Last Minute Reminders for the A.P. Exam
Before the Exam:
Study the Quick Reference Guide on the night before the exam.
This will help keep the formulas fresh in your mind.
Review important concepts.
The exam emphasizes concepts.
Study what you do NOT know.
That may seem obvious, but many people enjoy getting the right
answers so much that they only review the stuff they know.
Get a good night's sleep.
Relax. Don't stay up late
studying. You need to be able to think
during the exam.
On the Day of the Exam:
What to bring:
Several No. 2 pencils, black or dark-blue ballpoint pen,
graphing calculator (or two!), a watch, a snack for during the break.
Eat a good breakfast and arrive on time!
Be sure that your calculator is set in RADIAN MODE!
On the Exam:
Be methodical – work neatly and carefully.
You can't get credit if the readers can't read it.
On the Multiple choice Sections:
Read each question carefully and look at the
answer
choices.
Do the ones you are sure of.
Don't struggle over one that isn't working
out.
remember that you have a limited amount
of time.
One type of question may ask you only
to set up the
problem.
Looking at the answer choices may keep you
from doing
too much work.
Some questions ask you to choose the one
true or the
one false statement form list of 5 statements.
Be sure you know if you are looking for a true
or a
false statement.
On the Free Response Sections:
Numerical answers
may be left unsimplified and in
terms of e, pi, etc.
Avoid
simplifying numerical answers (see note below
about three-decimal accuracy).
Don't write a long
essay.
You may show a number
line as your analysis of the
sign of the derivative – be sure
to label it appropriately , for example y', y'', etc.
Do not explain how to
do the problem you cannot do.
A
general explanation without work will receive no
credit. You must do the problem you are given.
If you work a problem
two different ways, choose the
best one and put an X through the
other one.
If both
are left, they will both be scored and the
scores will be averaged.
Standard notation must
be used – not calculator
notation!
Start
each problem on the Free Response Section even if you can't do it all.
They are written so
that the first parts are easier in
order to help you get started.
Do not
let the points at the beginning keep you from getting the points at the end.
If you can do part (c) but don't know how to do part (a) and (b), make a guess
for the expression needed.
If you use your calculator to solve an equation,
write the equation first.
An answer without an equation might not get full credit, even if it is correct.
If you use your calculator to find a definite
integral, write the integral first.
An answer without an integral will not get full credit, even if it is correct.
Do not waste time erasing bad solutions.
Make an X over anything that you don't want the Readers to grade.
Do not use your calculator for anything except:
(a) graph functions, (b) compute numerical derivatives, (c) compute definite
integrals, and (d) solve equations.
If a
calculation is given as a decimal, it should be correct to three decimal places
after the decimal point.
Do not round in intermediate steps before a final calculation is made.
Some answers, the evaluation of a
definite integral for example, must be written as decimals because they are
found using a graphing calculator.
These answers must be correct to three decimal places past the decimal
point. 56.000 may be given as 56.
Too often students may choose to
give decimal answers when they are not required. Once a free-response answer is entirely in terms of numbers,
there is no need to change the number to a decimal.
For example, the answer cos(4) +
7/2 is sufficient.
If you decide to change it to a
decimal, and it is correct to three decimal places, you will receive
credit. However, if you change a
correct answer to an incorrect decimal (including one with too few decimals),
then you will lose credit.
Some of these ideas are adapted from Dan Kennedy at A.P. Central and from
Lin McMullin's Teaching A.P. Calculus