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:
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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!