Before you worry about taking Calculus I or II, you need to make sure you have the skills you need. First, you need to be a good timekeeper. This means you must schedule your classes so you are able to study and take part in them at the times that are convenient to you. If you are a night owl, for example, you should be able to go to sleep and wake up at the same time.
You should also make sure you are a good student. If you are doing well, then that means you are paying attention in class and completing assignments on time. It does not matter what type of course you are taking, if you are not paying attention, then you will not get any credit for it. The only exception to this rule is if you are taking an online course. In that case, you must still make sure you are able to keep up.
You also need to know the types of questions that you can expect on each exam. For starters, you will not see multiple choice on the exam. Rather, the exam will center around problems that involve a single variable. The types of questions you will have will vary, but you should know some of the most common on the exam. Here are some topics that commonly appear on the exam:
Solving for a variable x can be quite difficult for students who do not know how to solve for it. However, the best way to learn is to practice by solving as many problems as possible in class, until you are comfortable enough to find a solution on your own. Once you know how to solve for a variable, you can take an exam that gives you a partial derivative and solve for that.
In order to maximize your time on the test and learn what types of problems you will be faced with, you need to have a full understanding of the concepts taught throughout the course. Calculus has many integral concepts that will give you trouble if you do not fully understand what they mean. You need to know about polynomial equations, which are used to find derivatives and solutions to different problems. You also need to understand the concept of limits and derivatives, as well as other important concepts.
When looking over solutions book, make sure you look at the definitions and notes to find out what each equation refers to. It is easy to gloss over parts of an equation and accidentally find yourself in a poor position. This can lead to making wrong choices and end up doing more work than necessary. If you miss key parts of an equation, it will cause you to have to do more unnecessary work, wasting time. Instead of glossing over these concepts, make sure you read everything, including the definition and notes.
Do not go into the exam thinking that you are going to breeze through. You need to study well, understand concepts, practice problems, and find solutions. Remember that you are not going to know exactly what will come up on the exam the first time you take the exam. So spend the time and effort to get ready.
