
Best Ways to Study for the AP Calculus BC Exam
- Assess Your Skills. You will need to begin your studying with some measure of your current knowledge. ...
- Study the Material. The AP Calculus BC course focuses on differential and integral calculus along with sequences and series.
- Practice Multiple-Choice Questions. After you gain a solid understanding of the basic theory required on the exam, test your knowledge by practicing multiple-choice questions.
- Practice Free-Response Questions. The free-response portion of the AP Calculus BC exam will test your ability to solve problems using an extended chain of reasoning.
- Take Another Practice Test. Once you’ve completed the steps above, take another formative assessment. Varsity Tutors offers a handful of free diagnostic tests and practice exams.
- Exam Day Specifics
- Step 1: Assess Your Skills. ...
- Step 2: Study the Material. ...
- Step 3: Practice Multiple-Choice Questions. ...
- Step 4: Practice Free-Response Questions. ...
- Step 5: Take Another Practice Test. ...
- Step 6: Exam Day Specifics.
Should I take the AP Calculus BC exam?
When it comes to making the most out of your high school years and getting into the very best college or university you can, taking AP courses and exams – such as the AP Calculus BC Exam – is a great way to do it!
What subjects do you need for AP Calc BC?
These subjects include algebra, trigonometry, geometry, analytic geometry, and elementary functions prior to undertaking AP Calc BC. On top of that, students should be at least familiar, if not proficient at polynomial, rational, exponential, linear, logarithmic, trigonometric, and inverse trigonometric and piecewise-defined functions.
Who teaches AP®︎ Calculus at Phillips Academy?
Bill Scott uses Khan Academy to teach AP®︎ Calculus at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and he’s part of the teaching team that helped develop Khan Academy’s AP®︎ lessons. Phillips Academy was one of the first schools to teach AP®︎ nearly 60 years ago. Test your knowledge of the skills in this course. Have a test coming up?
Who uses Khan Academy to teach AP®︎ Calculus?
Bill Scott uses Khan Academy to teach AP®︎ Calculus at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and he’s part of the teaching team that helped develop Khan Academy’s AP®︎ lessons. Phillips Academy was one of the first schools to teach AP®︎ nearly 60 years ago.

Is Calculus BC Easy?
AP Calculus BC is the more advanced of the two courses and is designed to build off the skills students learned in AP Calculus AB. Because this is a very advanced course, students are expected to have a substantial math background. Learners may find it helpful to have taken AP Calculus AB before taking AP Calculus BC.
How hard is the Calc BC exam?
Of those who considered themselves a "math person," AP Calculus AB was not very difficult (average score: 2.04), and AP Calculus BC was slightly difficult (average score: 2.64). Of those who considered themselves somewhat of a "math person," AP Calculus AB was moderately difficult (average score: 3.42).
Is it easy to get a 5 on Calculus BC?
Is it Easy to Get a 5 on AP Calc BC? At first glance, it may appear that it is easier to get a 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam than on the AP Calculus AB exam. In 2021, for example, about 38% of Calculus BC test-takers received a 5 on the exam, whereas only 18% of Calculus AB test-takers received a 5 that same year.
Can you go straight to Calc BC?
When it comes to the AP Calculus classes, you have three options: you can take AB and BC Calculus as a sequence, take AB Calculus only, or skip AB Calculus and go straight to BC Calculus. The reason you can take one or the other is because AB and BC aren't totally different classes.
What percent is a 5 on AP Calc BC?
38.3%AP Score DistributionsExam51AP Calculus AB17.6%23.7%AP Calculus BC38.3%6.6%AP Computer Science A23.9%22.8%AP Computer Science Principles12.4%13.6%1 more row
What percent is a 5 on AP Calc BC 2022?
2011Exam51Biology14.8%10.5%Calculus AB20.2%22.0%Calculus BC40.9%6.5%Latin11.1%18.6%30 more rows
How do I prepare for AP Calculus BC?
AP Calculus BC Exam TipsKeep an eye on your time. ... Show your work, even when you're using a calculator. ... Try to solve each part of the question. ... Be sure to fully answer the question being asked. ... When asked to justify or to explain an answer, think about how that can be done. ... Do not round partial answers. ... Practice!
Do colleges care if you take Calc AB or BC?
While different colleges have their own requirements, the general rule of thumb is that the AB exam counts as one semester of college calculus, and the BC exam qualifies as two semesters. Students who anticipate having to take two or more core math classes may be better off in the BC class.
What percent do you need for a 4 on AP Calc BC?
17.6%AP Calculus BC ScoresScoreMeaningPercentage of Test Takers5Extremely qualified44.6%4Well qualified17.6%3Qualified19.4%2Possibly qualified14.1%1 more row
Can you take Calculus BC without AB?
Unlike courses like Algebra I and Algebra II, Calculus AB (Advanced Placement Calculus) and Calculus BC do not have to be taken in a specific sequence. Meaning, you could take Calculus BC without having ever taken Calculus AB. Many students do. A common myth is that Calculus BC is a lot harder than Calculus AB.
Is Calc BC the same as Calc 2?
Through the use of the unifying themes of calculus (e.g., derivatives, integrals, limits, approximation, and applications and modeling) the courses become cohesive rather than a collection of unrelated topics. AP Calculus BC is roughly equivalent to both first and second semester college calculus courses.
What is taught in Calc BC?
AP Calculus BC Course Overview AP Calculus BC applies the content and skills learned in AP Calculus AB to parametrically defined curves, polar curves, and vector-valued functions; develops additional integration techniques and applications; and introduces the topics of sequences and series.
Is a 4 on Calc BC good?
What is a good AP® Calculus BC score? Receiving a 3, 4, or 5 is generally accepted as scoring well on an AP® exam. According to the College Board a 3 is 'qualified,' a 4 'well qualified,' and a 5 'extremely well qualified.
Which AP test is the hardest?
The Three Hardest AP ClassesAP Physics 1. Despite a reputation as one of the most difficult AP classes, Physics 1 is also one of the most popular—137,229 students took it in 2021. ... AP U.S. History. AP U.S. history is one of the hardest AP classes in the humanities and in general. ... AP Chemistry.
What percent do you need for a 4 on AP Calc BC?
17.6%AP Calculus BC ScoresScoreMeaningPercentage of Test Takers5Extremely qualified44.6%4Well qualified17.6%3Qualified19.4%2Possibly qualified14.1%1 more row
What is AP Calculus BC equivalent to?
AP Calculus BC is roughly equivalent to both first and second semester college calculus courses.
How to arrive prepared for AP Calculus BC
You will need to have studied a lot of math before arriving to AP Calculus. Source: Pixabay
What is the AP Calculus BC exam like?
The AP Calculus BC exam structure is much like the AP Calculus AB exam structure. That is there are two different sections, with two parts in each section.
Tips for Success in AP Calculus BC
If students need extra help, searching for it on the internet is an excellent way. Source: Unsplash
What Is the AP Calculus BC Exam?
The AP Calculus BC exam assesses high school students’ ability to apply the content and skills learned in the AP Calculus course. The content of the AP Calculus BC exam is pulled straight from the study units that students learn in the AP Calculus BC course:
How to prepare for AP Calc BC?
The most important thing you can do to prepare for the AP Calc BC exam is to show up and pay attention in class! Your teacher is going to dedicate class time to working hard to help you learn the material you need to know in order to do well on the AP Calc BC exam. Also, the course is designed to help you progress from easier concepts to harder ones, especially since mastering foundational math skills is a key component to working difficult problems.
What do teachers do in class with graphing calculator?
During class, your teacher will explain and demonstrate new concepts and talk you through using your graphing calculator to solve equations. They’ll also go over homework assignments, quizzes, and tests—all of which will most likely mimic the format of the AP Calc BC exam and include questions that are on-par with the difficulty level of the exam.
How many questions are asked in AP Calculus BC?
Section 1 of the AP Calculus BC exam is comprised of 45 multiple choice questions that are divided up into two parts: Part A and Part B. Here's how the two parts of the exam break down:
How long is section 2 of BC?
Section 2 of the BC Calculus exam gives you one hour and 30 minutes to answer six free response questions. Just like Section 1, this section of the AP Calc BC exam is also divided into a Part A and Part B. Here's how those parts break down:
What are the three big ideas in AP Calculus BC?
These three big ideas are change, limits, and analysis of functions.
What happens if you select the wrong answer on AP exam?
If you select the wrong answer, you don’t receive points. That means there is no penalty for guessing, so make sure you try to answer every question on the exam! The free response section is a little different. AP Exam scorers work from a rubric to score the free response answers.
What is AP Calculus BC?
Just like the Calcul us AB course, the AP Calculus BC Exam and course allow students to learn about the unifying equations and themes of calculus. It can serve as a fantastic bedrock for students who are interested in pursuing an undergraduate degree or career related to mathematics or other STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) topics.
What subjects are required for AP Calculus BC?
These subjects include algebra, trigonometry, geometry, analytic geometry, and elementary functions prior to undertaking AP Calc BC. On top of that, students should be at least familiar, if not proficient at polynomial, rational, exponential, linear, logarithmic, trigonometric, and inverse trigonometric and piecewise-defined functions.
What is the best way to get into college?
When it comes to making the most out of your high school years and getting into the very best college or university you can, taking AP courses and exams – such as the AP Calculus BC Exam – is a great way to do it!
How long is the AP Calculus BC exam?
The first section of the exam takes one hour and 45 minutes and contains 45 multiple-choice questions. Overall, this section accounts for half of your total score in the AP Calculus BC Exam.
How many units are there in AP Calculus BC?
Through the course of AP Calculus BC, students will cover 10 separate units, with each unit getting covered to varying degrees in the AP Calculus BC Exam. Below are the separate units as well as the corresponding range percentage that each unit may take up in the end-of-course exam:
What are the components of AP Calculus BC?
There are two key components and they are as follows: Mathematical Practices: These are the four key skills that every student must be able to master in order to complete the tasks that they will be asked during the AP Calculus BC Exam. The Mathematical Practices of the course are:
What is the primary focus of calculus?
However, the primary focus of the course and exam is to put on a multidimensional approach to the world of calculus.
What is free response AP Calculus BC?
Answering free-response questions from previous AP Exams is a great way to practice: it allows you to compare your own responses with those that have already been evaluated and scored. Free-response questions and scoring guidelines are available on the Exam Preparation section of the About the Exam page for AP Calculus BC.
What is the term used to find approximate values for functions?
Estimate: Use models or representations to find approximate values for functions.
Why do you store partial answers in your calculator?
Store partial answers in your calculator so that you can use them unrounded in further calculations.
Can you use a calculator during Part B?
During the second timed portion of the free-response section (Part B), you are permitted to continue work on problems in Part A, but you are not permitted to use a calculator during this time.