Shubham92

1. Do AP Calc tests get harder each year?
I practiced with the actual 1997 Calculus AB test and it seemed pretty easy, I was actually surprised.

2. On what basis are you given National AP Scholar or any of the AP awards?

Thanks

DankStarbursts

Not sure about your first question.

2. AP: Scholar Awards

AMX

1. They aren't supposed to...

2. Take the AP exams, meet the requirements, get the award in the fall.

Liist

A lot of people who take AP Calc get 5s. Basically, as long as you understand all of the formulas and stuff, you should get a 5 easily.

Shubham92

thanks guys

yea I did word my first question stupidly

What I meant was that the 1997 test seemed pretty easy, but will this up coming 2008 test be harder since we have better calculators and better technology?

CB did change the test quite a bit after graphing calculators became affordable somewhere between 1993 to 1997.

Just wondering...

tchap7

Not sure about AP Calc but I know that in AP Stats the 2002 exam is much more difficult than the 1997 exam (on the 1997 many questions can be done just by plugging into the calculator's built-in functions, on 2002 you must actually do much of the work yourself). My teacher attributes this to CB not realizing what a graphing calculator was capable of until later.

Liist

Speaking of graphing calculators. Be sure to stock up your calculator with programs to greatly reduce the time it takes to calculate (and to avoid human error).

TheMathProf

Since you have to show all your work for anything the programs can do, the programs are at best a double-check. Anybody who relies on the programs and doesn't do well deserves their fate.

As far as the exam, I don't think it's getting any harder over time for calculus, although I do think the College Board is getting smarter at figuring out how to make sure you know the concepts.