignments in the book and the work she gives you, it is harder than the AP test and will make
taking the AP test an easier experience
I would tell next years students to stay after school for help because you'll never understand it otherwise.
Do the homework ahead of time because it is way too much to do in one night, and don't copy the answers
from online, it won't help you!
Make sure you are familiar with the unit circle, do all of the homework, and always show up to class as
much as possible. Missing a day hurts more in this class than any other class I have had in Tennent. Also
know how to use your calculators and sucking up to Mrs. Martin a little helps too :)
Just review everything as you learn it. Don't spend the hours studying for the test the day before, go home
and just look over your notes and problems for a couple minutes or so. It will help everything stay fresh in
your mind.
"Don't forget about trig stuff. It's all important, everything you've done up to this point culminates here.
Right here, on this period.
Take your time, don't get stressed out, eventually it will click. That's when it's the best... that feeling you
get when you finally understand what is going on.
Try teaching someone how to do a problem. Believe it or not, it can help you learn how to do it better."
Do your homework. You really don't want to risk failing AP Calculus.
Actually do the summer assignment so you can start out with the class instead of light years behind. Also
stay after for help as much as possible, because it truly does help. Otherwise, you either understand the
material or you don't.
The class moves at a quick pace, especially in the first half of the year so make sure to stay on top of
assignments and study more than you usually would for another class. If you fall behind, it's hard to catch
up because the math is no longer simple.
Well, I would have to say that you need to be prepared to work hard and to keep up on doing your
homework ahead of time and reviewing as much as possible. This class is rooted in the work you put in,
and your grade will reflect that.
Make sure that you absolutely pay attention to every little detail that Mrs. Martin is teaching. If you miss
even the most minor detail about a certain topic, it is guaranteed that you will be lost.
Have faith. You will be better prepared for the test than you think.
Do all of the work including the practice problems and try to do extra credit when you can
I would recommend that any student taking this course do all of the summer assignment. Even if the
problems are hard, you should try and do all of them for practice. Doing and attempting all of these
problems will be a big help when you start the class in September.
I recommend that you try all of the homework that you are given in class because even if its hard it will
help you a lot for tests. Tests and quizzes are really hard so you really need to study and go that extra
mile.
Constantly review your material. You should do at least a little bit of calculus every day - even if you
don't have assigned work due the next day. This will definitely keep the stress level down throughout the
course, and you won't have to cram before tests.
Do all of the homework, preferably ahead of time, and take advantage of all extra credit opportunities.
Don't Procrastinate!!!
Calculus continually builds from itself. Therefore, it would be wise to quickly catch up on anything you
miss. An incomplete understanding of the material will haunt you. "Well, I would advise them:
• to read more math papers and books (to become more comfortable with terminology and the way of
thinking""In mathematics you don't understand things, you just get used to them"", as J. von Neumann once said
• to concentrate more on understanding and widening their own horizons of thinking rather than rote
learning
• and, if the grades have a meaning for them (as it does for me), to complete their homework.
They should study every night and review that days topics as well as previous ones.
Ask for help. Mrs. Martin is really good at explaining things if you need clarifying.